Local Knowledge About Clothes Washer (Horizontal Axis)

Horizontal axis washing machines are putting a new spin on laundry-literally. By tumbling clothes like a dryer rather than agitating clothes like in a conventional tub-and-agitator machine, horizontal axis machines use significantly less water and energy to do the same job as conventional machines. On average, 23% of U.S. indoor water use in 1999 was due to clothes washing. In contrast to other machines, American washing machines had changed very little until recently. Old style washing machines use a vertical-axis design, in which clothes are agitated in a tubful of water. Horizontal-axis machines, in contrast, put less water into the bottom of the rub and rotate clothes through it. In addition to saving water and energy, these machines are more efficient in terms of soap use and clothing stability.