LG WM9000HVA washing machine review

Design

Okay, this washing machine is huge, inside and out. That's especially true if you plan to pair it with its companion dryer, the LG DLEX9000V. Be sure to measure your laundry room to make sure you have enough space, as the WM9000 is 29 inches wide and 33.75 inches deep.

But if you’ve got a sizable laundry room, you’ll like the way the washer and dryer look together, with their sleek Graphite Steel finish. (In white, the otherwise identical WM9000WVA sells for about $50 less.) The doors have hidden handles on the side. You can install them to open on either side. Don’t slam the doors, though, or they'll bounce back instead of closing.

The tub is angled slightly, which makes loading and unloading more comfortable—although it’s a long reach to the back of the tub if you’re petite.

The control panel is located on the front of the door, and the touch-sensitive console is clear and easy to use. Just be careful not to lean against it, or you might press a button accidentally. The large cycle selector knob turns easily, and an LED light highlights the cycle you choose. There's also an app for remote control, although we found it to be finicky.

If you don't like the LG's unique look, the Kenmore 41983 is based on this machine but has a more traditional layout.

The dispenser compartment is on top. Slide it back to add detergent, softener, or bleach. Since you can’t remove the cups to wash them, you’ll have to wipe them out to clean them.

Features

LG's TurboWash feature is remarkable. It mixes up the spray pattern of a wash cycle in order to speed things up while still getting stains out as well as a conventional washer, and it really works.

In our labs, we saw its Normal cycle gets the laundry done in only 34 minutes for an eight pound load. By comparison, most washers take around 50 minutes. Even after we stuffed this washer to its full capacity, we timed the Normal cycle to only an hour. It gets through the Quick Cycle in only 21 minutes. The Heavy cycle took an hour and 48 minutes in our lab, and delicates were done in 45 minutes.

Sanitary Wash gets to 145°, so it’s actually able to sanitize clothing. Use it for dirty work clothes or cloth diapers.

The WM9000HVA does all this, and it's super quiet. We couldn't hear anything but the water in our pipes.

This washer is also compatible with LG’s TwinWash system, which lets you install the SideKick mini-washer pedestal underneath the big washer. Then, you can do a tiny load in there while running a regular load in the big drum. A workout outfit, lacy lingerie, delicate sweaters, baby clothes—any of those would be nice to clean separately, since you’d rarely have enough of them to wash in the main washer.

Performance

In our tests, the washer scored very well on overall cleaning, with the Normal and Heavy cycles cleaning the most. The Normal wiped out 72% of our test stains, and the Heavy cycle cleaned 80% after a single wash. No washer removes 100% of our test stains, and larger washers tend to struggle more than smaller ones. The massive WM9000's performance proved well above average.

It's efficient, too, costing an average of $38 a year to run.

The smart app, which is supposed to be able to adjust cycles, soil levels, temperature and drum speed, didn't impress us much. Setup was finicky, and you need to have the manual on hand to get it to work. But LG isn't the only appliance company that has trouble creating a good app.

What the users say

According to almost every owner who posted comments, this washer is nothing short of amazing. Many agree that LG’s app is very disappointing.

The bottom line

If you need to wash a hamper full of laundry for a big family, or you often have to clean fluffy, king size comforters, this washer has the plenty of room to do a good job on that. Using the TurboWash feature means you can get out of the laundry room in a decent amount of time.

The washer’s companion, the LG DLEX9000V dryer is our top-rated dryer. And—if you don't mind spending even more—the SideKick pedestal is a nice addition, washing a small load while you run the regular load.

To offer a comparison, you can get an excellent front-load washing machine for under a thousand dollars—the Electrolux EFLS617SIW. And its matching dryer—the Electrolux EFME617SIW is just as good.