GE's Adora washer cleans up in our tests

The plot is simple. People face one messy situation after another--some characters more eccentric than others--and all while dressed in their tennis whites or soft pastels. "Downton Abbey" it isn't, but GE's "Stunning feats of laundry" videos take on the toughest of topics, how to remove common stains from laundry with just the push of a button.

In a video called "Having a Nacho Fiesta" a manmade wind sends salsa, guacamole, and melted cheese flying as a woman braves it all. But soon she's covered in food, her shirt a mess but her spirit intact. Cut to the end where GE's stain removal guide is featured. These preprogrammed settings adjust the wash cycle to treat what GE says are the four most common stains--oil, tomato, dirt, and grass. And if, as luck would have it, your garment has several different stains, pick the most prevalent one and let the washer get to work.

The GE Adora GHWN8350DWS high-efficiency top-loader, $1,000 at Home Depot, features the stain removal option. Consumer Reports' latest tests found that this top-loader delivered impressive wash performance and joins our list of recommended models. It was gentle on fabrics and offers superb water efficiency and a large capacity. But it is relatively noisy and that's a consideration if you're placing the machine near a bedroom or living space. The normal wash cycle, on the heavy soil setting, takes 60 minutes, enough time to catch your favorite TV drama. We're testing the GE's matching dryer and will report back soon. Until then, see our Ratings of washers and dryers. There are dozens to choose from and free buying advice to boot.

—Kimberly Janeway