Best washing machine 2023: Get your clothes cleaner
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.
Best washing machine at a glance
- Best overall: AEG L9FEB969C – check price
- Best smart washing machine: Hoover H-Wash 500 HWB 410AMC/1-80 – check price
- Best washer dryer: Hotpoint Anti-Stain NDB 9635 W UK – check price
- Best for efficiency: Bosch Serie 8 WAV28MH4GB – check price
- Best standard washing machine: Indesit BWE 101638X W UK N – check price
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.
- 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
- Low running costs
- Useful smartphone app
- Cleans well at low tempertures
- Could have better stain removal in Eco mode
- Simple to use
- Good selection of programmes
- Excellent stain removal on Eco programme
- Not the cheapest to run
- Excellent stain removal
- Sophisticated range of programmes
- Low running costs for washing
- Drying costs are expensive
- Slightly confusing dry-only options
- Excellent stain removal particularly at 20°C
- AddWash lets you add washing at any point
- SmartThings compatible
- Spin cycle only B-rated
AEG L9FEB969C
The best overall washing machine
Pros
- Low running costs
- Useful smartphone app
- Cleans 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 review
Reviewer: David Ludlow
Hoover H-Wash 500 HWB 410AMC/1-80
Best smart washing machine
Pros
- App adds extra programmes
- Super-quiet
- Decent stain removal, particularly at 40ºC
Cons
- A little slow
- Wi-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.
Full review: Hoover H-Wash 500 HWB 410AMC/1-80 Review
Reviewer: David Ludlow
Hotpoint Anti-Stain NDB 9635 W UK
The best washer dryer
Pros
- Excellent stain removal
- Sophisticated range of programmes
- Low running costs for washing
Cons
- Drying costs are expensive
- Slightly 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.
Full review: Hotpoint Anti-Stain NDB 9635 W UK review
Reviewer: David Ludlow
Samsung WW90T684DLH
The best washing machine for low-temperature washing
Pros
- Excellent stain removal particularly at 20°C
- AddWash lets you add washing at any point
- SmartThings compatible
Cons
- Spin cycle only B-rated
Although the Samsung WW90T684DLH has a more mid-range price than many other washing machines from the company, it’s still kitted out with an excellent range of features. This model is compatible with SmartThings for remote control, and it has AddWash: pop open the door at the front at any point during a wash cycle and you can add any missed items.
This machine also has auto dosing built it: just fill up the drawer with liquid detergent and softener, and the machine will handle dosing. With a friendly interface that helpfully explains each wash programme’s maximum load size, the Samsung WW90T684DLH is super easy to use.
It’s also an exceptionally good machine. Running our 5kg load on the Eco 40-60 programme, the cycle cost of 36p was good to see. And, this wash managed to remove most of our test stains. Moving to the Cotton programme at 30°C, the Samsung WW90T684DLH returned a very low cycle cost of 35p, and stain removal was good.
Moving to the special 20°C wash, running costs dropped to just 29p for the cycle. Stain removal was very good: there were still visible marks left, but for lightly soiled items, this wash cycle is a great way to save cash.
Over a year, we worked out that this machine would cost a reasonable £75.16 a year to run. If you want smart features, low running costs and great low-temperature results, this is a top choice.
Full review: Samsung WW90T684DLH review
Reviewer: David Ludlow
Indesit BWE 101638X W UK N
The best standard washing machine
Pros
- Simple to use
- Good selection of programmes
- Excellent 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 review
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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Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.