Buying advice Washing machines
Washers have become more efficient in the last 10 years. But some new ones are having a tough time meeting new federal energy
rules without sacrificing cleaning. Our latest tests found huge performance differences among machines.
The U.S. Department of Energy now requires washers to use 21 percent less energy, a goal we wholeheartedly support. But several major manufacturers are meeting the new standard in part by lowering wash-water temperatures, which often lowers performance. Traditional top-loaders with center-post agitators are having the hardest time, with some leaving our stain-soaked swatches nearly as dirty as they were before washing. Most top-loaders received only mediocre washing scores, and some had the lowest scores we’ve seen in years.
Fortunately, our tests also revealed models that are both capable and efficient.
WHAT’S AVAILABLE
The top four brands—GE, Kenmore (Sears), Maytag, and Whirlpool—account for most washer sales. Other brands include Frigidaire (made by Electrolux), Hotpoint (made by GE), and Admiral, Amana, and Roper (made by Whirlpool). You might also run across such brands as Crosley, Estate, and White-Westinghouse, all of which are made by the larger brands. Asko and Miele are European brands. Fisher & Paykel is imported from New Zealand, LG and Samsung from Korea, and Haier from China.
Regular top-loading washers. These fill the tub with water and agitate clothing, using the most water. Because they need to move the laundry around to ensure thorough cleaning, these machines hold about 12 to 16 pounds, which is less than large front-loaders and top-loaders without agitators. On the plus side, they make it easier to load laundry and add items midcycle, and cost the least overall. But most are relatively noisy and can allow loads to become unbalanced. They also performed least-impressively as a group. Price: $300 to $650.
High-efficiency top-loading washers. These use discs—called wash plates—that lift and tumble laundry. Washing performance is typically better than with regular top-loaders, with added capacity. High-efficiency top-loaders fill partly with water and spin at very high speeds. But the high spin speeds that reduce drying time (and energy consumption) can make clothing more tangled and wrinkled. They also work best with low-foaming, high-efficiency detergent. Price: $800 to $1,200.
Front-loading washers. These clean clothes by lifting them to the top of the tub and then dropping them into the water below. They fill only partly with water, adding efficiency over regular top-loaders. Most handle between 12 and 20 pounds of laundry. Like high-efficiency top-loaders, front-loaders wash best with low-sudsing detergent. The best still outperform the best high-efficiency top-loaders overall without necessarily costing more. Many can be stacked with a dryer to save floor space. Price: $700 to $1,600.
Space-saving washers and dryers. Compact models are typically 24 inches wide or less vs. 27 inches for full-sized models. Compact washers can handle an 8-to-12-pound load; dryers have about half the drum capacity of full-sized models—about 3½ cubic feet. Front-loading washers can be stacked with compact dryers. Some compact washers can be stored in a closet and rolled out to the kitchen sink for water.
Washer-dryer laundry centers combine the dryer and washer in one unit. They can be full-sized or compact, gas or electric. Full-sized washers hold about 12 to 14 pounds and compacts a bit less, though the dryer component typically holds less than a full-sized dryer. Performance is generally the same as that of a full-sized machine. Price: $450 to $1,700 for compact washers and $200 to $1,400 for compact dryers; $900 to $1,900 for laundry centers.
The U.S. Department of Energy now requires washers to use 21 percent less energy, a goal we wholeheartedly support. But several major manufacturers are meeting the new standard in part by lowering wash-water temperatures, which often lowers performance. Traditional top-loaders with center-post agitators are having the hardest time, with some leaving our stain-soaked swatches nearly as dirty as they were before washing. Most top-loaders received only mediocre washing scores, and some had the lowest scores we’ve seen in years.
Fortunately, our tests also revealed models that are both capable and efficient.
WHAT’S AVAILABLE
The top four brands—GE, Kenmore (Sears), Maytag, and Whirlpool—account for most washer sales. Other brands include Frigidaire (made by Electrolux), Hotpoint (made by GE), and Admiral, Amana, and Roper (made by Whirlpool). You might also run across such brands as Crosley, Estate, and White-Westinghouse, all of which are made by the larger brands. Asko and Miele are European brands. Fisher & Paykel is imported from New Zealand, LG and Samsung from Korea, and Haier from China.
Regular top-loading washers. These fill the tub with water and agitate clothing, using the most water. Because they need to move the laundry around to ensure thorough cleaning, these machines hold about 12 to 16 pounds, which is less than large front-loaders and top-loaders without agitators. On the plus side, they make it easier to load laundry and add items midcycle, and cost the least overall. But most are relatively noisy and can allow loads to become unbalanced. They also performed least-impressively as a group. Price: $300 to $650.
High-efficiency top-loading washers. These use discs—called wash plates—that lift and tumble laundry. Washing performance is typically better than with regular top-loaders, with added capacity. High-efficiency top-loaders fill partly with water and spin at very high speeds. But the high spin speeds that reduce drying time (and energy consumption) can make clothing more tangled and wrinkled. They also work best with low-foaming, high-efficiency detergent. Price: $800 to $1,200.
Front-loading washers. These clean clothes by lifting them to the top of the tub and then dropping them into the water below. They fill only partly with water, adding efficiency over regular top-loaders. Most handle between 12 and 20 pounds of laundry. Like high-efficiency top-loaders, front-loaders wash best with low-sudsing detergent. The best still outperform the best high-efficiency top-loaders overall without necessarily costing more. Many can be stacked with a dryer to save floor space. Price: $700 to $1,600.
Space-saving washers and dryers. Compact models are typically 24 inches wide or less vs. 27 inches for full-sized models. Compact washers can handle an 8-to-12-pound load; dryers have about half the drum capacity of full-sized models—about 3½ cubic feet. Front-loading washers can be stacked with compact dryers. Some compact washers can be stored in a closet and rolled out to the kitchen sink for water.
Washer-dryer laundry centers combine the dryer and washer in one unit. They can be full-sized or compact, gas or electric. Full-sized washers hold about 12 to 14 pounds and compacts a bit less, though the dryer component typically holds less than a full-sized dryer. Performance is generally the same as that of a full-sized machine. Price: $450 to $1,700 for compact washers and $200 to $1,400 for compact dryers; $900 to $1,900 for laundry centers.
