Front-loaders get clothes clean by tumbling them so they rise near the top of the tub and then drop with a splat on the water below. In a top-loader, clothes are circulated by an agitator. Both ways to wash can yield very clean clothes. Next best, in our view, are top-loaders that can be set for four or more levels. If you always wash a full load set to the maximum water level, having fewer water-level settings may not concern you.
Most machines establish water temperatures by mixing hot and cold water in preset proportions.
Most washers automatically set the wash speed according to the fabric cycle selected. Most machines also provide at least three wash-spin speed combinations. A porcelain-coated steel tub may rust if the porcelain chips or if water sits in the tub too long. A stainless-steel or plastic tub doesn't present the same problem. Most machines also have a painted surface, which is easily scratched.