A washing machine is usually a long-term investment. You won't necessarily think about your washing machine as much as you think about your phone, but eventually, you'll use both with similar frequency - in most cases, multiple times a day.
Washing machines have been around for roughly a century, and this field is not so much about innovation than about robustness, durability, and lately, energy efficiency.
But if you read through our list of the best front load washing machines you can buy, you will be able to find a number of innovative features, too.
Whether or not you are selecting one of the devices from our list, these are the most important features in a front load washing machine to look for, if you are planning on buying one in 2021.
Washing machines are usually placed in not-so-huge places, like bathrooms, or laundry rooms, so the external size of the machine is a big factor when choosing one to buy. The machines in our list are between 26 and 28 inches, but even those two inches can make a big difference if you are short on room.
Like external size, internal capacity is also a decisive factor in choosing your optimal washing machine. This latter will determine how often you will have to run the machine, and how much time you will have to spend doing the laundry in the first place. The 6 cubic feet Samsung model stands out of the crowd from this angle.
While washing machines are not at the forefront of innovation, there are a few interesting features here and there that could convince you to buy one or the other of the listed machines. You might be interested in anti-allergen wash cycles, or enthusiastic about the WiFi connectivity, and the availability of an app.
Our favorite special feature on the list is the dispenser that allows you to set and forget the detergent for up to 40 wash cycles.
This one might not sound like a big issue, but if you think about how long you will use a washing machine (hopefully for 10 years or more), energy efficiency can really add up in terms of savings on the utility bills. Look for the Energy Star certification to make sure that the machine of your choice meets all current standards, and maybe compare it to others in its own league to ensure you pick the best one.
GE 5 cubic feet 28 Inch Front Load Washer
Home appliance giant GE offers a giant machine in its 28 Inch front load washer, that has 5 cubic feet capacity, and offers 12 preset wash cycles to choose from.
Innovations used in this product also include a vent system designed to tackle unwanted odors, called UltraFresh Vent System with OdorBlock, a built-in WiFi capability, and other technologies to improve user experience.
We are all familiar with the odors of a forgotten laundry, arent we? The UltraFresh Vent System is aiming to keep odors away from freshly cleaned laundry by eliminating excess moisture while in the wash cycle.
GE takes this technology one step further by introducing the Microban Antimicrobial technology, which provides washed clothes with durable protection against microbes and bacteria.
Our favorite technology of this device is the SmartDispense, which allows you to pre-fill the dispenser with up to 32 loads of detergent, and using intelligent technology, it automatically dispenses exactly as much as needed at each wash cycle. Needless to say that this might easily result in substantial savings as well as it is very environmentally cautious.
The one-step wash-and-dry cycle will let you easily clean a small load end to end, without the need to put it in the dryer, or even touching it.
While not exactly essential, it's always a nice luxury to control your washing machine from anywhere and get real-time notifications, thanks to its WiFi connectivity, and app.
You will probably enjoy GE's patented Dynamic Balancing Technology a lot more than the WiFi or the app. This feature uses sensors to enable real-time balancing of the spin cycle for each load, substantially reducing the noise level of the machine
The reversible door is also a nice-to-have feature but for a machine this big, it's easy to imagine how it comes in handy when trying to accommodate the device in a room that has a limited amount of free space.
GE's Power Steam capability uses, well, the power of steam to deep-clean your laundry while being as gentle with it as possible. Finally, this GE washing machine's sanitizer and anti-allergen cycle promises to kill 99% of all common bacteria and allergens such as dust mites without the use of any chemicals.
Samsung 6 cubic feet 27 Inch Front Load Washer
Wherever there are electronics involved, chances are that there is a Samsung model to be considered.
This time it's Samsung's 27 Inch smart front load washer, which has a 6 cubic feet capacity (compare it to the 3.48 cubic feet of Speed Queen's 27 Inch model!). It is packed with useful features, and features that may not be all that essential, as the Wi-Fi connection.
Nevertheless, these seemingly unnecessary features will then make this washing machine your favorite on the long run.
What makes Samsung stand out the most is its FlexWash technology, which basically transforms your washing machine in two - in the sense that you will be able to wash separate loads at the same time in the same device.
This extra will mean fewer wash cycles, and ultimately less time doing laundry instead of doing something you really enjoy.
The goal (ie. spending less time doing laundry) is the same for Samsung's SuperSpeed wash cycle, which promises a full wash in as little as half an hour.
When it comes to home appliances, like washing machines, Samsung is usually not what people think about at first - but this Samsung washer is really worth considering if you have enough room in your bathroom or in the laundry room of your house.
Whirlpool 5 cubic feet 27 Inch Front Load Washer
This 27 Inch Whirlpool front-load washer is an optimal choice for any household, by offering 5 cubic feet capacity, a stainless steel drum, an automatic dispenser dubbed Load and Go, and streamlined, intuitive, user-friendly controls. The device's load & go system holds enough detergent for up to 40 wash cycles, so you can simply use it in set and forget mode. The device will, then, using an intelligent algorithm use as much of the detergent as needed for the actual wash cycle to ensure that nothing goes to waste.
The industry standard stainless steel drum delivers premium performance.
Our favorite in this one: the 12-hour Fan Fresh option will keep forgotten laundry fresh for up to 12 hours after the wash cycle. An optimal feature for families with many distractions in their lives.
The one-step wash and dry cycle is also designed to simplify a family's life. You put it in the washer in the evening and wear it tomorrow. No need to worry about it in between.
The best thing about it is that it doesn't even use the dryer: it uses the fan of the FanFresh technology we mentioned before, to do this for you.
The device's cold wash cycle holds the promise of battling extra tough stains using cold water and extra cleaning action.
This results in better care for your clothes as well as some savings on the utility bills front.
The intuitive controls used by the machine will allow you to pick the exact right cycle or combination for your laundry, letting you customize by fabric type, amount and the likes. Finally, this device will also let you use its steam cycle, which will get deep into the fabrics for an increased wash action, sanitizing and cleaning effect, while staying gentle with the fabrics it's dealing with.
Samsung 4.5 cubic feet 27 Inch Front Load Washer
If the previous Samsung model with its 27 Inch size and 6 cubic feet capacity was huge, this one is a bit smaller, but still considered to be big. This front load washer can be praised for its high efficiency, due to its unique feature called AddWash.
With AddWash you don't have to worry about missing items to your wash, or having to start anew. You will always have the possibility to add these items later, while the wash cycle is still running.
Its SuperSpeed option increases efficiency even more as it cuts wash cycle running times further back. With SuperSpeed, a full cycle can be completed in not more than 36 minutes. The device's vibration reduction technology will take care of noise levels and unwanted side effects of the standard vibrations of a front load washer. The vibration reduction technology built-in this machine is more advanced even by Samsung standards, as it promises to have 40% quieter wash cycles than other "standard" vibration reduction Samsung appliances.
This Samsung device allows for steam cleaning that is one of the most gentle and effective ways of removing stains, odors, or wrinkles while preserving the quality of the cloth.
The washer's self-clean function removes dirt and bacteria from the machine itself without the use of harsh chemicals. You will even get notifications that remind you to clean the machine itself after every 40 wash cycles.
This Samsung front load washing machine comes with 14 preset wash cycles, plus 12 additional options to choose from.
Speed Queen 3.48 cu. ft. 27 Inch Front Load Washer
Speed Queen's 27 Inch front load washer has 3.48 cubic feet capacity. It offers 10 wash cycles, has electronic controls, and a stainless steel drum.
The Speed Queen brand has been around for more than a century, so their experience in producing laundry machines is above doubt. Their front load washers use unique, patented technology to make sure that your entire laundry is watered evenly, providing it with the best possible clean. The device's controls, including its touch panels, go through an extreme test cycle in order to ensure that it will endure the daily routines of your household use.
In fact, they are so confident about the quality of their controls that Speed Queen extends a dedicated warranty to back them up. Even with all the extreme moisture, vibration, and power surges that accompany the operation of a washing machine, the company says their controls will last for 25 years or more. The other feature that makes Speed Queen front load washing machines stand out is their technology called Dynamic Balancing. With the help of built-in sensors and algorithms, this technology virtually removes the vibration of the appliance.
On top of the obvious advantage of decreased noise levels, this also comes with the additional benefit of faster cycles and dry times, and less moisture left in your clothes. It might not be groundbreaking technology, but the time remaining display is a huge plus when it comes to user experience.
Finally, with this Speed Queen machine, you'll have the option to run Oxi and Allergy cycles, which will add an extra to the levels of cleaning your laundry.
Asko Logic Series 2.8 cubic feet 24 Inch Front Load Washer
This 24 Inch Energy Star qualified Asko machine is designed for smaller places than the 27 Inch Speed Queen model we saw before. But if having enough room is an important factor for you, this Asko front load washing machine will be a great choice. Its capacity is 2.8 cubic feet, which is still a lot. And with a 1400 RPM Spin Speed, and with its 21 Programs it will take care of all the laundry-related tasks you might possibly have.
While Speed Queen was more about the engine and the technology, this Asko model is all about the drum. Its Activedrum design promises to provide your clothes with optimum care and maximum cleaning. What makes it unique is the angle of the drum edges and the overall design of the drum itself, which is combined with hourglass-shaped lifters, designed to move your laundry to the center as much as possible. The innovative design is combined with smaller cylinder holes in the middle, to ensure that delicate items are treated mildly, even at higher speeds.
This design also helps to keep the machine clean in the long run.
Asko's allergy wash mode uses more water than usual problems to make sure all chemicals are completely cleaned from the laundry before it's done. Of course, on the other end, it uses more water and more energy.
Still, the Energy Star qualification of the device is a guarantee that it was designed with energy efficiency in mind - saving a lot of money in utility bills when used on a daily basis.
The 21 programs of the machine ensure that you will get a feature-packed front-load washer for your money.
Some of the extras include a Dark wash cycle (optimized to keep black clothes black for longer), a quick wash cycle, and a super rinse cycle that, depending on the softness of the water will rinse your laundry up to seven times before calling it clean.