According to India Washing Machine Market Overview, 2016-2022, published in February 2017, the Indian washing machine market is divided into two technology types, one is the semi-automatic machine and the other is the fully automatic variant. In 2016, more than 3.50 million units of fully automatic washing machines were sold in India, beating the sales of semi-automatic machines.
Needless to say, India is seeing a rapid shift towards the fully automatic, all thanks to the growing disposable income, better washing machine models by leading brands like LG, Samsung, Whirlpool and easy financing options with affordable monthly EMIs, including cashbacks and other amazing offers. Due to the rise of nuclear families and working women, washing machines are no longer perceived as a luxury item, but a necessity of most homes.
However, other than making the choice between a fully automatic or semi automatic machine, consumers have to choose between top loaders and front loaders too. Here is a quick guide to help you determine which one is the right choice for your home.
Top Load Washing Machines
In the top loading variety, there is a vertical tub, where the user puts their laundry from the top door. These are the most common kind of washing machines found in India, since they are available at a much lower price than the front loading variant.
Most users tend to soak their clothes for a length of time for better cleaning, which is not possible in front loaders. Top loaders have less electronic components, which minimizes the risk of fault and thus saves the user a lot of money in repairs.
If you have back problems or find it difficult to bend to put in or take out clothes, top loaders should be your choice. In front loading machines, you’ll have to bend or even sit on the floor to use the machine. Although in the top loader, you won’t need to bend to load the clothes, you might need to bend a bit to get the washed clothes out. You can also add additional clothes during the wash cycles in top loaders.
Front Load Washing Machine
In front loading variety, the drum is aligned horizontally and users put their clothes from a front door. Front loading machines use the technique of tumble washing to clean clothes.
In comparison with top loaders that use an average 30-40 gallons of water for a single wash, front loaders uses only 20-22 gallons or less of water. By reducing the amount of hot water used in a wash cycle, the energy used to heat is also reduced. Moreover, when drying the clothes, their efficient motors spin clothes two to three times faster during the spin cycle to extract more water. The energy efficiency is the biggest difference, which makes a front loader a better choice than top loaders.
When compared with to top loaders, which vary in price from ₹10,000 to ₹30,000 rupees, front loaders start at about ₹25,000 and can go up to ₹50,000. This is because the front loaders have highly advanced features and are more energy efficient.
However, the price difference between the two categories of washing machines from leading brands like LG, have decreased, which has made it easier for the buyer to decide which one they prefer. Also, with easy financing options, one can choose a more expensive machine without worrying about a lump sum payment.