Cutting water and energy use starts with the washing machine. Consumer Reports tested washers for efficiency and cleaning power
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A washing machine runs load after load for years, so its water and energy use adds up fast, both on utility bills and on a household's environmental footprint. Even an eco-friendly washer still has to get clothes clean, since rewashing a load defeats any efficiency gained upfront.
Consumer Reports tested front-load, top-load and compact washers for washing performance, energy efficiency and water efficiency, so shoppers can find an eco-friendly fit for their laundry room.
Credit: LG
The LG WM4000HWA costs $848 and leads Consumer Reports' ratings for washing performance among the eco-friendly machines tested. CR rated its energy and water efficiency stellar and its reliability top-notch, backed by high owner satisfaction, even though the machine isn't especially gentle on fabrics. The 4.5-cubic-foot stainless steel tub stacks for tight laundry rooms and includes auto dispensers, an extra rinse cycle and WiFi, plus a steam option that its budget-friendly sibling skips. CR clocked an 85-minute wash cycle and an annual usage cost of $26.
Credit: LG
The LG WM8900HBA costs $1,249 and offers more capacity than any other washer in this lineup at 5.2 cubic feet, big enough for family-sized laundry loads. Consumer Reports rated it an exceptional washer overall despite a longer 105-minute test cycle, and found it notably gentle on clothes, standing apart from some other eco-friendly LGs in CR's ratings that scored rougher on fabric. The stainless steel tub pairs with a system that sets water temperature automatically, dispensers that handle bleach and detergent without measuring, wireless connectivity and a steam setting, and CR estimated a $29 annual usage cost. LG's front-load washers earned top-notch marks for predicted reliability and high owner satisfaction in CR member surveys.
Credit: Electrolux
The Electrolux 300 Series ELFW7337AW costs $779 and earned excellent marks from Consumer Reports for both water and energy efficiency. CR rated the machine notably gentle on fabrics, meaning less pilling, fraying and tearing along with less microfiber shedding into wastewater, and clocked a comparatively quick 90-minute normal/heavy cycle. The 4.4-cubic-foot drum sits right at the edge of CR's recommended size for washing comforters, and an extra rinse cycle helps clear residue from bulkier loads. The washer stacks for tight spaces, carries Energy Star certification and automatically dispenses detergent, fabric softener and bleach without manual measuring.
Credit: LG
The LG WT8200CW costs $748 and earned Consumer Reports' recommendation despite running a little noisy and rough on fabrics. CR rated it excellent on every core measure, from how dependable it held up to how thoroughly it cleaned and how little water and power it used, backed by Energy Star certification. The washer dispenses detergent and bleach automatically and adds an extra rinse setting to its 5-cubic-foot drum, with an 80-minute wash cycle and a $31 annual usage cost. CR's one caution centers on gentleness, since its mediocre rating in that category means delicate garments could wear down faster over time.
Credit: Samsung
The Samsung WA52DG5500AV costs $749 and delivers strong energy and water savings, though Consumer Reports doesn't recommend this particular model. CR rated its cleaning performance solid, a spot where some HE washers fall short, and found the 5.2-cubic-foot machine quiet and free of the vibration common among compact units. The tradeoff is fabric care, since CR flagged this washer as rough on clothes instead of gentle. Samsung's top-load HE washers earned just a middling reliability score in CR member surveys, and owner satisfaction data suggests current owners are unlikely to recommend the brand to others.
Credit: Miele
The Miele WXI860WCS costs $2,599, priced higher than every other washer in this lineup, and Consumer Reports found it delivers excellent washing performance alongside top-notch water and energy efficiency plus gentle handling for delicate fabrics. The 2.3-cubic-foot stainless steel drum spins at faster speeds than typical designs, though CR noted some vibration during its 100-minute cycle, and the stackable machine costs $28 a year to operate. It comes equipped with dispensers that handle detergent, bleach and fabric softener on their own, a chime that sounds when the cycle finishes, a setting for an additional rinse, a steam function and wireless connectivity. Miele's compact washers earned top-notch reliability scores, and CR members who own one report being highly likely to recommend the brand to others.
Credit: Miele
The Miele WXD160WCS costs $1,999, nearly $500 less than the pricier Miele WXR860, and earned Consumer Reports' recommendation for excellent washing performance plus strong energy and water efficiency. CR rated the compact washer quiet, though less gentle on fabric than some of its Miele siblings, and clocked a slightly shorter 95-minute wash cycle on its 2.3-cubic-foot stainless drum. It handles detergent dispensing automatically, adds a setting for an extra rinse and connects over WiFi, though it skips the steam option found on pricier Miele models. Miele's compact washers earned top-notch reliability scores in CR member surveys, along with high owner satisfaction.
Credit: Samsung
The Samsung WW25FG6B34BEA2 costs $1,099 and delivers excellent washing performance along with strong energy and water efficiency, according to Consumer Reports. CR found it more effective at protecting clothes during washing than the Miele compacts tested alongside it, thanks to a 2.6-cubic-foot stainless steel tub, Energy Star certification, auto detergent and bleach dispensers and a steam option with remote WiFi access. The tradeoffs are noise and vibration, along with the absence of an extra rinse cycle and a longer 105-minute wash time. CR estimated an annual operating cost of $26.
