Credit:
Reviewed / Michael Elderbee
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Credit:
Reviewed / Michael Elderbee
Reviewed's mission is to help you buy the best stuff and get the most out of what you already own. Our team of product experts thoroughly vet every product we recommend to help you cut through the clutter and find what you need.
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The GE Profile PTW900BPTRS is designed to handle a lot of laundry with a huge 5.4-cubic-foot drum and built-in detergent reservoirs. Read More
The Whirlpool WTW8127LC is a one-shop stop for all your laundry needs. You can scrub stains, soak them, and even hand wash them all from this machine. Read More
With a 5.5 cu. ft. capacity and an Allergiene cycle, the LG WT7900HBA is great for those with families and pets alike. Read More
The Maytag MVW6500MBK top-load washing machine is a solid pick. Its PetPro System filter is effective at removing the majority of pet hair. Read More
The Maytag MVW7232HW offers a massive 5.3-cu.-ft. drum and above-average cleaning. Read More
While front-load washers are the popular choice when it comes to laundry appliances—for good reason—many people prefer top-loading machines. Not only are the controls typically more straightforward, you don't need to stoop down to load and unload it. Another consideration is cost: Top-load washers often cost less than front-loaders.
If you're interested in a top-load washing machine for your laundry room, you've come to the right place. We've compiled a list of the best top-load washers available today.
The GE Profile PTW900BPTRS (available at Wayfair) earns our Best Overall award for its plethora of features and top-notch stain removal.
Editor's Note: Appliances purchases are a large investment of both money and time. We’ve compiled not only a list of the best washers to shop but also the best places to buy in-stock appliances right now and the best times of year to buy appliances to take advantage of sales and new releases.
Good cleaning power
Antimicrobial coating, steam, detergent reservoir
Large wash drum
Loud at times
Alexa integration seems buggy for some users
Good cleaning
Built-in faucet
Removable agitator
Rougher on clothes with pole in place
A perfect choice for large families, this LG top-load washer has a huge capacity.
Pet owners might want a washing machine with a little something more, and the Maytag Pet Pro MVW6500MBK is made just for them.
Catches a lot of pet hair
Decent cleaning power
Slow-close lid and built-in faucet
Delicates cycle is rough
Spin cycle doesn't get out much water
Massive drum
Deep fill option
Good cleaning
Slow cycles
A bit noisy
Solid cleaning performance
Adjustable water fill
Intuitive buttons
Flimsy parts
Heavy duty cycle is tough on clothes
Built-in faucet
10-year warranty
Expensive
Low cleaning power for its price
Tough on clothes
You've probably heard people bragging about their beautiful front-load washing machines (and rightfully so). So, why would you want to buy a top-loader? As it turns out, there are plenty of reasons to buy a top-loader, but the three most important reasons are ease of use, extra water options, and ergonomics.
While the distinction between top-load and front-load washers might seem minor, they differ significantly in terms of their design and user experience. With front-load washers, the wash drum is oriented horizontally: you put your dirty laundry in through a door on the front of the machine. Front-loaders can leverage gravity as they run, allowing them to keep your laundry tumbling to agitate it.
With top-loader washing machines, the wash drum is oriented vertically. You lift up a door on the top of the machine to drop your laundry in from above. Top-loaders use their rotation to rub your laundry items against each other to scrub out stains.
Front-load washers have overtaken top-loading washing machines in the laundry popularity contest, although some shoppers prefer to stick with what they know—top-loading washing machines with pole agitators (the big spiral column in the middle).
The sentiment isn't misplaced. Most top-load agitator washing machines have gotten a tech-induced face-lift and will look different than the one in your mom's basement. But even so, if you're already familiar with the layout and logic of these machines, it can make your laundry life easier.
On top of that, you can easily throw laundry into a top-load washer after a cycle has started. This is a much more difficult task for a front-load washer, which has to pause the cycle so that water doesn't spill out when you open the door.
Top-loaders may be easier for some people to use because they let you drop your laundry into the washer from a standing position. Front-loading washing machines make you crouch down to get your clothes in and out. (Or, they require you to stack your front-loader for easier access while standing.)
In general, most top-load washing machines are less complicated than front-loaders, which often come with control pads that look like they belong on a spaceship. If you just want to hit a few buttons and get your laundry going, you're probably better off with a top-loader.
Top-loaders don't generally score as well in the efficiency department as their front-loading counterparts when it comes to water and energy usage. But some people like having the option to increase the water level for really dirty loads of laundry.
It's worth noting this doesn't necessarily mean your clothes get any cleaner. But it's a popular enough feature that a number of brands have added options like Deep Fill so that users can easily add more water to a wash cycle.
Just because a washing machine cleans clothes, doesn't mean it can clean itself. Stuff builds up inside the washer drum, from bacteria and mildew to scummy detergent and softener residue. No one wants to wash stinky clothes in a machine that stinks worse.
Cleaning a top-load washer is different than cleaning a front-load washer, because of its drum orientation. Front-loaders have a problem area around the gasket, where mold, bacteria, and odors can build up, and they also have a filter that needs to be cleaned every few months. Top-loaders on the other hand, don't have these problems, because of the orientation of the top door and vertical drum.
Use vinegar or bleach (don't mix them) to clean your top-loading washing machine—both work well, and vinegar also does a killer job at killing smells. Run the washer through its hottest wash cycle using one of those ingredients; then do it again with baking soda. In addition, you'll want to unclog and clean the washer's drain, and, if your top-loader has an agitator pole, remove any hair or strings that may have gotten twisted around it.
Every washing machine that comes into Reviewed’s labs gets put through the same testing regime (read about how we test washing machines in the Reviewed lab), which addresses both performance and user-friendliness. When we test a washing machine's performance, we look at stain removal, wear and tear, water retention, and cycle time.
Beyond these performance tests, we also assess the usability of each washing machine. This is based on our experience, both during testing and during more casual use. (One perk of working at Reviewed is that there are plenty of laundry machines on the premises!).
Our main goal is to answer one question: How easy is it to actually use this washing machine? This involves cumulatively assessing the control panel, the door, the detergent dispenser, and any smart features that are included.
By combining the performance data with our own observations, we can make solid recommendations for any type of washing machine, at any price point.
Mark Brezinski works on the Home Team, reviewing refrigerators, minifridges, dishwashers, washing machines, dryers, air conditioners, air purifiers, and fans.
Jonathan Chan currently serves as the Lab Manager at Reviewed. If you clean with it, it's likely that Jon oversees its testing. Since joining the Reviewed in 2012, Jon has helped launch the company's efforts in reviewing laptops, vacuums, and outdoor gear. He thinks he's a pretty big deal. In the pursuit of data, he's plunged his hands into freezing cold water, consented to be literally dragged through the mud, and watched paint dry. Jon demands you have a nice day.
Dr. Dave Ellerby
Chief Scientist
Dave Ellerby has a Ph.D. from the University of Leeds and a B.Sc. from the University of Manchester. He has 25+ years of experience designing tests and analyzing data.
Our team is here for one purpose: to help you buy the best stuff and love what you own. Our writers, editors, and lab technicians obsess over the products we cover to make sure you're confident and satisfied. Have a different opinion about something we recommend? Email us and we'll compare notes.
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