Most washers come in two forms -- those with agitators and those without. Other than the price difference, does having an agitator or not affect your laundry?

Additional reporting by Quentyn Kennemer Consumer Reports’ tests have found that top-load agitator washers are cheaper to operate and can wash clothes faster than other types of washing machines.

Top-load agitator washing machines aren’t the most technologically innovative, but they continue to outsell front-loaders and even HE top-loaders, the kind without a center-post agitator.