If you do front load, put them on risers.

Front loaders typically use less water and spin at higher speeds, extracting more water from the load. That means less tumbling in the dryer which makes your clothes last longer.

The down side is that the washers are water tight which means they can get moldy and smelly if you don't let the interior dry out when you're done with the laundry. However, this is easily solved by leaving the door open until the inside is completely dry.

Love my new front loaders, which are stacked to save space...

Top loading washers are easier on you back as Dytecture mentioned. That might not be important when you're 22, but by the time you're 45, it is.

One of the problems with front loaders is the fact that once a load starts you can't open the door. If something gets put in by mistake, it can't be removed or if you forget something it won't get washed in that load.

Front loaders also tend to have less capacity - very important factor if you have alot of laundry.

I have a front loading washer and regret it ( back problem and mold). Would get top loading next time.

If you have a small laundry area, check the dimensions. Many front loaders are bigger (front to back measurement).

Oneofeleven ... I open the door of my front loader after it has started. All I do is turn off the power and wait a minute for the safety latch to disengage. If it's full of water I run the drain cycle first or have a bucket handy to catch the spill.

I'm 67 with a bad back and don't have trouble using the front loaders. I've had them since 1985 and prefer them. No mold problems, but I wipe out the rubber seal after a load and leave the door cracked.

@loreshep. It depends on the model for the capacity. Many front loads have larger capacity than top loads and vice versa.

I have new whirlpools on risers which are great for detergent, dryer sheets etc. mine does have an add an item that will open the door mid wash, I had to read the directions on how to do that. They are Beautiful! My only complaint is that I don't think the washer cleans the extra dirty clothes as well as an agitator. Also because if the small amount of water used to wash, we have needed to go to soaps with out color or do a double rinse.

I also do my whites with bleach as the last load, no mold issues.

They are very nice Darla. Did you have to take Washers 101 to learn how to use them :-)

We love our LG front loaders! I always leave the door cracked after running a wash load and have never had any mold (or service) issues. We've had them for about three years.

I never liked my front loader by Samsung. There was the moldy smell issue, and I know I could leave the door open, but that just gets in the way in my small laundry room, the adding forgotten items after the start issue was bothersome too. Two months after the warranty was up, the washer crapped out, needed the entire drum replaced....parts and labor was going to be $700. I pitched the front loader and got a top loader and am much happier!

I've had the front-loading Whirlpool Duet washer and dryer on risers and never had any problems with them (other than how heavy they were when they had to be moved into the house). It's easier on my back than trying to get stuff out of the top loading Kenmore I had before or the top loading one that came with my condo. I have a lot more of a moldy smell issue with the top loader in my condo. I never had any smell with my front loaders. Also, the top loaders leave a lot more lint on things than the front loader did. My front loader allowed me to press a button and add or remove things once the load had started. My top loader locks the lid and won't let me open it once it starts, and on a couple of occasions has stayed locked after the load finished and wouldn't let me get it out. I've had to run a rinse and spin to get that lid to unlatch so I could dry the clothes. I'd give almost anything to have my front loading Duets back...

There is an insanely long discussion thread and poll on this topic, with lots of good information and lots of complaints about (and passionate support for) both styles:

https://www.houzz.com/discussions/front-vs-top-loaders-which-is-better-dsvw-vd~727881

There was a thread on this a long time ago if you care to dig it up.
My Mom always had top load washers. My clothes only last about a year anyway, with all the wear and tear. We have had two front loaders and both have/had smell and mold issues.