For an explanation of how we rank reviews, see our ratings criteria page.
by Editors of Consumer Reports.org
Consumer Reports includes washers in its continual-testing program, meaning that new washers are constantly evaluated and added to the ratings chart. That makes Consumer Reports the best resource we found… for testing washers; no one else even comes close. In this report, editors add a vibration rating. Because of recent government mandated energy-efficiency laws, many top-loading washers do not get clothing as clean as they did when they were allowed to use more water.
by Editors of Good Housekeeping
by Editors of Choice
This is the website for the Australian Consumers' Association, the Australian equivalent of Consumer Reports. Editors test more than 30 washing machines -- both top-loaders and front-loaders. Choice… considers test criteria including dirt removal, gentleness, water efficiency, noise reduction, running costs and more, issuing ratings for each model's performance. Models include several brands available in the U.S., such as LG, Fisher & Paykel, Samsung and Whirlpool, but the model numbers don't correspond, so this report is of limited usefulness to U.S. consumers.
by Editors of Which?
Which? is a British consumer magazine similar to Consumer Reports. For this report, editors test 200 washing machines for running cost, stain removal, noise and ease of use. All tested models also get… detailed reviews, and about 20 models are deemed Best Buys. Unfortunately, this report doesn't cover things like gentleness or cycle time, and since the magazine is based in England, it includes mainly brands not available in the U.S.
by Contributors to BestBuy.com
Best Buy sells more than 70 front-loading washers, the vast majority of which get very good or excellent overall ratings from owners. Most models receive at least a few reviews; some have a substantial… number. There are also about 40 top-loading machines sold here, and more than half of these get average or lower marks or no marks at all. Though not all washing machines receive reviews, this is a good site to check once you've narrowed your choices.
by Contributors to HomeDepot.com
The Home Depot sells about 50 washing machines, evenly distributed between top-loaders and front-loaders. Most models have only a handful of user reviews, but some front-loaders have many more. The… front-loading LG WM0642HW and Amana NFW7200TW are particularly popular among reviewers at this site. Although it's easy to see the ratings and number of reviews each washing machine receives, you have to click through several screens before you can see the brand and model number.
by Contributors to Sears.com
by Contributors to AJMadison.com
AJ Madison is an online appliance retailer that allows customers to post reviews of products. Out of the more than 300 washers sold here, about one-third receive reviews. Most have only a few comments, but… about half a dozen receive 10 or more. One nice feature is that the reviews can be sorted by average rating or by the number of reviews. Two Fisher Paykel washers, the GWL15 and the IWL16 get good user reviews here.
by Editors of J.D. Power and Associates
In J.D. Power and Associates' survey of more than 3,300 consumers, LG washers were rated the highest in customer satisfaction. The washers were rated in several categories including price, performance (such… as noise level and energy efficiency), style and warranty. Samsung, Kenmore Elite, Bosch and Fisher & Paykel follow in order of customer satisfaction. This study doesn't try to rate individual washing machines; rather, it tries to reach a general consensus about overall brand satisfaction.
by Editors of Green Guide
by Contributors to Epinions.com
by Contributors to ConsumerAffairs.com
ConsumerAffairs.com is an online consumer news publication that allows users to post complaints about products and services. There are numerous complaints about many washing machine brands here, mostly… regarding reliability. LG washing machines receive a particularly large number of complaints about mold and mildew growth. Although the information here can be useful when researching a washer, the washing machine pages can only be accessed through the site's search feature and the complaints are not organized by model. Furthermore, every brand receives some complaints.
by Contributors to GardenWeb.com
GardenWeb is a great place to spend some time if you're interested in one of the latest high-efficiency washing machines. Many discussions compare one brand or model to another, so this is a good place to… look once you've narrowed down your choices. Some recent threads discuss Fisher & Paykel, Whirlpool, Bosch and Miele washing machines. There is no ratings system, and discussion threads aren't limited to washing machines; there are general laundry posts, as well.
by Editors of Energy Star
Energy Star is a joint program of the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Energy that is designed to help Americans save money and energy. This comprehensive series of articles does not… review washers, but it does list the Energy Star-qualified washing machines. A buyer's guide is included. Many Samsung and Bosch models greatly exceed the federal standard while several GE and Kenmore washing machines underperform. This is a good site to check out how your washer rates, but unless your only concern is efficiency, this article won't help you choose a specific washer.
by Editors of Consortium for Energy Efficiency
by Sharon O'Malley
by James Dulley
James Dulley is an engineer who regularly writes bulletins on appliances and other household products. In his Update Bulletin 444, he recommends front-loading washers over top-loaders because the former… save water and energy even though they are more expensive. In this report he discusses models from several manufacturers including Bosch, GE, Kenmore, Maytag and Frigidaire. Each evaluation discusses spin speed, water consumption, pre-programmed cycles and features, among other useful information. The Kenmore HE3T is one of the most efficient washers with a high spin speed and low water consumption.
by Editors of American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy
The newest edition of the "Consumer Guide to Home Energy Savings" is published as a book and is no longer available online in its complete form. The ACEEE instead publishes short condensed online versions… of the articles in the book. The "Clothes Washers" article gives helpful tips on buying a new washer and succinctly explains why top-loading washing machines consume more water and energy, and why front-loading horizontal-axis washers and a new generation of redesigned top-loading washers are more efficient. The savings resulting from using a front-loader can be over $100 per year. The editors direct consumers to the Energy Star website for energy-efficient clothes washers.
by Editors of ConsumerGuide.com
by Contributors to Amazon.com
|
This is our assessment of the review’s relevance, clarity of testing and thoroughness.
Read more about our Ratings Criteria by clicking the link at the top of the page.
|
||




