Many years ago, Consumer Reports tested all the then brands of top loaders and front loaders, and he front loaders, produced the best test results continually. Obviously, everyone's results will differ.... When our old top loader finally died, after 3 children and 4 grandchildren, not to mention all the fur kids, (Cats, dogs and ferrets) we bought a front loader. As I restore old cars and rebuild radio equipment for fun, I get my clothes pretty dirty. Using half the soap (Tide), and substantially less water, *my* work clothes have never been cleaner. Until I lost so much weight, my favorite shirts, Duluth Trading Co.'s pocket T's and V Necks, (were and still are) would get food dropped on them and grease spots, because I couldn't belly up to the table very well, I always had to pre-treat to remove the grease spots, that were the result of my extremely rotund belly. With the front loader, pre-treating is not needed...well...now that I am back down to a reasonable weight and size again (245/X-Large) I am no longer a slob, so grease spots are a thing of the past, but...I would never consider a top loader again. MC, No longer owned by ferrets, but still bossed around by a pair of Bengal kitties, who think they own me. (Silly kitties) [Posted in FML 8068]