I love my front loader. It's gentle on my clothes, uses far less water than a top loader, and everything is much cleaner. I throw in hand washables with no concerns. There is a gentle cycle, a permanent press cycle, and a cotton cycle, each with varying time lengths. There is only one thing I don't like. You cannot select the water temperature separate from the cycle. Also, it is small. It would be perfect for a household of one oretwo.