system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
ELI5: What's the difference between top load and front load washing machine detergent?

And, what happens if you use top load detergent in a front load washing machine (or vice versa)?
gpt
There's no such thing as "top load" vs "front load" detergent. There's just normal detergent and high-efficiency detergent. Most front-load machines are high efficiency and most top load machines are not, but you can get top-loading high efficiency machines these days.

The high efficiency machines use less water, so they need a detergent that's designed for that. The high efficiency detergents are designed to make fewer suds (bubbles) than the traditional detergents. If you try putting a non-HE detergent in an HE machine, you'll end up overflowing with bubbles.

 If you put an HE in a non-HE washer, your clothes might not be as clean as you'd like, but it will otherwise be fine.