Washing Machine Information

If you live in a small apartment or are otherwise pressed for space, you might want to consider a compact washing machine. Other possibilities include a laundry center with a combination washer/dryer in one unit or a stackable full-sized washer and dryer. See our separate report on washer-dryer combos for more information.

If you're replacing your washing machine, you may also need a new dryer. Check out our clothes dryers report for information. Experts emphasize that aesthetics aside, there's no need to buy matched washers and dryers.

Special laundry detergent is recommended for high-efficiency washing machines. These low-sudsing HE detergents and other laundry soap is covered in our report on laundry detergent.

A new type of washing machine is a hybrid made by Staber. This top-loading washer has a horizontal axis that rotates clothes like front-loaders. The Staber HXW2304 (*est. $1,300) is a lot more expensive than most top-loaders. While its 2-cubic-foot capacity is very small, it does have a stainless-steel tub. The Staber HXW2304 does well in testing for water efficiency, but so far there is little data on its reliability. This washer is also not easy to find. A few owners posting comments on websites generally like this washer and praise the washing performance and energy efficiency, although one user says the machine is noisy.

Mariette Mifflin, the About.com guide to housewares and appliances, offers a helpful article about caring for high-efficiency washers, "Caring for Your HE Washer and Preventing Mold Issues," along with other articles about high-efficiency detergent. (Note: ConsumerSearch is owned by About.com, but the two don't share an editorial affiliation.)

Washing machines are available in a myriad of model numbers, and often differences come down to small features such as temperature settings or a delay timer. Most of the following manufacturers' websites have some kind of comparison tool that you can use to discover these small differences:

Amana

Kenmore/Sears

Whirlpool

LG

Frigidaire

Maytag

GE

Fisher & Paykel

Bosch

Miele

Samsung

Staber