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
How we test
Learn more about how we test washing machines 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.
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
The AEG L9FEB969C is a brilliant washing machine and great for large families, thanks to the 9KG drum. With its low running costs and built-in water softener, the AEG L9FEB969C is also an investment that’s built to last.
Like a dishwasher, the AEG L9FEB969C has a built in salt compartment that can be found in the detergent drawer. Using this is simple, as you need to input the water hardness level of your area into the washing machine (this can be ascertained online) and the machine will adjust the salt levels to best accommodate for it.
By including a water softener, the AEG L9FEB969C allows you to control the amount of detergent needed, and protect the inside of your machine from mineral build-up.
On the machine itself you’ll find a control panel which includes the standard selection of programmes plus special settings such as AEG’s MyWash for fast cleaning, Wool, Down Jackets and a 20 minute setting for 3kg of washing. There’s even a clever Steam option which you can add to a cycle to reduce creases.
Naturally as a smart washing machine the AEG L9FEB969C connects to the My AEG Care app which allows you to remotely select your desired programme. The app also lets you check on the time remaining on the cycle and, if you have an AEG smart tumble dryer, you’ll receive drying recommendations too.
We put the AEG L9FEB969C through a series of tests to determine its power, efficiency and how much it costs to run. We found that the standard Cotton 30°C wash used just 0.702kWh of power although the water consumption was slightly high at 76.4-litres.
The Eco 40-60 programme which was designed to save energy drained 0.31kWh of power and just 43-litres of water. Results were mostly impressive however we did note some stains left after the Eco mode.
Overall we worked out that the AEG L9FEB969C has an annual running cost of around £34.39, making it exceptionally good value. Although it is a fairly high investment, if you want an energy efficient model that will help bring your costs down over time then the AEG L9FEB969C is a great choice.
Full review: AEG L9FEB969C reviewReviewer: David Ludlow
Hisense WF5S1045BW
Best smart washing machine
Pros
Low running costsLarge drumGood stain removal on the Eco 40-60 wash
If you’re looking for a smart washing machine that offers remote access, the Hisense WF5S1045BW is a great choice. The compatible ConnectLife app gives you remote control over the machine’s cycle and settings, plus there are additional cycles found here too.
The auto-dispensing drawer is a great accompaniment to the ConnectLife app, as it can hold enough liquid detergent and fabric softener to cater for up to 24 washes. This means you just need to load your washing machine, pick your settings and use the app to start the cycle.
You can also use the machine manually, with the easy to navigate main dial where you’ll find all the standard wash cycles, plus extras including a 49-minute wash, wool cycle and a baby care mode that uses steam to refresh.
Boasting an A+ energy rating, the Hisense is also cheap to run, making it a good investment. We found in our tests that a cotton wash at 30°C cost 44p to run and this dropped to 25p with the Eco 40-60 cycle.
Not only is the Hisense WF5S1045BW a smart washing machine, but it also features a large 10.5kg drum. Whether you have a larger family and frequently have bigger loads to deal with, or just want to wash larger items such as duvets, this is a great smart washing machine.
Reviewer: David Ludlow
Full review: Hisense WF5S1045BW
Indesit BWE101685XWUKN
The best large washing machine
Pros
Excellent stain removalSimple controlsGreat value
With a 10kg capacity that’s more than enough for larger items plus impeccable cleaning power to boot, the Indesit BWE101685XWUKN is perfect for busy households with lots of laundry to get through.
The control panel at the front of the machine is intuitive and easy to use, with a numbered selector dial and corresponding programs displayed clearly on the detergent drawer.
You’ll find all the regular washing cycles you would expect, alongside a few special features such as a 20°C wash, a wool cycle and a cycle for duvets. However, compared to other washing machines, this Indesit doesn’t have as many extra features.
For each wash setting, you can adjust both the spin speed and temperature accordingly, depending on the load.
We found that a cotton 30°C wash costs around 36p to run, which is a reasonable price, however what really impressed us was the cleaning ability. We found most of our notoriously difficult to remove stains, such as red wine and oil, nearly disappeared on this cycle. On the special 20°C program, we found the running cost dropped to just 29p per cycle.
If you want a competitively priced, large capacity washing machine, the Indesit BWE101685XWUKN is a great option. Although it’s not the cheapest to run, it’s still a reliable washing machine that produces incredible cleaning results.
Reviewer: David Ludlow
Full review: Indesit BWE101685XWUKN
Hotpoint NM11946WCAUKN
The best for efficiency
Pros
Low costGood running costsQuality stain removal
Cons
Cotton 30°C cycle slightly expensive
If you aren’t fussed about smart features or compatible apps and just want a reliable and efficient washing machine then this Hotpoint is one for you. We found this machine to be fairly cheap to run, with a 20°C wash costing just 28p for a 5kg load of washing and an Eco 40-60 wash costing just 30p.
It’s worth noting the standard 30°C Cotton wash was a bit more costly than we’d have liked at 54p.
There’s also a clear LCD screen at the front that shows the estimated time for the cycle to complete. There are adjustable settings for each wash too which is particularly useful if you want to decrease the cycle time to save resources, or if your washing isn’t too dirty.
Speaking of settings, you’ll find all the usual trappings plus additional programs for wool, delicates and an impressive steam option too. The steam option is a useful addition to the machine, and one we rarely see at this price point, for either refreshing clothes or including in an existing setting.
With a 9kg sized drum, which is large enough to accommodate a big washing load from a large family and an initial cost of under £400, the Hotpoint NM11946WCAUKN is a great investment for those who don’t want to pay too much for a washing machine but still want it to get the job done.
Reviewer: David Ludlow
Full review: Hotpoint NM11946WCAUKN
Indesit BWE 101638X W UK N
The best standard washing machine
Pros
Simple to useGood selection of programmesExcellent stain removal on Eco programme
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 reviewReviewer: David Ludlow
FAQs
FAQs What size drum do you need? 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. What spin speed do you need? 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. What are efficiency ratings? 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. What temperature should I wash at? 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. What wash modes do you need? 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.
Comparison Specifications
‹
UK RRP
USA RRP
EU RRP
CA RRP
AUD RRP
Manufacturer
Size (Dimensions)
Weight
ASIN
Release Date
First Reviewed Date
Model Number
Rated Efficiency
Annual water consumption
Annual electricity consumption
Drum Capacity
Spin speed
Special wash modes
Countdown timer
Delay timer
App Control
AEG L9FEB969C
£999
Unavailable
Unavailable
Unavailable
Unavailable
AEG
597 x 631 x 847 MM
–
–
2021
28/09/2021
AEG L9FEB969C
A
10780 litres
107.8 kWh
9 kg
1600 rpm
Wool, down jackets, 20min 3kg, Steam
Yes
Yes
Yes
Hisense WF5S1045BW
£549
–
–
–
–
Hisense
585 x 590 x 845 MM
–
–
2023
06/11/2023
Hisense WF5S1045BW
A
–
–
10.5 kg
1400 rpm
Baby, silk, wool
Yes
Yes
Yes
Indesit BWE101685XWUKN
£339
–
–
–
–
Indesit
595 x 605 x 850 MM
–
B09R21NDJ2
2023
04/04/2023
Indesit BWE101685XWUKN
B
–
–
10 kg
1600 rpm
Duvet, Wool, 20°C, Push & Go
Yes
Yes
–
Hotpoint NM11946WCAUKN
£377
–
–
–
–
Hotpoint
595 x 605 x 850 MM
9 KG
B07FPM3S3D
2023
03/05/2023
Samsung WW11BGA046AE
A
–
–
9 kg
1400 rpm
Wool, allergy, bed & bath, delicates, 20°C
Yes
Yes
–
Indesit BWE 101638X W UK N
–
–
–
–
–
Indesit
595 x 605 x 850 MM
–
–
2022
16/05/2022
BWE101638XWUKN
D
11220 litres
173.8 kWh
10 kg
1600 rpm
Rapid, Duvet, Wool, 20C, Push & Go
Yes
Yes
–
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Trusted Reviews test data
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Energy consumption 30C wash
Water consumption 30C wash
Percentage water remaining 30C wash
Energy consumption 40C wash
Water consumption 40C wash
Percentage water remaining 40C wash
Yearly running cost low use (washing machine)
Yearly running cost med use (washing machine)
Yearly running cost high use (washing machine)
Sound (spin)
Sound (normal)
AEG L9FEB969C
0.702 kWh
76.4 litres
39.67 %
0.31 kWh
43 litres
33.06 %
£17.20
£25.79
£34.39
61.4 dB
48.5 dB
Hisense WF5S1045BW
0.512 kWh
87.2 litres
44.63 %
0.473 kWh
28.3 litres
42.62 %
–
–
–
64.2 dB
–
Indesit BWE101685XWUKN
0.511 kWh
62 litres
58.27 %
0.592 kWh
63 litres
35.25 %
–
–
£68.46
79.2 dB
–
Hotpoint NM11946WCAUKN
0.808 kWh
85.125 litres
44.72 %
0.535 kWh
37.8 litres
40.08 %
–
–
£69.07
–
64.6 dB
Indesit BWE 101638X W UK N
0.176 kWh
68.4 litres
54.70 %
0.795 kWh
55.6 litres
36.75 %
£19.73
£29.60
£39.46
–
–
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