Thinking of buying a new washer? With so many features and models
available, choosing one can be a challenge. There are many factors to consider-the price, the amount of laundry you
wash each week, the types of fabrics you wash, and the energy savings you're seeking. And now
you have another choice to make-what type of washer? Do you want a traditional agitator
washer or a high efficiency (HE) washer?
HE washers are the latest advancement in washing machines. They use less water and energy than
regular machines, can typically wash more in each load, and are gentle on your fabrics. They tend
to cost more up front than traditional washers, but you make your money back over time from the
savings in water and energy.
This guide will help you to decide which type of washing machine will be best for you and your
family. Your washing machine is just one part of a fabric care system. The detergent and the
machine together help you to get a great clean for your laundry.
Choosing a washer in brief
If price is your primary concern, you may want to choose a top-loader, because it costs less
to purchase and provides good cleaning performance. If you're looking for a high-end machine that
offers gentle cleaning, you may want to try a high-efficiency washer.
"I have found that saving energy and the low cost of running HE appliances over the years are the
top determining factors when choosing a unit to buy," says Laura Dellutri, the "Healthy
Housekeeper" and author of "Speed Cleaning 101" and the newly released "Stress Free Home."
The primary differences between tradition top-loaders and HE machines
The primary differences you'll notice between these types of machines are
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Price
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Energy savings
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Capacity/load size
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Detergent
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Types of HE machines
There are two types of HE washing machines: front loading and top loading. Both are energy efficient and operate differently than traditional agitator washers.
Front loading
Most HE washers are front loading. In these machines the laundry tumbles back and forth in the water. The tub rotates, too, to move the water and detergent through each garment and to remove soils. The tumbling action is intended to clean efficiently with less stress on your fabrics. And with the agitator gone, you can clean bigger items, like comforters or your entire family's denim.
Top loading
Some manufacturers offer top-loading HE washers. Instead of agitating fabrics to get them clean, these washers use spinning or rotating wheels, plates, or disks to create the washing action. Like front-loading machines, this action is designed to provide effective cleaning and to be gentle on fabrics.
All types of washers clean your clothes effectively, provided you use the right detergent and the proper wash settings for your fabrics.
Capacity & Load Size
"HE machines are creating a laundry revolution! Not only are they energy saving, but they are time saving too. Some front loading HE machines hold up to 20 pounds of laundry, getting more laundry washed in each load then standard agitator machines," says Dellutri.
Washers typically range from small (2 cubic feet) to extra large or king size (approximately 3.8 cubic feet). HE washers use a tumbling action instead of agitators, you can fit more laundry in each load-which means fewer loads, less time spent doing laundry, and lower energy bills.
If you have a large family or wash many loads each week, the size of a washer is probably a big factor in your decision. You'll probably want a larger capacity washer. Both traditional washers and HE washers offer models that can handle large loads.
If you have a small amount of space for your washer and dryer, you may want smaller machines or ones that are stackable. Because HE machines are typically front-loaders, you can often stack them with a dryer to save space. You can also find many top-loaders that will fit your needs.
Energy Savings
HE machines use less energy because there is 20% to 66% less water to heat than in traditional agitator washers. Up to 80% of the energy used to operate a washer comes from heating the water. Thus, when you reduce the amount of water in the machine, you reduce the energy (and money) needed to run it.
Some traditional agitator washers may also be energy efficient. If this is important to you, look for washers with the ENERGY STAR® logo. This logo indicates that a particular washing machine meets or exceeds strict energy efficiency guidelines set by the EPA and U.S. Department of Energy.
A machine that carries the ENERGY STAR® logo isn't necessarily the same as an HE washer; it simply means that the model is energy efficient. When looking at washers, ask the seller to tell you what type of washer it is (HE or agitator) and whether it is ENERGY STAR® certified.
Price
Most traditional washers are generally less expensive to purchase than front-loading HE machines. Prices for traditional washers range from $200 to $800, on average. However, these washers can be more costly to operate because they use more water and more energy.
HE washers can range from $700 to $1600 or more, on average. Most cost around $1,000.
Because HE machines are energy efficient, some local and state governments or the U.S. government, may offer tax incentives for purchasing these machines. And like many appliances, HE machines may come with manufacturer's rebates.
To find out if there are any tax incentives or rebates in your area, go to
Tide.com.
Detergents
All detergents are formulated to clean, freshen, remove odors, and hold soils suspended in the water away from fabrics. However, according to the Soap and Detergent Association (SDA), HE detergents are the "only choice" for HE washers.
HE detergents create few suds and disperse quickly to provide great cleaning performance with only 20% to 66% of the amount of water used in traditional machines.
You might think that because HE washers use less water, you could simply use less regular detergent. That's not the case. Using less regular detergent than recommended for the load size (in an effort to control suds) reduces cleaning power. Regular detergents are formulated to work with high water levels. Tide® HE provides excellent cleaning power and is specially designed to give you the cleaning results you'd expect from Tide in low-water washes.
You can find Tide® HE in the same store where you would normally purchase detergent, at the same price as other types of Tide. Look for the HE logo on the front of the package. Adjust the amount of HE detergent you use based on the size of your load, just as you would with regular detergent in top-loading washers.
Traditional detergents are formulated to get the same cleaning power with high water washes; they aren't created to work well in low water.
Using regular detergents in an HE machine can create too many suds, which can interfere with the washer's tumbling action by "cushioning" the laundry and reducing soil and stain removal. These excess suds can lead to residue buildup because they are not as easily rinsed away, and over time, this can lead to machine malfunctions, according to the SDA.
Performance
Several things affect a machine's performance, such as its washing action and the cycles or settings available.
Washing
In front-loading HE washers, the laundry tumbles back and forth in the water as the tub rotates, to move the water and detergent through each garment and to remove soils. The tumbling action is intended to clean efficiently and be gentle on fabrics, according to the SDA.
Traditional washers are top-loaders and use a central agitator to move clothes in the wash water, which can cause some wear and tear on your clothes.
Rinsing
Even though HE washers use far less water, they have two to four rinse cycles rather than one rinse in a traditional washer. According to the Soap and Detergent Association, multiple rinses are typically better than one deep rinse.
Tide® HE helps to ensure good rinsing because it's specially formulated for low-water washes and rinses. HE detergent is low-sudsing, so the detergent can more easily rinse away in HE machines. Regular detergents, when used in an HE machine, may cause excess suds, which may lead to residue buildup, because they are not as easily rinsed away.
Spinning
Most HE washers remove more water from laundry than traditional machines do, so your clothes require less time in the dryer, and you save more time and energy.
Cycles and Settings
Consider the types of fabrics you typically wash and look for a machine that fits your needs. You'll want to consider the wash cycles available (delicate, permanent press, etc.) and the washing times.
Basic models may offer four or five cycles, and high-end machines may offer many more. The more cycle options you have, the more the machine will likely cost, regardless of what type of washer it is. Weigh the benefits of extras, like additional cycles or water levels, and decide whether they are worth the cost.
Water Levels
Washer performance is also affected by the amount of water you use for each load. Most traditional washing machines allow you to select water levels for different size loads. Some washers use sensors to automatically determine load size and adjust water level to achieve the best cleaning and rinsing performance.
To get your laundry as clean as possible, you need to use the right volume of water, and the right amount of detergent, based on the amount of dirt in the laundry. Too much water or too much detergent can result in a less than ideal outcome. For example, using regular detergent in an HE machine can result in over-sudsing, which, over time, can lead to machine malfunctions, according to the SDA.
Noise
If you have a first- or second-floor laundry room, you may want a washing machine that is less noisy, so the sounds don't interfere with other household activities. Some models are built to operate more quietly than others. Many washers, both HE and traditional, are available with extra insulation so they run quietly.
Fabric Care
Both regular and HE washers are designed to care for your fabrics, as long as you use the right wash cycles and detergents.
It's not uncommon to hear stories of an agitator in a washer that has damaged a pair of underwear, stretched out shirt, or even torn a hole in a sock. To help avoid this, you might consider an HE washer.
"HE machines use a tumbling technology that is gentler to my fabrics so clothing always looks its best when it comes out of the laundry," says Dellutri.
If you have a lot of delicate items or special fabrics, an HE washer might be better for you. However, if you tend to wash mostly cottons or sturdy fabrics, the gentleness of a machine may not be a big factor in your decision.
Where to go for more information
For more information about HE detergents and HE machines, go the
HE Forum on Tide's web site.
