A top load washer with an agitator is a traditional pick. And there is nothing wrong with tradition. Top load washers with agitators are reliable, sturdy, and get the job done. Originally manufactured in the late 1940s, competing marketers raced to acquire household fame for having the best top load washing machine.
We’ve come quite a long way since Thomas Edison and Henry Ford were in the business. Although top load washing machines have made advancements with time, they’ve held true to their original design and purpose. In our expert guide, find the best top load washer with agitator for your household and discover what they can do.
At a Glance:
What’s an Agitator Washing Machine?
Our Best Agitator Washer Picks
Why Choose a Top Load Agitator Washer?
What is an Agitator Washer?
An agitator is built into your washer to allow ample water and detergent to soak into your clothes. By shuffling socks and shirts in a continuous motion, your laundry will get a deeper clean. An agitator in a washing machine is the tall spindle in the center of the appliance. When adding detergent, pour the liquid or throw a pod in for maximum cleaning.
You may be wondering, ‘What’s the difference between an agitator and an impeller washing machine?’ They may look similar in style, but they use different methods to clean your laundry. Agitators, as said above, move in various motions to optimize cleaning. While in contrast, impeller washing machines use friction against other clothes to do the heavy work of cleaning and don’t include a spindle.
Benefits of an Agitator Washer
Besides their classic design and familiarity, washing machines with agitators bring many functions to the cleaning world.
- Spray-action: The spray technology soaks clothes thoroughly with water that recirculates various cycles.
- Basket spinning: The basket in your agitator top-load machine rotates continually for a constant clean.
- Agitator: To loosen stains and break up soiled particles, the agitator rubs against clothes to detach dirt.
- Price: Agitator washing machines are typically a more affordable type.
- Reliability: Because top load washers with agitators use continuous motions for every load of laundry, their reliability to efficiently release stains and grim is very reliable.
Our Top Picks
Let’s dive into some of our experts' favorite picks when it comes to washers with agitators.
1. Best Overall: GE 4.5 Cu. Ft. White Top Load Washer (GTW465ASNWW)
Our best top load washer with agitator is GE’s 4.5 cu. ft. washing machine. Between giving you total control over your laundry, as it should be, and customization features allowing for water levels to rise or fall, this choice is a top one. PreciseFill by GE takes the guesswork out of your laundry routines by sensing which cycle is optimal for each load of clothes. GE doesn’t rely on frill, which makes the brand extra reliable. Soak clothes to remove stains easier or rinse your laundry to completely alleviate any detergent residue.
Specs:
- 4.5 cu. ft. capacity
- PreciseFill
- Dual-Action agitator
2. Best Budget: Whirlpool 3.8 Cu. Ft. White Top Load Washer (WTW4955HW)
This budget-friendly top load washer with an agitator by Whirlpool is our top pick for a few different reasons. The Smooth Spiral stainless steel basket prevents tears and snags, while the dual action agitator thoroughly washes clothing. A Quick Wash cycle gives you ample time to finish your laundry before dinner without worry of odors remaining. Soil level selections give you the option to soak and wash in one cycle, so you have less trips to the laundry room.
Specs:
- 3.8 cu. ft. capacity
- Quick Wash Cycle
- Affresh Cycle
3. Best Splurge: Speed Queen TR7 3.2 Cu. Ft. White Top Load Washer-TR7003WN
Speed Queen features some of the best top load washers with agitator cleaning performances. As a pricier washer choice, Speed Queen offers durable and long-lasting performance with excellent washing results. The Speed Queen Perfect Wash gives you optimum cleaning while treating your laundry gently. A solid-mount suspension system provides a full-steel base and heavy-duty springs for longer appliance life and less vibration.
Specs:
- 3.2 cu. ft. capacity
- Perfect Wash
- Solid-mount suspension system
4. Best Agitator Washers with Steam & Sanitation
Our last choices for the best top load washers with agitator feature steam and sanitation options. The LG 5.5 cu. ft. White Top Load Washer (WT7800CW) features a perm press cycle option and a tub clean. Both these elements utilize steam to bring you the best care. By using the perm press cycle, steam will release allergens and bacteria from your fabrics at a deeper level. Use the tub cleaning cycle to optimize vapor to easily wash your appliance.
The GE Profile 4.9 cu. ft. Top Load Washer (PTW605BPRDG) brings smarter wash technology and Microban Antimicrobial innovation to your clothes for deeper sanitation. Adaptive Smart Technology gives you optimal cleaning power by adjusting the cycles as needed for your laundry. Microban Antimicrobial is a built-in element that helps prevent odor-causing bacteria and toxins that build up in the tub. Lastly, easily sanitize your load with Oxi additives. This dedicated cycle boosts your detergent’s cleaning power to remove 99 percent of bacteria from your clothing.
Why Choose a Top Load Agitator Washer
Performance and value are key when choosing which top load washing machine with an agitator to choose. Surveys reveal that mold isn’t an issue compared to their front load washer counterparts. Also, top load agitator washers are typically faster, clocking in under an hour to finish your load. We’ll break down a few more things to keep in mind below.
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Washing Performance
Agitator top load washers have been one of the most sought-after washing machines for multiple years running, and that’s not just because of their affordable price. Accompanying their traditional style, user-friendly features, and capacity, top load washers with agitators have a leg-up in washing performance. By using rotation and shifting technology, you’ll discover that agitator washers give your clothes a deeper clean. Easily find stains and particles lifted from each load of laundry without any extra work from you.
Fabric Care
You might’ve heard before that agitator washing machines can damage your laundry, but that isn’t necessarily the case. Because of the rotating motion, clothes do rub against each other, and over time, that could cause some wear but not much more than you’ll see with a front load or impeller washer. You’ll find that stains come out easier and in less time due to the circulation the agitator makes.
Effective Water Use
Agitator washers may use more water compared to other types of machines, but they use that excess water to give laundry a deeper clean. By using spin and rotation technology along with the water, your top load agitator machine extracts the most water from within the fabrics, making drying times more efficient.
Top Agitator Washer Brands
There are a lot of appliance brands on the market, so it may be hard to know which ones are reliable and offer you the best features. We’ll make that decision easier by highlighting unique elements each brand below brings to the table — or your laundry room.
GE Agitator Washers
GE asks their customers to ‘Embrace the Agitator’, and we think you should do the same. GE offers a dual action agitator that can easily handle larger loads while thoroughly and gently cleaning your laundry. A deep fill option gives you complete control and customizable options when it comes to your laundry cycles. Add a little extra water or fully fill your tub for optimal stain removable. And lastly, GE’s inventive auto soak technology allows you to program a presoak for as low as 15 minutes or up to two hours, depending on the level of soiled clothing.
LG Agitator Washers
Between classic styles and excellent features, LG top load washers with agitators are next-level. To maximize washing action, LG agitator washers have innovative fins that shuffle clothes in all directions to optimize cleanliness. LG's TurboWash3D gives clothes a gentle but fuller clean by using turbo speed to help finish your load more efficiently. And with LG washing machines, connect your appliance to the ThinQ app to always stay on top of your loads.
Whirlpool Agitator Washers
Lastly, we chose Whirlpool top load washers with agitators to feature because they’re leading the industry with the first 2-in-1 Removable Agitator. Customize your load of laundry to the max by choosing to stick with an agitator or easily removing it to use an impeller. Effortlessly make space for comforters and blankets by removing the agitator or keeping it intact to help expel pesky denim stains.
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FAQ
We’ll answer a few of your questions relating to top load washing machines with agitators below.
Q: Agitator vs. impeller washers?
So, what are the differences between an agitator and an impeller washer? They’re both found in top load washing machines, but they have two distinct ways of cleaning your laundry. Agitators are tall and reach to the top of your washer. They rub and shift your clothes back and forth. By doing this, they help break down and loosen soils by rubbing clothes against each other.
Impellers are designed as low cones or discs. Impeller washing machines spin and rotate to loosen particles in your clothing.
Q: Is a washer with an agitator better?
Our expert team's advice is to invest in agitator washer machines for a few different reasons. Agitator machines are best for shorter wash times, loosening particles, and traditional functionality. To get the most out of your agitator machine, make sure to load your laundry propelling by not over-stuffing and distributing evenly.
Q: What is the most reliable agitator top load washer brand?
Our experts agree that Whirlpool is the most reliable agitator washer brand. Whirlpool is considered a “great-value” appliance manufacturer and they offer a wide array of different price points that can fit your budget. But the main reason our experts peg Whirlpool the most reliable brand for top load washing machines is based on their streamlined cleaning process.
Whirlpool offers exclusive options like the Load & Go dispenser that allows you to fill detergent that can handle 20 to 40 loads at a time. This causes fewer steps for you in the laundry room since you just need to press start. Intuitive features and touch controls ensure laundry cycles receive what they need every time.
Not to be forgotten though, LG, GE, and Speed Queen are all reliable, durable, and trustworthy washing machine brands that we deem to have the best top load washer with agitators for your home.
Why Trust Us?
Since 1972, Aztec Appliance has been offering quality sales and service for name-brand appliances. Our mission is to not only help you achieve all your appliance dreams, but we also want to bring value to your home beyond materialistic amenities. Our team is an authentic group of people dedicated to our work, and we share the same undeniable passion for people and serving them the best we can. Suffice it to say, we know appliances.
Whether it’s a first birthday, a backyard wedding, or a retirement celebration, our hope is to give you the opportunity to enjoy life’s little moments. After all, memories are not consigned to the big moments — they exist within the little ones. And you can rest assured our inventory of top-performing kitchen, laundry, and outdoor appliances will help you spend less time keeping the home and more time with the people who make it home.
Shop Top Load Washers with Agitators at Aztec
Don’t put off until tomorrow what you can do today, and shop top load washers online for the guaranteed lowest price at Aztec. Check out Aztec Appliance reviews, and if you have questions, our friendly product experts are always happy to help you find the best top load washer with agitator for your home — whether you call us at 858-987-5777 or use our online chat feature. Better yet, stop by our Aztec Appliance San Diego showroom located at the heart of downtown. Visit us today!
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