Laundry Products That Waste Loads of Money

We found no front-loader in our washing machine ratings that completely fits the role of a money-waster. The closest is our lowest-rated model, the Kenmore 42273, which—while it washes clothes well and has good energy and water efficiency—lags in both reliability and owner satisfaction, based on our member surveys.

Likewise, many HE top-loaders (the type without an agitator) earn an excellent or very good rating for washing performance, their primary function. But some are more wasteful than others. The $900 Kenmore 29262 does a solid job of cleaning clothes, but it unleashes a flood to do that. (Its water-efficiency score ties for the worst in this category.) Perhaps not surprisingly, we calculated the annual cost of using this washer at $81, more than any other HE top-loader in our ratings (in fact, more than double the cost of many). The reliability of Kenmore HEs, based on our member surveys, is substandard, and owner satisfaction for these models is in the basement, the lowest of any HE brand we test.

There are, however, a number of agitator top-loaders in our ratings that will burn a hole in your wallet or leave your clothes unclean. The first pair—a Maytag and Frigidaire—almost double the annual operating cost of clothes washing compared with other top-loaders. The Maytag MTW5605RW actually washes clothes very well, but it wastes energy and water, costing $92 per year to operate. In fact, it used a shocking 42 gallons of water per 8-pound load during our tests, earning it the worst possible water-efficiency rating in its category. The noisy Frigidaire FLVW7000AW has a retail price of around $540, but we calculated that it costs $93 per year to operate, largely due to its poor water efficiency and mediocre energy rating. That could be why owner satisfaction with Frigidaire agitator machines is the lowest in our ratings. Two other agitator models to steer clear of are the Insignia NS-TWM35W1 and the Midea MLTW41A1BWW. While inexpensive to buy and energy- and water-efficient, we found their ability to clean clothes the worst in their class.

Any dryer will get the job done—eventually. But dryers that dry ineffectively (or conversely, overdry clothes) waste money. Pairing a washer with an effective spin cycle with an Energy Star certified dryer can help you save.

Three electric dryers stand out as wasteful, for various reasons. The Maytag MED4500MW costs about $254 per year to operate, nearly $100 more than our top-rated dryers. In our tests, it used 6.7 kWh of electric energy over a long 119-minute cycle. The bottom-rated GE GTX52EASP electric dryer offers so-so reliability, subpar drying performance, and a nearly $1,000 price. On top of that, it costs $200 per year to operate. It’s double the retail cost of the Hotpoint HTX26EASWWW, which is barely better.

There are a few ways you can waste money on laundry detergents—by paying too much, using too much, and choosing an ineffective detergent to begin with. Now that most detergents are concentrated, it’s easy to use too much if you don’t measure. Always use the recommended amount, which is typically 1½ ounces (3 tablespoons) for a normal load. Using too much detergent can also waste water because excess suds can prolong the rinse cycle.

Detergent prices vary widely, and cost doesn’t always align with performance. OxiClean High Def Liquid cleans most stains well, but it costs 93 cents per load (more than double the 37 cents per load for Tide Plus Ultra Stain Release, our top-rated detergent). And though Purex Natural Elements (9 cents per load)and Arm & Hammer Sensitive Skin (10 cents per load) are much cheaper, they’re not a bargain when our tests show they’re no match for common stains.

None of the detergent strips we tested was effective at cleaning stains, so while they’re better for the environment, they aren’t necessarily good for your budget unless you combine them with a pretreatment or stain remover. You’ll find much better options in our laundry detergent ratings.

You may notice chromatic laundry bottles stacked on your supermarket shelves like trophies. But their bold claims don’t always make them a prize. CR doesn’t test all laundry products. But we know a boondoggle when we see one.

Are those fabric softeners, scent boosters, color enhancers, static guards, and dryer sheets really necessary? Not really, unless your clothes are clingy or very dingy, or you’re a stickler for them smelling “island fresh.” (That’s not to dismiss consumer fascination with clean clothes that also smell wonderful. It’s certainly popular.)

These products may undo static, brighten colors, or overwhelm odors, but they can leave residue on your clothes. And that can cause rashes if you have allergies or sensitive skin. 

If you wash your clothes correctly with an effective laundry detergent (even a fragrant one) and finish loads off with a high-performing dryer, few of those ancillary products are necessary, says Rich Handel, CR’s laundry expert. So you can save some cash by skipping them. Let your laundry machines and detergents carry the load—that’s what they’re designed for.