The first electric washers were top loading machines that performed their job well. Today, though, they are facing competition from front-loading types. Top loaders remain the faster washer, and if your back will not let you bend down to load your laundry through a front door, you may want to stick with them. Front loaders, on the other hand, use less water (up to 60%) and less energy (up to 68%) than their older siblings.

So if you are more concerned about conservation than saving time, you may want the front-loading Fagor FA-4812 Washing Machine. And if you also want to save on space, you can get a Fagor SFA-8CE Dryer and stack it over the FA-4812. The washing machine is designed to support the weight of the dryer. When purchased together, they come with a stacking kit and splitter box.

The washer has a capacity of 2 cu. ft. While other machines may have a bigger capacities, the FA-4812's Turbo Time Plus washing system greatly reduces washing time allowing you to load a second or even third batch of clothes.

Loading clothes into the washer is made easier with its automatic door opener. Just push a button and the door opens without you having to bend down. The hinge on the door allows it to open up to 180°, thus maximizing the use of the 13-inch diameter aperture. You can just throw in your soiled stuff into the stainless steel drum, again, without bending down. Compared to other washers, there are more holes on the drum but they are smaller. This design results to a more gentle wash.

The washer has a one-step program feature that allows you to choose between whites and coloreds, the soil level, and let the machine take care of the rest –temperature, washing time, and spin speed.

Like the washer, the dryer also has a 2 cu. ft. capacity. It has a stainless steel drum, sized at 32 gallons, that rotates intermittently in opposite directions to reduce wrinkling.  The door, again like the washer, opens 180° for ease of loading and unloading.