Low water top load "disc" washers are becoming the standard on the
market, and in fact I think that simpler high-water agitator washers
are being eliminated from the marketplace. The greenies are at the
root of this. Front load washers seem to be more effective than these
newer top load washers. If you want to protect yourself from this
onslaught, buy two regular washers, one to use, the other for spare
part that you can use way into the future. Same with lightbulbs:
stock up now if you want to avoid CFLs.