If there’s one home appliance we can’t live without, it’s the washing machine. Not only do they make a dull job easier, a washing machine can also get your clothes cleaner than by doing the job by hand, as well as making it cheaper and more efficient.
Although we all need a washing machine, most of us won’t upgrade until there’s a reason to do so: the old model breaks, we move house or have a kitchen redone. In all likelihood, it means that most of us will keep the same washing machine for at least five years, if not longer. Buying a new machine may be a bit more complex than you first imagined, then, as new technology will have come along since you last bought a machine.
That’s where we come in. At Trusted Reviews we actually get washing machines in and test them for stain removal, ease of use and energy and water consumption. This means that you can rely on us to help you find the best product for your needs. We’ve reviewed hundreds of washing machines and have a dedicated lab used to test more, constantly updating this list with the current best buys.
High-end washing machines can cost upwards of £1000, which sounds like a lot of money. With these kinds of machines, you’ll typically find the best stain removal, smart features and the lowest running costs. While reduced running costs will take a long time to pay-off compared to buying a cheaper machine, you’re doing your bit for the environment. You’ll usually get a greater range of programmes, designed specifically for certain loads.
Mid-range washing machines are around £500 to £700. Here, you’ll still get decent results and good running costs, but you may find that these machines are a little noisier and don’t have the same range of programmes as their more expensive competition.
Budget washing machines are much more basic, and typically have smaller drums than their higher-end counterparts. Expect fewer wash programmes, higher running costs and more noise. However, if you need something basic and don’t want to spend a fortune, these are a good choice. We’ve reviewed a wide range of products at different prices to help you find the right choices.
How we test
Every washing machine that we review goes through a series of uniform tests, designed to help us spot the quality products from the not so good. We examine build quality, ease of use, wash quality and running costs.
We use a series of real-world tests, using a set of dedicated washing per machine, so that we can accurately compare results between products. All of our tests take place at our dedicated home appliance test lab.
We install and level each washing machine in much the same way that you would at home, so that we’ll get similar results to you. You can see a more detailed breakdown of our testing methodology in our how we test washing machines guide.
Hoover H-Wash 500 HWB 410AMC/1-80
The best smart washing machine
App adds extra programmes
Super-quiet
Decent stain removal, particularly at 40ºC
A little slow
Wi-Fi mode has to be selected to use the app
Best washing machine
AEG L9FEB969C
The best overall washing machine
Low running costs
Useful smartphone app
Cleans well at low tempertures
Could have better stain removal in Eco mode
Bosch Serie 8 WAV28MH4GB
The best washing machine for efficiency
Very low running costs
Useful app
Exceptionally quiet
Small(ish) door
Indesit BWE 101638X W UK N
The best standard washing machine
Simple to use
Good selection of programmes
Excellent stain removal on Eco programme
Not the cheapest to run
AEG L9FEB969C
The best overall washing machine
Pros
Low running costsUseful smartphone appCleans well at low tempertures
Cons
Could have better stain removal in Eco mode
A smart washing machine controllable via the app, the AEG L9FEB969C also comes with a water softener, which makes it well suited to hard water areas. Pull open the detergent drawer, and you’ll see a salt compartment, which can be filled with dishwasher salt for AEG’s SoftWater technology.
Hard water contains minerals, such as limescale, which can be harsh on clothing and make detergents less effective. With the AEG L9FEB969C, once you’ve set the water hardness level, the softener is tuned to your area – and, aside from having to refill the salt, you can forget about it.
That’s not the only thing this washing machine has going for it, however. The large 9kg drum provides plenty of room for washing, and contains a light so you can see what you’re doing. It can be controlled via the My AEG Care app, which enables you to select your desired programme and check on the wash time remaining. It sends a notification once the wash has finished and, if you have an AEG smart tumble dryer, it can be automatically linked via the app.
On the regular Cotton 30ºC wash, the AEG L9FEB969C removed most tough stains, though its performance wasn’t quite as impressive on the Eco 40-60 programme. That’s good news, though, as the Eco wash is the most efficient. Efficiency is excellent, and we calculated that this machine will cost £65.91 a year to run.
The AEG L9FEB969C is a reliable and powerful washing machine, cleaning difficult stains well at low temperatures. It’s cheap to run on the Eco settings and, especially for those who live in hard water areas, it’s a great choice.
Full review: AEG L9FEB969C
Reviewer: David Ludlow
Hoover H-Wash 500 HWB 410AMC/1-80
Best smart washing machine
Pros
App adds extra programmesSuper-quietDecent stain removal, particularly at 40ºC
Cons
A little slowWi-Fi mode has to be selected to use the app
With the Hoover H-Wash 500 HWB 410AMC/1-80, the company has produced a great mid-range washing machine with some powerful features, including a smart app that gives you remote control over the washing machine. You have to put the machine into Wi-Fi mode to use all of the app’s features, but once you do, you get additional wash modes and a label scanner that can help you choose the right washing cycle: great for those more delicate items.
Using the app is sometimes easier than using the main control panel, which has icons rather than text labels, making it hard to see exactly which cycle you’ve selected. If you use the dial, you’ll probably need to have the manual close by for a while.
Fortunately, the wash performance more than makes up for any initial fiddliness. Although the Hoover H-Wash 500 HWB 410AMC/1-80 is a little slow, it’s very efficient (it has an A-rating under the new standard, which is the highest possible), and it has great stain removal, particularly at 40C.
All of these combine to make the Hoover H-Wash 500 HWB 410AMC/1-80 one of the best mid-range washing machines you can currently buy.
Reviewer: David Ludlow
Full review: Hoover H-Wash 500 HWB 410AMC/1-80 Review
Hotpoint Anti-Stain NDB 9635 W UK
The best washer dryer
Pros
Excellent stain removalSophisticated range of programmesLow running costs for washing
Cons
Drying costs are expensiveSlightly confusing dry-only options
A washer-dryer can certainly make life easier, conveniently washing and drying a load in one go. Running costs and performance often lag behind the competition, which is why it’s good to see the Hotpoint Anti-Stain NDB 9635 W UK.
A quality 9kg washing machine in its own right, this washing machine should cost, on average, around £69.07 per year to run (at 34p per kW/h), assuming you use it at full loads. That B-class rating is well earned, and this washer-dryer’s not particularly expensive to run.
Turning to the tumble dryer, costs do rise and we calculated an average yearly running cost of £143.94 a year to run. Partly that’s down to the fact that the Hotpoint Anti-Stain NDB 9635 W UK can only dry 6kg of wet clothing, so its capacity is smaller than regular tumble dryers; washer-dryers are also less efficient. Here, if you want to dry a full load of washing, you’ll have to do it in batches.
Drying performance as good, although we found we could cut costs by running the Iron Dry setting, which saw 96% of the water removed: the clothes are dry enough to fold and put away at this level.
Stain removal is excellent on this machine. We saw the best results on the Eco 40-60 wash, but even the 20C wash did a good job on most of our test stains.
Overall, this washer-dryer balanced performance against cost brilliantly, making our our current best washer-dryer.
Reviewer: David Ludlow
Full review: Hotpoint Anti-Stain NDB 9635 W UK review
Bosch Serie 8 WAV28MH4GB
The best washing machine for efficiency
Pros
Very low running costsUseful appExceptionally quiet
Cons
Small(ish) door
Bosch is well known for its build quality, and the Bosch Serie 8 WAV28MH4GB lives up to that standard. One of the company’s top-of-the-range washing machines, this one feels tough and well built, and has a large 9kg drum with a light inside.
You can use the controls around the LCD screen to adjust the temperature, spin speed, delay and to use the anti-stain option. Alternatively, you can connect the appliance to your Wi-Fi and use the app to set the wash programme and overrides. There’s also support for Alexa, Google Assistant and IFTTT.
In testing, using a small 2kg load. the Eco 40-60 programme used just 0.189kWh of power and 24 litres of water, which is exceptionally low. That makes for refreshing reading, as this 9kg machine is super efficient if you just need to wash a few clothes.
And cleaning performance is excellent, too. On both the 30ºC cotton and Eco 40-60 settings, stain removal was impressive. It’s exceptionally quiet in operation, too.
Use the washing machine over year, and the running costs come at £79.13 per year, assuming full loads and an electricity unit cost of 34p per kW/h.
This quality appliance uses very little power, offers good stain removal and is extremely well built. If you’re looking for a smart washing machine you can rely on, the Bosch Serie 8 WAV28MH4GB is a top contender.
Full review: Bosch Serie 8 WAV28MH4GB
Reviewer: David Ludlow
Indesit BWE 101638X W UK N
The best standard washing machine
Pros
Simple to useGood selection of programmesExcellent stain removal on Eco programme
Cons
Not the cheapest to run
If you want a washing machine capable of tackling a lot of washing at once for a decent price, then this model gets a lot of things right.
While much of the competition has introduced fancy features such as smart apps, the Indesit BWE 101638X W UK N is a refreshingly simple machine to use, with all its features clearly labelled on its front panel.
To test the Indesit BWE 101638X W UK N, we put it through our standard tests with clothing that’s been soiled with red wine, orange juice, ketchup, oil and gravy. The results on the 30ºC wash were pretty good, with just the tough red wine stain remaining. On the Eco 40-60 wash, stain removal was among the best we’ve seen, with the stains all pretty much gone.
Under the new grading system, the Indesit BWE 101638X W UK N is classed as a D-rated appliance, so it isn’t the most efficient or cheapest of washing machines to run – we calculated running costs of £75.20 per year. But if you want great stain removal and simplicity, this model makes a lot of sense.
Full review: Indesit BWE 101638X W UK N
Reviewer: David Ludlow
FAQs
Washing machines have different drum sizes. These are measured in kg, and tell you the maximum weight of dry washing that you can put in. The bigger the number, the larger the drum and the more washing that you can do in one load. Larger drum sizes are also useful if you want to wash more generously sized items, such as duvets. Typically, most households will find that a minimum of a 6kg drum will do for weekly washing; go for 8kg or larger if you have a lot of washing.
Spin speeds, measured in revolutions per minute (rpm), tell you how fast the drum spins. The faster a drum spins, the more water can be expelled from your clothes, leaving them drier when the cycle is complete. This cuts down the time that your clothes have to be hung up for, and can reduce the time needed in a tumble drier. Budget machines tend to spin slower. If you want the best performance, look for a machine rated at 1400rpm or 1600rpm.
All electrical appliances have an energy certificate that tells you how efficient they are, with A+++ at the top and A at the bottom. The more efficient the machine, the lower the running costs. We work out the running costs of each machine, based on typical usage, so you can compare total running costs.
All washing machines have a variety of temperature settings from which to choose. Our reviews demonstrate how well each mode performs, but there are some general tips:
Washing at the cold setting (20ºC or below) is great for lightly soiled items and reduces running costs.
Most normal clothing can be cleaned at 30ºC or 40ºC. A higher 60ºC wash is useful for very soiled items or to reduce bacteria, such as on towels or underwear.
Some machines even have a 90ºC wash, which you shouldn’t need very often, but could be handy to run as an empty cycle to keep the inside of your machine in tip-top, bacteria-free condition.
All washing machines will give you basic wash modes for cottons and synthetics, plus half load or eco options. If you want to clean a wider variety of clothes, look for the wash modes to match.
Woolmark certification is essential if you want to wash woollen items; a silk wash is useful; and a handwash mode can save the drudgery of washing delicate items.
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Comparison Specifications
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