RetireJapan

I'm in the market for a new laundry machine. Would really prefer a side loader but I'm a bit concerned about reliability. So many websites out there, it's hard to know what's good info. Which should I get, and is an extended warranty recommended?

Get a cheap top loader with as few functions as possible. (You’ll never use any of them except ‘quick wash’).

It will wash your clothes.

Never buy an extended warranty.

Get on with the rest of your life...

I think there are various comparisons on top vs front loading, and they are also valid for Japan I think what makes you happy is fine!
For myself I never used anything else than a front loader, I had never to do any repair and will not change. I didn't even know that top loader are still that common before moving to Japan.

We have a front loader that was quite expensive, but it has a 'no soap' mode. Uses ozone or something. Basically we never use detergent or softener, and the clothes come out fine. I think they stopped making them though, as few people bought them

Wife says she wanted a top loader because if she finds something laying around the house she can still open the top and pop it in.Which she says she can't do with a drum front loader. I defer to the wife.

Front loader. The top loader I had when I first arrived used to pull and stretch clothes out of shape -after all, the weight of clothes pushing down on a rotating disc leaves the stuff at the bottom getting mashed... Front loader is way softer as it's only centrifugal force pushing the clothes against the inside of the drum...

Bubblegun wrote: ↑Wed Jul 10, 2019 10:49 am Wife says she wanted a top loader because if she finds something laying around the house she can still open the top and pop it in.Which she says she can't do with a drum front loader. I defer to the wife.

Not sure if it's all front loaders, but mine has the drum slightly tilted backwards so the amount of water it uses never reaches above the level of the door. This means you can just open the door mid-cycle and chuck extra stuff in...

Another thing I like about my washer is the long hose that came with it for recycling bath water! We've saved so much cash over the winter on water/gas by just having a bath instead of long showers, then the old water is used the next morning for at least 2~3 washing cycles!

Bushiman wrote: ↑Thu Jul 11, 2019 2:34 am
Another thing I like about my washer is the long hose that came with it for recycling bath water! We've saved so much cash over the winter on water/gas by just having a bath instead of long showers, then the old water is used the next morning for at least 2~3 washing cycles!

This is certainly something i would like to see other countries adopt.With added pressure on the environment taking showers and sharing the bath water, and then using it for the laundry is a great idea.