Laundry Centers

Best washer-dryer laundry centers

Laundry centers combine a washer and dryer in one stacked unit. They are more compact than full-size washers and dryers, and they are available in both 24- or 27-inch widths. Although the 27-inch models are the same width as full-size washers and dryers, they aren't as tall. Most laundry centers average 70 to 75 inches tall, and full-size units can reach 80 inches when stacked. Compared with high-end washers, laundry centers also have fewer bells and whistles. Although you'll find pricey stand-alone washers with electronic touch pads, hot sanitizing cycles and lots of wash settings, laundry centers are simpler. They typically have dial controls and fewer temperature levels, and they don't have fancy features like delayed start timers or steam cycles. Most laundry centers require standard venting and a 240-volt electrical supply, like a standard washer and dryer. It is also possible to get a laundry center in a gas version (for the dryer). 

Experts say gas and electric dryer performance is similar, but a gas dryer may save consumers more money in fuel costs over the long run. Still, according to ConsumerReports.org, about 80 percent of dryers sold today are electric. Experts also stress the importance of a moisture sensor in the dryer, which automatically turns the dryer off when laundry is dry. This feature helps save energy and reduces wear and tear on your clothing.

We couldn't find any professional reviews for laundry centers; they aren't reviewed by ConsumerReports.org or Good Housekeeping. So we turned to user reviews. Unfortunately, there's no clear winner in owner ratings either. We looked for models that had received the largest amount of feedback.

The 27-inch-wide Kenmore 9781 (*Est. $1,100) laundry center gets more feedback than most models -- about 30 user reviews on a variety of sites. The washer has basic features -- similar to what you'd find on an inexpensive top-loading washing machine. There are eight wash cycles, four temperature options and a standard tower agitator. The dryer does have a moisture sensor -- important for preventing overdrying and wasted energy. This all-electric laundry center requires a 240-volt dedicated outlet, like most full-size laundry centers. That means you can run the washer and dryer at the same time. Be aware that smaller laundry centers can sometimes plug into a standard 120-volt outlet, but those models can't wash and dry at the same time, and their dryers are significantly less powerful.  

On the downside, this Kenmore laundry center receives about as many complaints as compliments from owners, with reliability the main concern. However, among similar laundry centers, this Kenmore unit gets better scores and more feedback than others. It is not Energy Star-rated (it's rare to find a laundry center that meets Energy Star requirements).

We found lower ratings for the similar Frigidaire FEX831FS (*Est. $1,100), a 27-inch laundry center with a 2.7-cubic-foot top-loading washer, which is not Energy Star-certified, and a 5.7-cubic-foot electric dryer. A main difference compared to the Kenmore laundry center is that there's no moisture sensor in the dryer. The Frigidaire laundry center also comes in a gas version, the Frigidaire FGX831FS (*Est. $1,100); both have a one-year warranty.

At the user review site Buzzillions.com, the Frigidaire FEX831FS gets middling ratings from about 15 reviewers, who give it 3.2 stars out of 5. Some like the laundry center, especially its compact size and affordable price tag. However, multiple reviewers say it takes a long time to dry and has reliability problems, including broken lid switches and faulty dryer bearings. Average ratings at Sears.com are split right down the middle.

Compact laundry centers

If your space is too small for a 27-inch laundry center, there are several 24-inch units that also get positive owner reviews. These compact units can reside in tighter spaces, but they do so at the expense of load capacity -- most have very small washers and dryers, and users often have to run more loads of laundry.

The Whirlpool LTE5243DQ (*Est. $1,000) has a top-loading washer and is not Energy Star-certified. You'll sacrifice some capacity for the unit's compactness -- the 1.5-cubic-foot washer is about half the size found in 27-inch laundry centers. The electric dryer is also small, only 3.4 cubic feet, and it includes an internal thermostat (which senses air temperature) to turn off the dryer when laundry is dry instead of a moisture sensor. Experts say internal thermostats aren't as precise as moisture sensors; that's because moisture levels are a more accurate indicator of when laundry is dry than air temperature. As a result, dryers with internal thermostats have a tendency to overdry clothing, which increases wear and tear.

The Whirlpool laundry center's internal tub is coated in porcelain. Experts say that drum material has very little impact on washing performance, but some say stainless steel is more durable than porcelain coatings. Features include dial controls, three water temperature levels and five wash cycles. The laundry center is 24 inches wide and 72 inches tall. The gas version is the Whirlpool LTG5243DQ (*Est. $1,100). Both have a one-year warranty.

Users at Viewpoints.com give the Whirlpool LTE5243DQ laundry center an average of 3.7 stars (out of 5) in about 40 reviews. Owners say the laundry center works just as well as larger models, but that the small capacity makes washing thick blankets and other large items impossible. A few say that it is prone to becoming unbalanced, and several note that the dryer's lint filter, which is located inside the dryer at the top of the rear wall, is difficult to reach without a step stool. One plus is that because this Whirlpool laundry center requires a 220/240-volt outlet, you can use the washer and dryer at the same time.

Like the Whirlpool laundry center, the GE Spacemaker WSM2420DWW (*Est. $1,100) has a top-loading washer and is not Energy Star-certified. It has a 1.5-cubic-foot washer and a 4.3-cubic-foot dryer, and the dryer uses an internal thermostat. Other features include dial controls, three water temperature levels and nine wash cycles. It has a porcelain-coated tub. The laundry center is 24 inches wide and just under 72 inches tall. The gas version is the GE Spacemaker WSM2480DWW (*Est. $1,200), and both have a one-year warranty. 

Users at HomeDepot.com give the GE Spacemaker WSM2420DWW laundry center a 4-star rating in about 15 reviews. Owners say the laundry center is incredibly compact, fits in small spaces and doesn't skimp on washing or drying performance. However, one user says the washer is loud and the small capacity is a big downside, and one says the washer is too small for king-size sheets or comforters. ConsumerGuide.com, a product-review site, gives the gas version, the GE Spacemaker WSM2480DWW, a Budget Buy award. "Although basic, GE's WSM2480 is reliable," write the editors. "The basic features don't differ much from the unitized laundry combos we've been seeing for many years."

Kenmore also makes a number of laundry centers, but most get average or below average ratings at Sears.com. However, the 24-inch Kenmore 88732 (*Est. $950) does get slightly better reviews than the other Kenmore laundry centers. Like the GE Spacemaker WSM2420DWW, the Kenmore 88732 has a top-loading washer with a small 1.5-cubic-foot capacity. It is not Energy Star-certified. The electric dryer is smaller than the GE Spacemaker model at only 3.4 cubic feet, and it does not include a moisture sensor. Other features include dial controls, two drying temperatures, nine wash cycles, a porcelain washtub and a one-year warranty. The Kenmore 88732 is not available in a gas version.

Users at Sears.com give the Kenmore 88732 laundry center a 3.5-star rating in about 20 reviews. Several reviewers praise the compactness of the unit, but others say they need to run more loads to wash the same amount of laundry. Users also say you can't use the washer and dryer at the same time, because this laundry center runs on a 120-volt current (most laundry centers run on a 240-volt current and you can run the washer and dryer simultaneously). Several owners also note that the washer can frequently become unbalanced, and others say it's noisy. 

The 24-inch Kenmore 88752 (*Est. $1,100) also gets a 3.5-star rating from more than 30 reviewers at Sears.com, and this laundry center comes in a gas version, the Kenmore 98752 (*Est. $1,050). The Kenmore 88752 has the same capacity and warranty as the Kenmore 88732, but it runs on a 240-volt current, and the washer and dryer can be used at the same time. Some users report great success with this laundry center, and they particularly praise the unit's convenience and space savings. It's also easy to use and operate, according to reviews. However, others report long drying times; there are a number of reliability complaints, including broken water pumps, leaks and loud noises that develop over time.