The big brother of all the washer dryer combo’s is the front loader. According to reviews about front load washer and dryer pair and consumer reports on front load washer dryer they are far superior to the top loaders. Even consumer reports according to the Australian ‘Choice magazine’ front loaders are the best.
Some of the salient features which make them superior to top loaders are as follows:
1. Electricity consumed is less as compared to top loaders.
2. Water needed is less as compared to top loaders.
3. Detergent required is also less as compared to top loaders.
4. These are Gentler on the clothes as compared to top loaders.
5. If you have limited space a dryer can be mounted on top of a front loader only not on a top loader.
The front loader is available in all possible formats, be it compact portable washer dryer, washer dryer combo, stackable washer dryer or a laundry center.
The best stackable washer dryer in the market (the Whirlpool Duet washer has a capacity of 3.8 cubic feet along with the Duet dryer which can be stacked on top)is a front loader. Frigidaire, Hoover and LG too have front loaders in all capacities.
Even though Kenmore has one of the best selections, Frigidaire laundry centers are a little more reliable according to a market survey. While Frigidaire has a laundry center with a front-loading washer, Kenmore doesn't offer a laundry center with a front-loading washer.
The combo unit of washer dryer is good for small city homes where space is a constrain, in this unit the dirty clothes can be put in and the clean dry clothes taken out, all it needs is a sink or drain for the water hose and this combo can be left without supervision for many hours. The clothes do not dry well in these combos as the capacity of the dryer is half that of the washer.
Commercial coin operated washer dryers are also available in front loading variety. All in all to cut a long washer dryer story short the front loader is a better and more economical option as compared to the top loader.