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    Best Washing Machines of 2023

    Take your pick of one of these impressive front-loaders, top-loaders, or compact washers from Consumer Reports' tests

    When you shop through retailer links on our site, we may earn affiliate commissions. 100% of the fees we collect are used to support our nonprofit mission. Learn more.

    Parent with child in laundry basket in laundry room.
    CR's top-performing washers make doing laundry a whole lot easier.
    Photo: Getty Images

    For most of us, doing laundry is a chore. But for Consumer Reportsā€™ test engineers, itā€™s a mission.

    Cycle after cycle, our engineers work to determine the best washing machines for every budget and look for innovative features that make doing laundry easierā€”and faster.

    ā€œResearch shows that consumers say doing laundry takes too much time,ā€ says Mark Allwood, Consumer Reportsā€™ senior market analyst for laundry products. ā€œManufacturers have been trying to address this problem with machines that have bigger capacities, speed cycles, or built-in pretreat features.ā€

    MORE ON WASHING MACHINES
    CR's Washing Machine Ratings & Buying Guide
    Best Eco-Friendly Washing Machines From Consumer Reports' Tests
    Best Matching Washer & Dryer Sets
    5 Things to Know About Front-Load Washers
    Which Brands Make the Most Reliable Washing Machines?

    In addition to cataloging all of thatā€”and much moreā€”CRā€™s test engineers launder swatches of fabric stained with red wine and cocoa, among other things, to see how well each machine cleans. But no matter its cleaning capability, a washer that doesnā€™t stand the test of time is no winner. So we incorporate survey data for predicted reliability and owner satisfaction in our washer ratings (also our dryer ratings). If youā€™re wondering whether you should repair or replace your current washer, weā€™ve got you covered there, too, via our interactive repair or replace tool.

    We test full-sized agitator top-loaders, HE top-loaders (the type without an agitator), and front-loaders, including compact front-loaders. Theyā€™re from familiar brands such as Amana, Frigidaire, GE, LG, Maytag, and Whirlpool, and lesser-known ones like Fisher & Paykel and Miele.

    Our Green Choice designation helps you identify the most eco-friendly washers in our ratings. Signified by a green leaf icon, the Green Choice washers earn superior marks for water efficiency, energy efficiency, brand reliability, and gentleness on washed fabric. Our designation considers the overall environmental impact of a washer, including its weight, volume, and entire life cycle.

    Should You Repair or Replace Your Broken Washing Machine?

    CRā€™s interactive toolĀ leverages product costs, depreciation rates, and survey data to help you make the right choice.

    CR members can read on for ratings and reviews of some of the best washers for each type. See our washer buying guide for a broader look at the washing machine marketplace and our complete washing machine ratings for even more options.

    Best Agitator Top-Load Washers

    Best High-Efficiency (HE) Top-Load Washers

    Best Front-Load Washers

    Best Compact Front-Load Washers

    BW Headshot of Consumer Reports author Keith Flamer

    Keith Flamer

    As a kid in Delaware, I lived a few blocks from Bob Marley, who once said, "It is better to live on the house top than to live in a house full of confusion." At CR, I'm psyched to help readers navigate this cluttered, hyper-commercialized world we live in. I've covered luxury real estate, interior design, and cultureā€”reporting on everything from smart home technology to racial hypocrisy at Thomas Jefferson's Monticello estate. Since the pandemic started, I cherish simplicity, covering accessible topics like decorating, cooking, and cleaning. Give me a smoothie blender over a mansion any day. Blenders are slightly easier to clean.

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