To help you find and buy the best washing machine, we spent over 20 hours testing 10 of the top models available today. With so many different washers to choose from, making the best decision for your home and family can be incredibly difficult, which is why we’ve stepped in to help. As we tested each washer, we looked primarily for overall effective cleaning and rinsing. We wanted our clothes to come out clean and non-damaged. Of course, this is a more subjective measurement, so we also factored in features like washing capacity, washing mode availability and build quality.
The best washing machine we tested by far is the Giantex Portable Mini Compact Twin Tub. With its twin tub functionality and powerful wash cycle, this washing machine provides a comprehensive clean for clothes in all kinds of dirty situations. It’s also built solidly, including its sturdy plastic basket, so you know it will last a long time and prevent your clothes from snagging or otherwise getting damaged. Keep reading below to learn more about the Giantex Portable washing machine and our other top picks for the year.
Top 7 Best Washing Machine
#1 Giantex Portable Mini Twin Tub Washing Machine
Award: TOP PICK
WHY WE LIKE IT: This washing machine is both compact and functional, perfect for medium-sized families who don’t have a lot of space in their home. It also features a spin dryer tub so you can do all your laundry with a single unit. If you’re interested in more washing machine products like this, then visit our best front load washing machine guide.
Read Full Review: Giantex Portable Mini Compact Twin Tub Review
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- Best washer and dryer combo
- Powerful 300 watt motor
- 11 pound washing capacity
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- Needs some assembly
- Only two wash cycles
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The Giantex Portable Mini Twin Tub washing machine is an ultra-convenient option that can fit almost anywhere in your home. If you’re lacking in space, this washer is the perfect option for you. This washer measures in at just 24.8 x 28.5 x 15 inches and weights a mere 29 pounds. And while this small package may not seem like much, it can take a total of 11 pounds of dirty clothing to wash. With this capacity, you’ll be able to wash the laundry for a medium-sized family with no problem.
The Giantex washing machine only features two washing modes (soft and normal), but you get a variable wash timer dial up to 15 minutes that gives you more flexibility over how long you’d like your clothes to wash. Once your clothes are done washing, you can use the Giantex’s additional drying functionality in the second tub. The drying tub isn’t as large as the washing tub, with only 6.6 pounds of capacity, but offers 110 watts of power to spin the clothes dry. This washer is super easy to use and maintain, as well. To operate the washer, you just need to spin the dials appropriately. All of the pieces of the washer are plastic and can be easily pulled off for maintenance when you need to clean it. It is as easy to use as the best garbage disposal.
#2 Super Deal Portable Twin Tub Washing Machine
Award: HONORABLE MENTION
WHY WE LIKE IT: This washing machine packs a powerful cleaning punch in a small package. It’s lightweight, easy to use and features a twin tub design for both washing and drying.
Read Full Review: Super Deal Portable Twin Tub Review
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- Very quiet operating cycle
- Rust free construction
- Powerful 1300 RPM spin
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- Dryer tub is smaller than washer
- Drain pipe is a little short
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One of the first things that stood out to us about the Super Deal Portable Twin Tub washing machine is how quiet it is during operation. Many of the portable washers can be quite noisy when fully loaded, but the Super Deal washer keeps noise to a minimum. This is an even more impressive feat when you consider its powerful motor that can spin at a rate of 1300 RPM during a wash cycle. This washing machine is built well, with a durable plastic body that will never rust or require an excessive amount of maintenance. Help maintain your washing machine functionality by using the best laundry detergent.
When it comes to actually washing your clothes, the Super Deals washing machine offers a total capacity of around 8 pounds in the washer tub and 5 pounds in the dryer tub. This unfortunately means you’ll either need to wash fewer clothes per cycle so they all fit in the dryer or leave a portion of your wet clothes in the washer tub until the first portion is dried. It can take some fine tuning to get your wash and dry cycles synced up, but once you do, this doesn’t become much of a problem. You can choose between a normal wash cycle or a soft cycle, and we were pleased with the performance on the soft cycle, which didn’t put undue wear and tear on delicates. Your kitchen has the best stand mixer accessories, so get the best machine for clothes.
#3 Panda Compact Washing Machine
We’re sorry, this product is temporarily out of stock
Award: BEST TOP LOADING
WHY WE LIKE IT: This the best top loading washing machine on our list with tons of extra usability features packed into a relatively small frame. It offers a 1.6 cu. ft. capacity and a large see-through lid so you can check on your clothes without interrupting the wash.
Read Full Review: Panda Compact Washing Machine
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- 6 washing modes
- Rust free construction
- See through lid
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- Can get noisy
- Drain pipe can retain some water
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The Panda Compact washing machine offers a total of 1.6 cubic feet (cu ft) of washing capacity, which equates to about 11 pounds of dirty clothes, which is large enough for multiple pairs of jeans and other bulky items. And with 6 different washing modes, you’ll be sure to achieve a comprehensive clean every single time you wash your clothes. These washing modes include Normal, Quick, Heavy, Bulky, Delicate and Spin Only. The Panda also includes an additional Extra Rinse functionality that, if enabled, douses your clothes with clean water again after the normal rinse cycle.
The overall construction of this top load washer is definitely worth noting, as well. It has a sturdy stainless steel tub that is rust resistant and long lasting. You even get a clear lid that you can use to check on your clothes without opening the washer. The operating panels is also clearly labeled and easy to use after some practice. We recommend taking some time to read the instructions so you know exactly what you’re doing on your first attempt. These machines are not as sexy as say, the best speed cooking microwave, but you will have clean clothes the easy way.
#4 Costway Mini Washing Machine
Award: BEST COMPACT SIZED
WHY WE LIKE IT: If you’re tight on space, you absolutely can’t go wrong with this washing machine. This compact little unit fits in a closet and can be used on your countertops, table or right on the ground.
Read Full Review: Costway Mini Washing Machine
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- Includes a quick wash option
- See through for easy monitoring
- Incredibly easy to operate
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- Not automatic
- 5.5 pound capacity
- Spin functionality not the greatest
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The Costway Mini washer is the smallest option on our list, measuring in at just 20 inches tall, 14 inches wide and 13.5 inches deep. And while that means you won’t be able to wash much in a single load (only around 5.5 pounds of clothes), the space you save is well worth it, especially if you’re using this unit in an RV or a small apartment in the city.
This washing machine is also incredibly easy to use. Simply put your clothes and detergent in the basket, fill it with water and select your wash time. While the compact washing machine doesn’t have multiple wash options, you do get to choose how long you want the clothes washed for, including a 5 minute Quick Wash setting. You also get a spin option for ridding your clothing of excess water, but we found this setting to be hit or miss in overall functionality and effectiveness Speaking of household machines you can’t live without, the Hamilton Beach coffee maker is one of them.
#5 hOmeLabs Portable Washing Machine
Award: BEST USER FRIENDLY
WHY WE LIKE IT: This portable washing machine is lightweight and has a lean profile, making it perfect for use in camping applications like RVs. It’s also really easy to use and quiet during washing cycles, so it won’t disturb you while you sleep.
Read Full Review: hOmeLabs Portable Washing Machine Review
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- Best for RVs
- Quick faucet connection
- Quiet operation
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- Hose could be longer
- Can’t use fabric softener
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If you like taking long RV trips, you know just how difficult it can be to make the decision between bringing a ton of clothing or finding a laundromat to wash your clothes. This is where the hOmeLabs Portable washing machine comes in. This lightweight washer weighs in at just 44 pounds and measures in at just 31 inches tall and 18 inches wide. This slim profile makes it perfect to fit into tight spaces like RVs or small apartments and cabins.
Of course, with this small of a size, you’ll only be able to wash about 6 pounds of clothes at a time. On the plus side, the hOmeLabs Portable washing machine is one of the most user friendly options we’ve featured on our list, with a clearly labeled user interface that you can just set and forget. It also features a quick faucet connections that allows you to hook up the washer to almost any kind of faucet. Combine that with its whisper-quiet operation, and you’ve got the perfect portable washing machine that can travel with you.
#6 Speed Queen TR3000WN Top Load Washing Machine
Award: BEST QUALITY
WHY WE LIKE IT: This machine is the largest washer on our list at a 3.6 cubic feet capacity. As such, it’s got the most powerful motor and a full range agitator for an even more comprehensive clean.
Read Full Review: Speed Queen TR3000WN Reviews
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- Largest capacity on our list
- Full range agitator
- Auto balancing system
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- Most expensive on the list
- Lacks some advanced features
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The Speed Queen TR3000WN is a powerful top load washer that’s made from premium components through and through. This is the highest quality washing machine we tested for our list. For starters, it’s got a full range agitator that can spin your clothes in a 360 degree range for the most comprehensive clean possible. This powerful agitator is why this is the best washing machine for pet hair on our list, as well. It can easily wash away the hair stuck to your clothing, sheets and blankets. It also features a durable stainless steel tub. But one of the best options on the Speed Queen is the auto balancing system, which keeps your washer cleaning, even when the clothes are out of balance in the wash tub.
This is the most expensive washing machine on our list, but the additional capacity and cleaning power is well worth the extra price. Plus, Speed Queen is the best washing machine brand, according to the internet, and it lives up to its fame. The Speed Queen offers pretty basic functionality overall, with just 3 wash cycles: cold, warm and hot. However, during our testing, we found that this basic set up is often more reliable than fully digital displays and computerized washing machines. If you need higher capacity and have the space for it, the Speed Queen TR3000WN is the choice for you.
#7 ZENY Portable Mini Twin Tub Washing Machine
Award: BEST BUDGET
WHY WE LIKE IT: This washing machine is a dual purpose model that can both wash your clothes and spin them after so they can dry better. The ZENY offers more capacity than other portable options and has an efficient spin cycle.
Read Full Review: ZENY Portable Mini Twin Tub Reviews
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- Excellent spin cycle
- High 13 pound capacity
- Easy to operate
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- Gravity drain
- Can get noisy
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The ZENY Portable Mini Twin Tub washing machine is the most affordable option on our list, and it doesn’t sacrifice a ton of functionality, power or capacity to achieve it. Of all the portable options on our list, the ZENY offers the most capacity at 13 pounds. The washer is built well, too, with components that don’t rust and can be easily detached for cleaning and maintenance.
The ZENY washer only offers two wash cycles: normal and soft. And while this functionality is limited, the washer does both jobs really well. During all of our tests, our clothes came out clean and suds-free. The only downside that this portable washing machine has when it comes to operation is the gravity drain hose. This hose doesn’t pump the drain water out for you. Instead, you’ll need to hold the hose lower than the washer to drain all the water, which can get inconvenient at times.
How We Decided
Editor’s Note: We recognize that our list doesn’t include major appliance brands like GE, Samsung, LG and others. Our list focuses on options that are more easily accessible to consumers for a more affordable price. If you want to buy a washer from a major appliance brand, check out our list of the best appliance brands.
The biggest measure of a good washing machine is a combination of effective cleaning and how well it meets you and your family’s needs. Since we can’t exactly measure how well a washing machine fits your needs, we first focused our testing on how well each unit cleans clothes. We also measured how well it kept those clothes in shape. Our testing involved washing dirty clothes in each washer on the standard cycle and determining how well they were cleaned. During this testing, we took into account how easy the washing machines were to use, as well.
After testing cleaning functionality, we looked at included functionality. We weighted washers higher if they provided a comprehensive feature set that allows you to wash your clothes in a variety of different manners. The best washing machines offer standard wash cycles along with additional options and modes that provide more ways for you to get your clothes clean again.
Finally, we scored washing machines on their overall capacity and size. We preferred washers that are larger in size because they offer more flexibility in how much clothing you can wash at any given time. However, we recognize that not everyone needs a large washing machine, so this part of our research and testing was scored as the least important factor.
Best Washing Machine Buyer’s Guide
The Most Important Features to Consider
- Capacity
The amount of laundry your washing machine can handle is one of the most important features to consider before making your purchase. Only you know the size of your family and how much dirty laundry you produce in a given time period. A washing machine’s capacity is measured in cubic feet. The higher capacity, the more clothes your washing machine can handle in one load. Most standard washers range anywhere from 3 to 6 cubic feet, although there are portable and mini options that are smaller, as well as high-capacity options that are larger. - Front Load vs. Top Load
There are two different configurations when it comes to washing machines: front load and top load. There are a variety of differences between these two kinds of washing machines. For starters, you load clothes differently between the two configurations. Top load washers have a lid on the top of the machine, while front load or front loading washers have a door on the front through which you load the clothes. Top load washers tend to be less expensive overall, but front load washers are usually considered better at washing clothes and keeping them in good condition. - Usability Features
When it comes to usability and “extra” features on washing machines, you really have a wealth of options in front of you. You can buy a washer that comes with all the bells and whistles, or you can buy one that only has a few different wash cycles. If you want a washer with more features, look for things like additional wash, rinse and spin cycles, Wi-Fi connection, steam functionality, digital displays and more. - Physical Size
Another consideration to make before clicking the buy button and getting a new washing machine is the physical size of the unit itself as it relates to the space you have in your home. Check out the measurements on the washer you’re interested in to ensure it will fit in your laundry room before making the purchase.
