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Powerful cleaning
Aided by an effective laundry detergent, a good washer will clean your clothes gently and thoroughly, remove stains and odors, and fully extract excess moisture after the wash cycle.
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Sufficient capacity
Drum size matters, especially if you wash bulky bedding, thick towels, or large family loads. You’ll need a washer with at least 4.5 cubic feet of capacity to handle a king-size comforter. In our ratings, you’ll find washers with capacities ranging from a 1.9-cubic-foot compact to a 5.8-cubic-foot front-loader.
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Customized cycles
Most people use a washer’s normal cycle, but today’s smart washers can elevate your laundry experience with customized settings, WiFi connectivity, and AI technology.
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Water and energy efficiency
Today’s washing machines clean clothes using less energy and water than ever before. Look for an Energy Star certified or CR-designated Green Choice model. Green Choice appliances not only are highly energy- and water-efficient but also have a lower environmental impact throughout their life cycle.
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Handy features
A stainless steel drum adds to a washer’s cost but lasts longer than a plastic or porcelain-coated steel one. Automatic dispensers release detergent and fabric softener at precise times during a cycle, which prevents overdosing.
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Reliability
We survey CR members annually to find out how reliable their washers are and whether they’re satisfied with their appliances. We also gather data on any problems they’ve had with their washers over a decade. For more, read our guide to the most and least reliable washing machine brands.
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Front-Load Washers
Front-Load Washers Ratings -
Top-Load Agitator Washers
Top-Load Agitator Washers Ratings -
High-Efficiency Top-Load Washers
High-Efficiency Top-Load Washers Ratings -
Compact Front-Load Washers
Compact Front-Load Washers Ratings -
All-in-One Washer-Dryers
All-in-One Washer-Dryers Ratings
Photo: LG
Compatibility can also include the ability to stack the two machines using specialized hardware. You’re likely to save hundreds of dollars buying both machines in a package bundle deal from manufacturers or retailers.
Whether you opt for a manufacturer’s set or create your own pair, we recommend choosing your washer first. Washers offer a wider variety of features, and there are more washer models to choose from than dryer models. In our ratings, you can look at the combined performance of more than 75 washer-dryer pairs to see which adds up to a match made in heaven.
Consumer Reports marks out each washer’s actual capacity, helping you choose a machine depending on what your load looks like normally.
Photo: Consumer Reports
For reference, a large washing machine with an extra-large 6.2-cubic-foot capacity can hold 17 thick, full-sized bath towels, while compact washers, which have a claimed capacity of 2.7 cubic feet or less, can fit about six of these towels. Washers with a capacity of more than 4.5 cubic feet fit a king-size comforter in our tests.
Water efficiency
Green Choice washers wash clothes effectively using no more than 10 gallons of water to wash an 8-pound load of laundry (6 pounds for compacts).
Energy efficiency
Green Choice washers use on average 0.236 kilowatt-hours of energy per load (about 4 cents’ worth of electricity).
Interior materials
Stainless steel drums are more durable and easier to recycle than plastic ones, so washers with stainless steel drums are considered better for the environment.
Brand reliability
CR’s annual member survey reveals which brands produce washing machines that are most likely to last longer, requiring less frequent replacement.
Shipping footprint
We calculate a washer’s carbon footprint using its weight, dimensions, and country of origin, and factor that into its Green Choice score.
Price and warranty
The cost of a washer and the length of its warranty—which you can find in our washing machine ratings—also factor into its Green Choice score.
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Automatic temperature control
Rather than simply mixing hot and cold water in preset proportions, auto temperature control adjusts the water to the optimal temperature for the selected setting.
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WiFi capabilty
This feature lets you communicate with your washer via a phone app. You can start, stop, or pause a cycle, get end-of-cycle or maintenance notifications, download new cycles, and measure energy use.
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End-of-cycle signal
A snappy tune or string of beeps alerts you that it’s time to move your clean laundry from the washing machine to the dryer.
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Extra rinse cycle
This can help if your skin is sensitive to detergent residue, and help wash away pet hair and other stubborn messes. (That said, you should remove as much pet hair as possible from fabrics before putting them into the washer.)
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Automatic dispensers
This feature is designed to dispense detergent, bleach, and fabric softener at the right time during a cycle. Some washing machines can hold several months’ worth of detergent.
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Stainless steel tub
Most washers that CR tests now have stainless tubs. They can withstand higher spin speeds than plastic tubs, extracting more water and cutting drying time.
