What Is The Best Washer To Buy [WORK]

We conducted extensive online research to find the best washing machines. Our top picks are based on those with the best and most consistent reviews, combined with the most impressive specifications. We considered everything from capacity, to program offerings to electricity consumption.

what is the best washer to buy

Combination: If you struggle for space, then a combination washer/dryer might be best. These machines function as both washers and dryers, meaning you can wash and dry clothes in the same drum. While the design makes sense, we've found that these hybrid machines generally struggle in performance; they take much longer than a standalone dryer.

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• Top load washers are better than front load washers when it comes to upfront cost, maintenance, and lifespan. The familiar design of a top load washer is typically more budget-friendly and doesn't collect mildew and odors as quickly as a front-loading machine. You can usually do basic repairs, like balancing the drum, on your own by watching an instructional video or following the troubleshooting tips in your manual. On the downside, top load washers can create a good amount of wear and tear on your clothes. For more, check out our comparison guide on top load versus front load washers."}},"@type": "Question","name": "Do top load washers use more water and energy?","acceptedAnswer": "@type": "Answer","text": "Top load washers can use significantly more water and energy compared to other types of machines. On average, they use 40 gallons of water per load. If you're hoping to save money, you'll want to shop for a high-efficiency washer that uses about 12 to 17 gallons of water per load. This is competitive with front load washers, which use an average of 13 gallons per load.","@type": "Question","name": "How do you clean a top load washer?","acceptedAnswer": "@type": "Answer","text": "To clean a top load washer, first, empty the drum completely. Next, choose the hottest and longest cycle on your machine and start it. Before your machine begins to agitate, pause the cycle and add four cups of liquid chlorine bleach to the drum. Finish the cycle, and then turn your focus to your dispensers. If there is residue build-up, you can tackle it using distilled white vinegar and an old toothbrush. For the full step-by-step process, check out our guide on how to clean a top load washing machine."]}]}] .icon-garden-review-1fill:#b1dede.icon-garden-review-2fill:none;stroke:#01727a;stroke-linecap:round;stroke-linejoin:round > buttonbuttonThe Spruce The Spruce's Instagram The Spruce's TikTok The Spruce's Pinterest The Spruce's Facebook NewslettersClose search formOpen search formSearch DecorRoom Design

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Get daily tips and tricks for making your best home.Subscribe The Spruce's Instagram The Spruce's TikTok The Spruce's Pinterest The Spruce's Facebook About UsNewsletterPress and MediaContact UsEditorial GuidelinesWhat to BuyAppliance ReviewsWasher & DryersThe 8 Best Top Load Washers of 2023The Whirlpool 5.3-cubic-foot 2-in-1 Top Load Washing Machine is our favorite

Top load washers are better than front load washers when it comes to upfront cost, maintenance, and lifespan. The familiar design of a top load washer is typically more budget-friendly and doesn't collect mildew and odors as quickly as a front-loading machine. You can usually do basic repairs, like balancing the drum, on your own by watching an instructional video or following the troubleshooting tips in your manual. On the downside, top load washers can create a good amount of wear and tear on your clothes. For more, check out our comparison guide on top load versus front load washers.

Top load washers can use significantly more water and energy compared to other types of machines. On average, they use 40 gallons of water per load. If you're hoping to save money, you'll want to shop for a high-efficiency washer that uses about 12 to 17 gallons of water per load. This is competitive with front load washers, which use an average of 13 gallons per load.

To clean a top load washer, first, empty the drum completely. Next, choose the hottest and longest cycle on your machine and start it. Before your machine begins to agitate, pause the cycle and add four cups of liquid chlorine bleach to the drum. Finish the cycle, and then turn your focus to your dispensers. If there is residue build-up, you can tackle it using distilled white vinegar and an old toothbrush. For the full step-by-step process, check out our guide on how to clean a top load washing machine.

Staff writer Sarah Bogdan did most of the hands-on testing for this guide and tested 31 washers (including compact and combo models, as well as laundry centers) and 15 dryers at our office in Long Island City, New York. She previously spent three years testing appliances and home goods (including detergents) at the Good Housekeeping Institute.

The spraying action from the TurboWash 360 feature seems to allow this model to remove stains faster and to rinse clothes faster and more thoroughly than front-loaders usually do. Plus, if you need to see a lot of water moving around the washer to feel like the machine is actually working, the spraying might give you that visual satisfaction that most front-loaders are missing.

The WM4000H also has a few maintenance features that might make it easier to live with than other washers. Its magnetic door prop is a clever way to help prevent the dreaded mildew stench from taking root without having to leave the door wide open. In addition, you can access the drain trap clean-out right from the front of the washer without having to disassemble any part of the cabinet, so if something is blocking the drain pump you can pull it out yourself without moving the washer.

The GFW650 washer comes in two finishes, white and satin nickel, and the dryer comes in the same finishes in gas (GFD65GSSNWW and GFD65GSPNSN) and electric (GFD65ESSNWW and GFD65ESPNSN). If you want to get these models higher off the floor, you can buy a pedestal (GFP1528SNWW or GFP1528PNSN) with a drawer for storage or a somewhat shorter riser (GFR0728SNWW or GFR0728PNSN). The GE GFW550 washer is very similar to the GFW650 but lacks the Power Clean and Active Wear wash programs as well as the detergent auto-dispensing option, while the larger GFW850 has all the same features as the GFW650 plus a program that allows it to wash and dry a small load in one step, like a combo washer-dryer.

We plan to try the ELFW7637A and ELFE7637A when we test full-size washers and dryers again, but judging from our experience with the previous model, we think this is a pair worth buying if you can find it in stock.

If you want a great washing machine for the best possible price, you might consider buying the cheapest front-loader that you can find. One of these will almost always outperform similarly priced top-loaders, and the predicted reliability should be about the same. Prices have often dropped to the $600 to $800 range in the past, but industry-wide price increases, present economic conditions, and supply-chain issues mean prices are likely to stay at the top of that range or go up further.

We put together a 12-pound test load of laundry (considered a large load in the industry) of mixed materials and fabric weights, including T-shirts, jeans, zip-up hoodies, blouses, socks, underwear, and more. We made four nearly identical loads so that we could run multiple tests at once. And we ran all of our tests with 2 tablespoons of Tide Original, the best-selling detergent on Amazon at the time of our testing.

To measure gentleness, we ran two different tests. First, we used pre-damaged fraying fabric, designed to fall apart strand by strand, to assess how much stress the wash action put on clothes. We also used Poka-Dot fabric (PDF), a cotton swatch covered with blue dots that fall off when abraded; the rougher the cycle, the fewer the dots that remain after washing. We used a digital imaging system to analyze the density of the dots, but the differences were obvious to the naked eye. For the most part, the results of the fraying-fabric test were consistent with those of the Poka-Dot test. We ran these same tests on the Delicate and Heavy Duty cycles for the washers, too, to get an idea of the differences between cycles. In addition, we kept our eyes out for other signs of damage to our test loads (which were made of low-quality clothing, as it turned out), such as shredded sweatshirt drawstrings or disfigured bras. 041b061a72