LG WM8100HVA Front-Loading Washer Review

The LG WM8100HVA's only real downside is its price, and even when you consider all it offers, it's still very, very expensive. We find it difficult to whole-heartedly recommend this LG washer when many of our top-rated models, like the Electrolux EFLS627UTT and LG WM3700HWA have similar performance and features, but cost hundreds of dollars less.

There’s a lot to like about the LG WM8100HVA. You can go down the list of qualities you want in a washer and the LG WM8100HVA checks just about all of them: good cleaning ability; fast cycle times; low water retention after a cycle; quiet operation; customization options; and extra features.

The only place the LG WM8100HVA really falters is on its Delicates cycle, which isn’t very delicate. In our tests it was about 33% rougher than the average delicates cycle.

About the LG WM8100HVA washer

• Dimensions: 40.75” x 29" x 32.88" (H x W x D)
• Capacity: 5.2 cu. ft.
• Finishes: Graphite Steel
• Cycles: Cotton/Normal, Heavy Duty, Bulky/Large, Bright Whites, Sanitary, Allergiene, Jumbo Wash, Towels, Perm. Press, Hand Wash/Wool, Delicates, Speed Wash, Small Load.
• Cycle options: Tub Clean, five spin strength levels, five soil levels, five temperature levels, up to three extra rinse cycles, TurboWash (shortens cycles by five minutes), sanitize/Allergiene cycle, cold wash, steam technology, and pre-wash
• EnergySTAR Certified: Yes
• Matching dryer: DLEX8100V
• User manual: LG WM8100HVA washer manual

What we like

Cleaning ability is decent

While modern washers have all kinds of interesting features to make your laundry day easier, their core functionality is still cleaning clothes. If a washer can’t scrub out stains, then no amount of app support or specialty cycles are going to make up for that deficit.

On our cleaning tests, the LG WM8100HVA scored pretty well on just about every cycle. Its Normal and Heavy Duty cycles ended up scrubbing out stains at an above average rate, while the Speed Wash and Delicates cycles were more in the middle of the pack. We didn’t see any cycles with below average results.

LG names just about every aspect of the washer performance. For instance, “6motion technology” tumbles clothes with an above-average number of wash motions, which they claim helps care for fabrics while cleaning them. The motion is enabled by a “direct drive motor” that attaches to the drum directly, supposedly simplifying the assembly and offering fewer points of failure.

“ColdWash technology” is supposed to give your clothes the cleaning performance of warm water, while only actually using cold water. (Of course, it’s generally pretty unnecessary to wash your clothes in warm water anyway.) “Turbowash technology” shaves time off of the washing cycle with a combination of increased temperatures and washing motions.

Flipping through info on this LG, you may feel like you’re drowning in marketing terms. But whatever they call these features, they deliver on performance.

Cycle times are fast

We were really impressed with how fast the LG WM8100HVA can clean clothes. The LG WM8100HVA's Normal cycle was one of the fastest normal cycles we’ve ever tested, finishing a full load in 26 minutes, when the average washer takes about 50 minutes. That’s almost twice as fast, generating results that land above average.

We were also impressed with its Quick Wash cycle, which took about 17 minutes. That's only three minutes slower than our fastest recorded time and much faster than the large group of washers that take about 30 minutes to complete their quick cycles. If you need something washed in a hurry, you can't do much better than the WM8100HVA.

Spin cycle gets out a lot of water

One of the unsung heroes of washer performance is the spin cycle. Spin cycles get excess water out of your laundry so your dryer doesn’t have to work quite as hard later. A good spin cycle can end up saving you money in the long run, because your dryer requires a lot more energy than your washer to remove the same amount of water.

In our testing, the LG WM8100HVA’s spin cycles removed an extra 10% of water when compared to the average washer. While this difference isn't a giant leap, it is more than a small step ahead of its competition. Add this to its already fairly low resource consumption rate, and you can start to see how the LG WM8100HVA may make up some of its purchase price over time via lower utility bills.

What we don’t like

The Delicates cycle isn’t very delicate

When we test how gentle a washer is on your clothes, we use a mechanical action strip, which is a small swatch of fabric with a few holes punched out of it. After a cycle, we see how many threads were pulled loose along the edges of the swatch, and use that to determine how harsh the agitation is on your clothes.

When we performed this test on the Normal cycle, the LG WM8100HVA performed with average results. The Delicates cycle, however, showed about 33% more wear-and-tear damage than the average washer. This can add up over time to reduce the lifespan of your most fragile fabrics.

Our take-away: If you wash a lot of delicates, this washer isn’t a good fit for you.

What owners are saying

People who own the LG WM8100HVA are generally happy with their washer, awarding it an average 4.6 out of 5 stars across major retailers.

General points of praise include its quiet operation, ease of use, aesthetics, extra features, and the quality of cleanliness for each load of laundry.

The negative reviews didn’t have as clear of a narrative about why the machine was a letdown. Many cases seemed to be lemons. Some users complained the wash didn’t get very clean or didn’t use enough water. While it’s a common belief that washers need more water to clean better, this generally isn’t the case (unless your clothes are absolutely caked with soil).

Warranty

LG guarantees the WM8100HVA for up to one year for parts and labor. Additionally, the drum will be covered for up to three years and the motor is covered for up to 10 years. Most manufacturers stop coverage after the first year, so the decade of coverage for the motor—the part most likely to break down and require an expensive replacement—is quite a selling point.

Should you buy the LG WM8100HVA?

If it’s on sale? Definitely. At full price? Debatable.

This front load washer has a lot of positive attributes. For starters, it just looks nice: We liked its graphite steel finish, clean lines, and curved edges.

In terms of stain-fighting power, it performs slightly better than the average washer on most cycles. Its spin cycle is pretty good at getting rid of excess water, which makes for quicker and cheaper drying. Its 5.2-cubic-foot mega capacity drum accommodates large loads of laundry—an asset for families—and it finishes most cycles fairly fast.

It also has some great extra features, like steam cleaning and a sanitize cycle for particularly gross garments. If that weren’t enough, it’s also covered by a pretty robust warranty.

The one sticking point—as is so often the case—is its price. While we think the LG WM8100HVA is a great washer that just about everybody would be happy to have in their laundry room, we also have to point out you can find similarly great performance and features from models that cost hundreds of dollars less.

If you’re interested in the LG WM8100HVA but don't have mega bucks, we’d recommend checking out the LG WM3700HWA, another LG front-loader that has just about the same features and performance with a lower price tag. If you’re looking for the best washer we’ve tested, the Electrolux EFLS627UTT, offers stronger performance, and you can also find it at a cheaper price point.

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