agitator vs. no agitator

[e_roehm23]

So, we just bought a new washer/dryer- kenmore 800 w/ manual knobs and buttons and it DOES have an agitator. However, the agitator seems really big and sometimes I have trouble putting clothes in and taking them out. What do you think and what have you all heard about washers w/agitators? In your experience w/o them do they still get cd's as clean? Salesmen say they're not necessary w/new machines, but I guess I'm old fashioned...

[Galatea]

It depends on the motion. I made sure to get one with real knobs and an agitator. Instead of sort of shaking back and forth, the whole drum makes one full turn clockwise, then one full turn counterclockwise. I have to keep it on regular speed (not heavy duty) or the clothes get all knotted up. It doesn't matter for the diapers b/c they are not long enough to knot, but the sleeves and pant legs will get crazy wrinkled if you use heavy duty/cottons.

[alfabetsoup]

I like the idea of no agitator but I must say that my diapers get the cleanest in my mom's 15-year-old machine, and that thing is hardcore. Even the delicate cycle is a killer.

We had a front loader with no agitator in the UK and I found we had to be really careful how much I put in it and the amount of detergent etc or it didn't get the diapers clean.