1) 3 times the water is needed that for a European front loader.
2) It doesn't heat the water, you have to rely on the varying temperature of the tap.
3) Using so much hot water (during a hot wash) equals larger utility bills.
4) The cleaning is mediocre.
5) Rinsing is horrible!
6) Slow spin speeds.
7) Slower spin speeds = more moisture left in clothing = longer drying time = higher utility cost
8) Rough on clothing.
Pros of European washing machines:
1) The horisozntal-axis, tumbling drum system requires less water. A pre-wash, main wash and 5 rinses on a European washer requires the same amount of water as just the wash portion of that on a top-loader.
2) They have internal water heaters. This means that you can select temperatures in between 30 and 95 degrees Celsius. This means you don't need harsh chemicals (bleach) to get your gym socks white, you just select the 95 degree wash. Also, since water is gradually heated, stains that are usually set in by hot water are removed before the water gets too hot.
3) Since only cold water is used, and less of it, it costs less to heat it.
4) Because of the way the washer works (tumbling in hot water for a long time) cleaning results are much better.
5) Top loaders rinse the wash once. Front loaders about 5 times (depends on model of washer and cycle) and still manage to use half as much water.
6) Some models offer spin speeds as high as 1600rpm compared to a usual toploader's 400-500.
7) Higher water exrtaction equal shorter drying time, which equals less energy use.
8) The tumbling action is much gentler than the beating of an agitator
The only cons are the long wash cycle and high price of the washer in North America. But it worth it, once you try you will never go back to American "washing machines". Plus, there you get to see the clothes go round and round.
Here is an example if you've never seen one...
when it goes into spin mode! That aside it has fuzzy logic, so it determines the amount of water needed for the load. It has a unique feature whereby it starts to spin at slow speed while the drum is still full of water. This distributes the load evenly around the inside of the drum and only then does the water drain out, so my machine stays put and has never yet attempted to walk out of the kitchen. It also has a variable speed spin with a maximum of 1200 rpm, so that gets everything pretty much dry, by the time it comes out. Best of all, it has a durable polypropylene outer drum, so there is nothing to rust.
