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 washers are generally cheaper to buy and can wash clothes faster than other types of washing machines. But they don’t offer the best washing performance and can sometimes be ...