LG 3.5 WM2016CW Front-load Washer
7 Stores $649 - $850
Clothes Washer Buying Guide
A good clothes washer is an essential member of your household, whether you’re a busy professional who needs to show up for work looking presentable or a frazzled parent buried in a landslide of juice-stained onesies. While the basic functions of clothes washers are the same, new technology has made washers more energy efficient than ever, making this the perfect time to upgrade older washers. Pronto’s Clothes Washer Buying Guide will help you identify the best clothes washer for your needs and budget.
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the five
What are the five key points I need to look at?
Top load or front load?
Traditional top-loading clothes washers offer good cleaning, easy loading and the shortest wash cycle at an affordable price. Front-loading and “high efficiency” top-loading clothes washers cost more up front but save you money with lower water and energy costs while reducing your carbon footprint.
Capacity
Buy as big a clothes washer as your budget and living space allows—you’ll do fewer loads and save energy. Front-loaders and HE top-loaders can handle larger loads than similar-sized top-loaders and wash bulky items like comforters.
Efficiency
Front-loading or high-efficiency top-loading clothes washers use about half the power and water consumed by traditional top-loaders. Look for clothes washers with the Energy Star logo and as high an “MEF” (Modified Energy Factor) and as low a “WF” (Water Factor) as you can afford.
Space considerations
Compact clothes washers are a great option if you have limited space or no washer hookup. Some of these clothes washers are portable and can be temporarily hooked up to a sink. Front-loading compact washers can be stacked with compact dryers, or you can opt for an economical “laundry center” that combines a clothes washer and dryer in a single unit.
Additional features
Choose extra wash cycles only if you need them. Clothes washer features like automatic temperature and water-level controls, rust-proof stainless steel tubs and convenient delay-starts will pay for themselves over the lifespan of the washer.
pronto pick
What product do we recommend?
The LG Tromm Steam Washer impressed us with two innovative steam settings: Steam Wash adds a blast of deep-cleaning to regular wash cycles, while Steam Fresh banishes wrinkles and odors in just 20 minutes, so you can skip frantic last-minute ironing. We also like the roomy 4-cubic-foot capacity and the super-fast 1320 RPM spin cycle that wrings maximum water out of clothes for speedy drying.
experts say
Good Housekeeping.com – Best Appliances Under $500 - GE Profile Washer WPSB8060 “This well-priced washer is packed with big-ticket features like a hand-wash cycle, so you can skip the sink; a dual-rinse option (good for comforters); and preset cycles.”Source: Good Housekeeping.com
J.D. Power and Associates – 2006 Major Home Appliance StudySM – “LG performs particularly well in operational performance (which includes energy efficiency and the ability to leave clothes clean and tangle-free), styling and feel (exterior styling and colors/finishes), and satisfaction with length and scope of the warranty.”Source: JDPower.com
About.com – Guide Review 5 out of 5 stars – “At first glance this Whirlpool Duet Sport™ HT Washer Model WFW8500S looks complicated to use, but programming is extremely easy and the triple dispenser is a terrific convenience feature. Although this front load washer is higher priced than a top loader, the savings in water and energy consumption will quickly cover its cost.”Source: About.com
Washing Machines Review.com – “Look for a washing machine that is rated “Energy Star.” This means that it consumes at least 50% less energy than a conventional washing machine. This amounts to a savings of about $110 a year on utility bills.”Source: Washing Machines Review.com
hot buzz
What's the latest in the world of clothes washers?
Haier’s new WasH20 model works on the principle that you don’t need detergent to get that ketchup off your favorite shirt–just ions. This innovative detergent-free washer breaks water up into H+ and OH- ions, with the OH- grabbing onto stains and the H+ sterilizing clothes. Introduced this year in France, this innovative clothes washer should be available in North America within two years.
Wallet Impact
What can I expect in my price range?
| Price | Description | Good Pick (see all Clothes Washers) |
| $ | For $600 or less, you’ll find a wide range of traditional top-loading clothes washers that get clothes respectably clean, use regular detergent and have the shortest wash cycles. The low purchase price will be somewhat offset by higher water and energy usage. |
Compare prices at 7 stores $382 - $469 |
| $$ | Step up to a front-loading or high-efficiency top-loading clothes washer and you’ll get better energy efficiency, increased capacity, faster spin cycles and superior cleaning. Most washers in this range feature automatic temperature and water level controls, a variety of wash cycles and stainless steel tubs. | |
| $$$ | Luxury washers offer optimum performance and a huge array of extra features, like steam options, fabric-specific wash cycles and digital programmable displays. | |
shop talk
What are the terms and definitions I need to know about?
Capacity
The volume of the washer tub, which determines how much a clothes washer can handle in a single load. Clothes washer capacity is listed in cubic feet, with standard washers at around 2.9-3.2 cu/ft and high-capacity washers ranging from 3.5-4.5 cu/ft or more.
MEF
An acronym for Modified Energy Factor. This number tells you how much energy a clothes washer uses to complete a cycle and includes the amount of moisture left in clothes, which impacts the energy needed for drying. Higher numbers equal greater energy efficiency.
RPMs
Short for “revolutions per minute,” this is a measure of how fast a clothes washer can spin laundry during the spin cycle. Higher RPMs remove more water from clothes, saving drying time and energy.
HE
Short for “high efficiency.” HE clothes washers are either front loaders or top-loading washers that use wash plates instead of agitators. These clothes washers use less water and energy than traditional top-loaders.
Vertical agitator
The oscillating post in the center of a traditional top-loading clothes washer. The agitator swishes laundry and water around in the washer tub to remove dirt.
Wash plates
Devices used in high-efficiency top-loading clothes washers that toss the laundry through the water, resulting in better cleaning with less water.
WF
An acronym for Water Factor. This number measures the amount of water that a clothes washer consumes during a cycle. Lower numbers equal less water use.
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Research Central
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