Which Brands Make the Most Reliable Washing Machines?
To find a washer that lasts, check our reliability ratings based on CR members' experiences with more than 68,000 washers
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Has your washer gotten a bit funky? Did you inherit a rumbling monster with your new house? An unreliable washing machine can throw a big wrinkle into your everyday life. Should you repair it, deep-clean it, or deep-six it? Most urgently, how will you get your next load clean?
Make a greener choice for your laundry room by choosing one of the best eco-friendly washing machines from CR’s tests.
Problematic Washing Machines
Among CR members surveyed, the most commonly reported washer problems were tangled or balled-up clothes (9 percent), excessive vibration over time (5 percent), odor (5 percent), nonspinning drums (5 percent), water drain failure (5 percent), and noise (4 percent).
Mold, mildew, and odor complaints were much more common among owners of front-loaders and compact washers. Thirteen percent of front-loader owners cited mold/mildew buildup and 14 percent cited odor as a concern. Ten percent of compact washer owners cited mold/mildew buildup as a problem and 8 percent cited odor. HE top-load washers were singled out for not cleaning clothes thoroughly, with members specifically dinging HE washers from Kenmore, Maytag, Samsung, and Whirlpool in this regard.
Below, CR members can view highlights from our reliability survey and find washer brands that score high in both the survey and our lab performance tests. If you’re shopping for a new appliance, check out our washing machine buying guide to learn the pros and cons of different washer types. And review our complete washing machine ratings to see how well nearly 150 models performed in our tests and for details on their features.
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