Front loaders get clothes cleaner; use less water, electricity, detergent, and are less damaging to the items being washed. If you observe your front-loader, it will fill to what is necessary for the sensor, swish back and forth, sit, swish, sit, etc. It is not necessary to have an abundance of water to clean as it is the sitting/swishing and your soap that do the cleaning.
Most front loaders have variable spin cycles so set it on delicate and cold and you should be fine. I have had mine for two years plus and before that used them continuously at the animal shelter where we were able to sanitize all the bedding etc. They were great!
Front loaders vary in size so check your manual. I can put two king sized blankets and a few extras in mine.
I would never go back to top loading.