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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.
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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 earns our Best Overall award for its plethora of features and top-notch stain removal.
Compatible with smart app: Yes, includes Alexa Built-in Voice Assistant
With a 5.4-cubic-foot stainless-steel drum, the GE Profile PTW900BPTRS has all the right features to please both traditionalists and new-school laundry doers.
If you like to micromanage how your clothes get washed, the PTW900BPTRS has eight cycles, five water temperatures, soil and spin settings, and three rinse levels. However, if you want to set it and forget it, this GE washer still has you covered. Its auto dispenser works for up to 32 washes, the smart wash soil sensor will adjust cycle times based on how dirty your laundry is, and built-in Alexa helps select which cycle to use.
We picked the GE Profile PTW900BPTRS as the best top-load washing machine specifically because the Normal and Delicates cycle impressed us with how many of our testing stains were removed.
Compatible with smart app: Yes, Amazon Alexa voice control
The Whirlpool WTW8127LC features an industry first: a removable agitator pole, so owners of this washer have two options for washing their clothes. Interestingly, our best top-load washer with an agitator is the one where said agitator is removable, but this flexibility is precisely what allows the WTW8127LC to offer such incredible wash quality.
Not only did the WTW8127LC do a great job scrubbing out our test stains, removing the agitator and using the built-in impeller also did a good job—and it was more gentle overall.
We also love Whirlpool’s “What to Wash / How to Wash” system, which replaces the traditional cycle selection dial and can help take the guesswork out of what a wash cycle does.
If you want a workhorse that can deal with big loads and different laundry situations, take a look at the LG WT7900HBA top-loading washer.
It has appealing features, including a large 5.5-cubic-foot capacity that’s great for bulky items like a king-size comforter. There’s also an Allergiene cycle (which claims to remove pet dander and dust mites) and seven steam cycles (including Normal, Allergiene, and Sanitary).
Additionally, the cycle times are nice and short. The Normal and Speed Wash cycles both clock in at 30 minutes long. If you have some serious stains to remove, we recommend the Heavy Duty cycle, which performed the best in our stain removal tests and takes less than two hours to run.
While this washer isn’t as efficient as some LG front-load washers we’ve tested, it's a great option. If you like top-load washers and want a larger tub capacity, fast cycle times, and steam cycles, the LG WT7900HBA might be a good fit.
One of our best top-load washers, the Maytag Pet Pro MVW6500MBK is made just for pet owners.
Best Top-load Washer For Pet Owners
Maytag Pet Pro MVW6500MBK
Drum capacity/load size: 4.7 cubic feet
Agitator/impeller: Agitator
Spin speed: 750 rpm
Energy Star certified: No
Compatible with smart app: No
If you're a pet owner looking for a top-load washer, the Maytag MVW6500MBK is a good pick.
In addition to solid stain-fighting power, the real draw is its trademark Pet Pro system, which excels at removing pet hair from laundry. A filter inside the machine's pole agitator collects pet hair during a wash, which can be easily emptied after the cycle.
In our testing, we found this washer could remove the majority of shedding from a blanket used exclusively by a Bernese Mountain Dog (and brightened it up quite a bit).
This washer also has some nice extras to round out its offerings, including a built-in faucet and a slow-close lid to prevent slams.
The Maytag MVW7232HW top-load washer is a great mix of new features, like WiFi connectivity, and old-school functionality. With a 5.3 cubic-foot capacity and Extra Power stain removal booster, this washer can handle large loads without losing cleaning efficiency. If you like to control the water level of your wash, the Deep Fill option allows you to add varying amounts of extra water to your wash cycle.
In terms of stain removal, this washer has some of the best-performing Normal and Heavy Duty cycles that have ever come through our labs. Even better, we found that this washer is gentle on your clothes. While the cycle times are longer than some other washers we’ve seen (the Normal cycle clocks in at ~40 minutes), the cleaning power you get with the Maytag MVW7232HW is worth the trade-off.
The GE GTW585BSVWS updates the traditional top-loader by giving it a modern look and touchpad controls.
In terms of cleaning quality, every cycle we tested was capable of providing a good quality clean. The Normal and Delicates cycles were able to scrub out stains while remaining gentle on your clothes. The Bulky cycle was also proficient at cleaning clothes, but it can also be quite rough.
We like the GE GTW585BSVWS for its performance, look, and overall user experience—especially at its price. The only issue we found was that some of its plastic components felt cheap and flimsy. Still, as a complete package, we think this top-loader is an excellent value.
The Maytag MVW7230HW offers some decent performance for a traditional top-loader. In our tests, we found it performed about as well as the average washer. It also includes some nice extras like a built-in faucet and an impressive, decade-long warranty. We liked the slow-close glass lid, and the pull-out detergent dispenser, which is easy to use and access; however, the Quick and Heavy Duty cycles left in about 7-12% more water than average.
Front-load vs top-load washers: What's the difference?
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 load 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.
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.
Is it easy is to use a top-load washer?
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 bend or crouch down to get your clothes in and out.
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.
Are there extra water options for a top-load washer?
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.
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. For many front-loaders, especially basic models, the gasket is a problem area because mold, bacteria, and odors can build up there. 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.
Why You Should Trust Our Expertise
Every washing machine that has visited Reviewed’s labs went through the same testing regime (read about how we test washing machines in the Reviewed lab), which addresses both performance and user-friendliness in things like stain removal, wear and tear, water retention, and cycle time.
Our main goal is to answer one question: How easy is it to actually use this washing machine? This involves assessing the control panel, the door, the detergent dispenser, and any smart features that are included.
By combining performance with user experience, we can make solid recommendations for any type of washing machine, at any price point.
What Other Reviewers Are Saying About the Best Top-load Washers
The experts seem torn on what the best top-loading washer is. To save you some time and trouble, we’ve gone ahead and done the research for you.
Wirecutter: Wirecutter’s top pick for best top-load washer is the GE GTW585BSVWS, which is also on our list, although farther down. For a style with an agitator, we prefer the Whirlpool WTW8127LC, for its faster spin speed, larger drum, and option to remove the agitator.
Consumer Reports: The Consumer Reports team currently recommends the LG WT8405CW as their top pick, and it’s also an agitator. It didn’t make our list, but we do love LG’s impeller model, WT7900HBA, and it’s a workhorse.
What Owners Are Saying About Our Best Top-load Washer
User comments around the topic of best dishwashers display the typical amount of rancor and infighting. We’re pulling these user reviews from sources like tktktk.
Reddit /BuyItForLife: Over at Reddit’s BIFL, the top comments support GE top-loaders over front-loaders and over other brands. The consensus is that top-loaders do a much better job.
GEappliances.com: Regarding our top-pick GE Profile PTW900BPTRS, it gets a 4.0-star review overall, and customer Jrc85 says, “My favorite feature is the laundry soap tank. It holds so much!! You don't have to constantly add soap to each wash.”
Best Buy: Best Buy customers give this washer an overall 4.2-star rating for its large capacity, ease of use, and sapphire blue color, and we couldn’t agree more. Customer LindsayM calls it a “dream washing machine.”
Prices were accurate at the time this article was published but may change over time.
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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.
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.
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