High-efficiency washing machines not only save water and electricity, but they also save money on detergent. Despite the fact that such a detergent was formerly more expensive, it is now often the same cost per load. High-efficiency washers can take larger loads in the same amount of space and are less harmful to textiles since they frequently do not have a central agitation arm (that central arm puts a lot more stress on fabrics than a rotating exterior drum and water do).