Credit:
LG
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Credit:
LG
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The LG WM6700HBA is a gorgeous, high-performance washer that's perfect for large families. Read More
Everything scales up when you have a big family. Groceries are consumed faster, toilet paper disappears in a blink of an eye, and laundry piles up until it's taller than your youngest.
For these situations, you need a washer with a high capacity and speedy cycles. Also, since children enjoy finding creative ways to get dirty, families with small children should invest in a washer with a sanitize feature. There are even washers out there that come with a secondary mini-washer to keep items like cloth diapers separate from everything else.
Considering the various needs of a large family, we went through the data we’ve collected from testing hundreds of washing machines to select the best one.
The LG WM9000HVA (available at Best Buy for $1,799.99) came out as the clear winner. It has everything we were looking for: high capacity, fast cycles, and the ability to sanitize clothing.
If you think the WM9000HVA is way too expensive, not to worry, our roundup also included more affordable models.
Power Heavy Duty cycle
High number of features
Streamlined controls
Expensive
Slow cycles
Large capacity drum
Fast cycle times
Smart features
Average cleaning power
Expensive
Large wash drum
Fast cycles
Solid stain-scrubbing power
Causes more wear and tear damage than average
AI Wash cycle is underwhelming
Fast, effective wash cycles
Large wash drum
Steam, stackable, other features
On-board controls can be difficult to read
Loud chime has no volume controls, just on and off
Good stain removal
Venting system controls odors
Excellent sanitize feature
Poor Quick Dry and Bulky/Bedding cycle
Expensive
Hello! We're Reviewed's appliance testing team. Between us, we have dozens of years of experience lab-testing appliances, and today we’re turning our attention to washers for large families.
Regardless of what we test, we take a two-pronged approach. For starters, we run each appliance through the paces with a battery of standardized objective tests, which lets us cross-compare each products’ performance. We also make sure to just use the products normally, like how anyone would use them in their own home. This pass lets us catch any user interface issues or particularly brilliant design flourishes that you’ll only notice on the hundredth time you do something.
Every washer on this list features both a sanitize cycle and a heavy or extra heavy soil cycle.
Every washing machine that comes into Reviewed’s labs gets put through the same testing regime, which addresses both performance and user-friendliness. We look at stain removal, wear and tear, water retention, and cycle time.
When testing washing machines through the lens of large families, we specifically look at the washer’s drum size to gauge how much laundry it can hold at one time—our minimum size requirement is 5.2 cubic feet—as well as whether it has a sanitize cycle and a heavy or extra heavy soil setting to deal with all manners of family generated stains, from muddy knees and poopy diapers to pasta sauce and red wine spills.
When we recommend a washer as one that’s good for large families, we’re mostly looking at that washer’s capacity. A washer’s drum is rated in cubic feet, and the higher the number is, the more laundry you can fit into the washing machine for a given cycle.
The average washing machine has a drum capacity between 4.2 cubic feet and 4.5 cubic feet. This drum size can accommodate the laundry needs of a family of four.
When you have a larger family, however, chances are that you’ll have bigger and more frequent laundry loads; in this case, we look for washing machines that have capacities with a minimum of 5 cubic feet.
Every washer on this list features both a sanitize cycle and a heavy or extra heavy soil cycle. Why? Because babies poop a lot, little kids are constantly on the ground grinding dirt and grass stains into their knees, and pre-teens and teens are dripping paint, ketchup, or cosmetics all over themselves. Families need wash options that are both tougher and germ-conscious.
Another spec that makes a washer good for large families is the washer’s cycle time. Sometimes, even with large capacity washers like the ones listed here, you’re still going to be running multiple cycles of laundry in a given day; it’s best for everyone if those cycles don’t take too long.
You’d think that more laundry in a load would automatically translate into longer cycle times, since, you know, there’s more laundry to clean. However, some brands have come up with ways to efficiently disperse detergent and rinse it out fairly quickly, which cuts down on the time you’re standing around waiting to put laundry into the dryer.
Leigh Harrington has more than 20 years experience as a writer and editor for myriad print and digital publications.
At USA TODAY and Reviewed, Harrington oversees large appliances, including refrigerators, dishwashers, ranges, and laundry, and manages Reviewed's overall home content, including areas of focus like home improvement, cleaning, gardening, cooking, and parenting. She focuses on writing, but mostly editing, consumer ed content and product reviews.
Harrington is also an experienced travel writer, and has authored books including Fodor's Boston, 100 Things to Do in Boston Before You Die, and Colorful Boston, an adult coloring book.
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.
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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