Front Load Washing Machines

A Front Load Washing Machine has an opening in the front and Wash Capacity ranging up to 6kg for 1 to 2 people, 7.5 - 8.5kg for 3 to 4 people or 9kg and higher for households of 5+. Clean the most delicate fabrics through to bulky doonas with a myriad of wash programs and options.

If you’ve ever seen a Front Load Washer in action you’ll notice items are picked up and dropped back down in a repeated motion throughout the cycle. This not only gets grubby clothes clean, it’s gentler on them too using only the required amount of water necessary for a thorough clean. With the right pre-treatment, Front Load Washer Machines easily get out pesky stains.

There can also be Combination Washer Dryers that wash then dry clothes in the same drum, Auto Dosing Washers to take the guesswork out of figuring out detergent amounts, and even Dual Load Washers that can process two separate loads at once.

For this question, consider how often you wash, what you wash most, your preferred way to load and space within the Laundry. A Front Load Washer is generally more compact and can be matched to a Dryer, either for aesthetic appeal or to save space by stacking the dryer on top using a Dryer Stacking Kit.

In a Top Loader, items are added via its top mounted lid so there’s no need to bend down like loading a Front Loader. For small households that wash less or without clothes that need a little extra attention Top Load Washers can work well, however for larger households that run multiple weekly loads Front Loaders tend to use less water and electricity across the same wash capacities.

You’ll find more options and get the best result in a Front Load Washer with its unique washing action. Items aren’t submerged like in a Top Loader so this can eliminate handwashing favourite garments because they’re gentler, and some are even Woolmark certified.

Many Front Load Washers come with hot cleaning cycles to freshen up the drum and sanitise the rubber door seal by flushing out limescale, dirt and detergent residue. It’s worth grabbing a Washing Machine Cleaner every so often, but always consult your manual first to find the correct self cleaning program.

There are specific cleaners for removing mould from a Front Load Washing Machine's door and seal, plus the drum itself. Other formulas clean the drum only by adding solution and running the cycle at the recommended temperature on the bottle.

Wiping the inside of the rubber seal dry and leaving the door ajar after running a load helps clear out residual moisture to prevent mould. Some like Haier and Samsung Front Loaders have anti-fungal door gaskets (aka rubber seals) and dual spray nozzles to automatically clean away foam and dirt from the door and gasket at the end of the cycle, plus dedicated reminders to clean the drum with the Drum Clean program and more.

While many common features can be found across Front Load Washers like high maximum spin speeds, express wash cycles and digital inverter motors for energy efficiency, they can vary per brand and model too.

A key consideration is Auto Dosing aka Automatic Detergent Dispensing, some Front Load Washing Machines can either automatically dose by sensing the load and dispensing the right amount of detergent from a pre-filled reservoir, or manually dose where you decide on the amount of Laundry Powder or Liquid Detergent per load. Originally from the likes of Bosch and Miele, many brands now offer Auto Dosing to save time and prevent wastage.

Some other Washing Machines to look out for include Washer Dryer Combos like LG with huge Wash and Dry capacity across two stacked drums, Smart Washing Machines to start a cycle via a Smartphone app and sanitising Washers with UV lights or by producing steam.