There are top-loaders and there are front-loaders. When you're considering what type to buy, which wins out in the "Spin Zone"?
"You need to consider how energy efficient the washer is, how much it costs, and most importantly, how well it cleans your clothes," Bob Markovich of Consumer Reports said.
Consumer Reports tested more than 70 washing machines, doing EIGHT TONS of laundry in the process.
Front-loaders can take an hour, even an hour-and-a-half to run - far longer than a typical top-loader. Yet your energy bills are likely to go down with a front-loader.
"Front-loaders tend to leave a lot less water in your clothes. The wetter your clothes, the longer they take to dry, and that's where you really run up your utility bills!" Markovich said.
Consumer Reports tested two machines. Testers washed an identical eight-pound load and weighed it afterward. The laundry in the top-loader weighed almost 16 pounds. The front-loader laundry weighed less - around 13 pounds, requiring a lot less drying time.
"That'll save you $130 a year or more on utility bills. And front-loaders use a lot less water, too." Markovich said.
Front-loaders do tend to cost more. They can retail for more than a thousand dollars. But Consumer Reports found good, less expensive ones, including an LG for $850.
If you prefer a top-loader, Consumer Reports recommends Whirlpool. It costs $630 and did very good at cleaning.
Consumer Reports says you will see top-loaders priced under $500, but its tests show most don't clean very well.
These are the washing machines that Consumer Reports recommends:
- LG WM2050C[W]
- Type: Front-loading washing machines
- Price as tested:
- $700
- Overall score 83
- Overall, this washer was excellent.
- Washing performance is very good.
- Energy efficiency is excellent.
- Water efficiency is excellent.
- Capacity is excellent.
- Gentleness is excellent.
- Noise is just good.
- Vibration is very good.
- Has a cycle time of 80 minutes.
- Comes with a 1 year warranty.
- Maytag Bravos MVWB750W[Q]
- Type: Top-loading washing machines
- Price as tested:
- $900
- Overall score 75
- Overall, this washer was very good.
- Washing performance is very good.
- Energy efficiency is very good.
- Water efficiency is excellent.
- Capacity is excellent.
- Gentleness is just good.
- Noise is just good.
- Vibration is excellent.
- Has a cycle time of 50 minutes.
- Comes with a 1 year warranty
- Whirlpool Cabrio HE WTW6800W[W]
- Type: Top-loading washing machines
- Price as tested:
- $1000
- Overall score 74
- Overall, this washer was very good.
- Washing performance is very good.
- Energy efficiency is very good.
- Water efficiency is excellent.
- Capacity is excellent.
- Gentleness is just good.
- Noise is just good.
- Vibration is excellent.
- Has a cycle time of 48 minutes.
- Comes with a 1 year warranty.
