by Kaitlyn Hamilton

Created on: September 02, 2008

The Benefits of Using Front Loading Washers with Steam

If you are considering upgrading your current laundry pair to a high efficiency front-loading washer and dryer, then I recommend that you purchase a washer that has a steam cycle.

First of all, high efficiency front loading washers in general can greatly reduce your water and electric or gas bill. High efficiency front loading washers use as little as 10.5 gallons of water for a full-size load, such as with the Bosch Nexxt Washer. The traditional top loading washers use from 40 to 55 gallons of water per full size load on average and they hold less. A full-size load for a front loader is 4.0 cubic ft. on average, and some machines are as large as 4.5 cubic ft. A full-size load for a top loading washer is only 2.5 to 3.2 cubic foot on average. So, not only can you finish your laundry in less loads, but you will also use less water and energy because there is less strain on your hot water heater.

Because front loading washers use less water, they also require less detergent, bleach, and fabric softener. I only use half of the recommended volume of detergent per load and only one third of the recommended liquid fabric softener and my clothes still get clean and fresh.

Another benefit of a front load washer is that they have a much faster spin speed than the older top loaders. Most front load models have a maximum spin speed from 900 to 1300 rpms, which is much improved over the 300-500 rpms in older top loaders. Not only do you save money with heating less water for the wash, but you will spend much less time drying because fabrics are barely damp when they come out of the washer. In fact,take most of my light weight shirts and dresses straight from the washer and hang them on the shower rod for a couple of hours and they are completely dry.

High efficiency front load washers also are gentler on clothing because they do not have aggitators that twist and damage fabrics. This also leads to less lint in the dryer. In case you didn't know, lint in your dryer is nothing but little bits of your clothing and fabrics that were destroyed by the aggitator in your washer.

Front loading washers that have steam, typically also have a sanitize cycle. This means that the washer has a built-in water heater that will make the water hot enough to kill 99.9 percent of germs and bacteria in your wash. Most washers with this feature will only hold the water at an extreme temperature for a few minutes, just long enough to sanitize, then it will reduce to a more gentle temperature so the fabrics are not damaged. Not only will this cycle disinfect, but it will also activate the detergent more to remove more stains and dirt.

As for the steam feature, it is one of the best inventions to happen to laundry ever. I hate to iron and now I don't need to. I just toss my clothes in on the steam cycle and they come out fresh and wrinkle-free. I also love the fact that if I wear one of my expensive dresses out to a restaurant, I can just toss it in on the steam cycle at the end of the evening to remove any food or smoke odors in addition to taking out the wrinkles. The washers that have the steam cycle are typically about $200 more expensive than models without, but it is well worth the extra expense.

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