Laundry Products That Waste Loads of Money
The worst-performing washers, dryers, and detergents from Consumer Reports' tests
By Keith Flamer
If the price of bottled water these days surprises you, the laundry aisle will floor you (water, at least, is essential). With today’s inflation, laundry detergents can cost up to $28 a bottle. And some, according to Consumer Reports’ tests, clean only slightly better than, well, plain water.
But overpriced detergent isn’t the only thing that can make doing laundry more costly than it should be. There are washers that use gallons of water yet leave clothes dirty and dingy enough to require a second wash. There are dryers that take longer than others to completely dry clothes, running up your energy bill. And then there are all those spinoff laundry products that nickel-and-dime you by promising the brightest, freshest, cleanest clothes ever. Add inflation on top, and you have more money going down the drain with every cycle.
Washer and dryer prices, for example, have risen about 10 percent to 20 percent compared to pre-COVID days, according to CR senior analyst Mark Allwood. That includes poorly performing ones as well as high-performing ones. Laundry appliances that don’t stand the test of time will cost you, too. That’s why the Overall Scores in our ratings of washers and dryers incorporate survey data for predicted reliability and owner satisfaction along with our lab test results.
Here’s a quick look at the models and products that don’t quite cut it in our tests of washing machines, clothes dryers, and laundry detergents. And if you also want to up your laundry game by learning the best way to get your clothes clean, check out our rookie’s guide to doing laundry.
Washing Machines
Front-Loader
The Electrolux EFLW317TlW, $780, is currently the lowest-rated model of the dozens of full-sized front-loaders we tested. It earns a Very Good rating for washing performance but is the roughest on fabrics, receiving a Poor rating for gentleness. It’s also the noisiest and vibrates more than many models we’ve tested.
High-Efficiency (HE) Top-Loader
Many HE top-loaders, the type without an agitator, earn an Excellent or Very Good rating for washing performance, their primary function. The Samsung WA41A3000AW, $575, however, earns only a Fair rating for cleaning, leaving many of the stains on our swatches. And over its 75-minute wash time, you’ll unleash a dam because it receives a Poor score for water efficiency (tied for the worst in this category).
Agitator Top-Loaders
The Maytag Commercial MVWP576KW is by far the worst-rated top-load agitator in our ratings, earning an abysmal Poor rating for washing performance. So what are you getting for your money? Not quiet operation or water efficiency, because it’s loud and wasteful on both counts, according to our tests. The $520 Amana NTW4516FW isn’t much better in these areas.
The Kenmore 20232, $545, and Amana NTW4516FW, $520, earn slightly better ratings for washing but fare worse in energy efficiency and receive a Poor rating for water efficiency—which means, in part, they extract less water from laundry, so dryer time is longer.
Clothes Dryers
Any dryer will get the job done—eventually. But dryers that run too long, use too-high heat, or overdry clothes waste money. All of this is harder on fabrics and uses more energy. Investing in both a high-spin rate washer and an Energy Star-certified dryer can help you save on clothes drying—and minimize damage to clothing at the same time.
The Whirlpool WED4985EW, $715, is tied in our ratings as the worst-performing dryer and is among the noisiest. At 5.9 cubic feet of capacity, it’s also one of the smallest electric dryers in our ratings.
And just because a dryer is pricey doesn’t mean it delivers. The LG WM3997HWA, an all-in-one washer/ventless dryer machine, costs $2,000 but only receives a Fair rating for drying performance (the other worst-performing dryer). And neither of these machines has a moisture sensor, which makes them susceptible to overdrying clothes.
Laundry Detergents
There are a few ways you can waste money on laundry detergents—by paying too much, using too much, and choosing an ineffective detergent to begin with. Now that detergents are concentrated, it’s easy to use too much if you don’t measure. Always use the recommended amount, which is typically 1½ ounces (3 tablespoons) for a normal load. Using too much detergent can also waste water because a surplus of suds can cause the washer to extend the rinse cycle.
Detergent prices vary greatly, and cost doesn’t always align with performance. Tide Hygienic Clean Heavy Duty 10X is one of the most effective stain-fighting detergents in our ratings, but at 44 cents per load, it costs more than twice as much as the higher-rated Persil ProClean Stain Fighter, 21 cents per load, and four times as much as Kirkland Signature (Costco) Ultra Clean Liquid, 11 cents per load, a CR Best Buy.
And then there are detergents that are no match for common stains, such as body oil, dirt, and chocolate, including Era 3X Oxibooster, Gain Original Liquid, and Sun Triple Clean.
None of the detergent strips we tested were effective at cleaning stains, so while they’re better for the environment, they aren’t necessarily good for your budget unless you combine them with a pretreatment or stain remover. You’ll find much better options in our laundry detergent ratings.
Fabric Softeners, Scent Boosters, and Color Enhancers
You may notice chromatic laundry bottles stacked on your supermarket shelves like trophies. But their bold claims don’t always make them a prize. CR doesn’t test all laundry products. But we also know a boondoggle when we see one.
Are those fabric softeners, scent boosters, color enhancers, static guards, and dryer sheets really necessary? Not really, unless your clothes are clingy or dingy, or you’re a stickler for smelling “island fresh.” (That’s not to dismiss consumer fascination with clean clothes that also smell wonderful. It’s certainly popular.)
These products may undo static, brighten your colors or overwhelm odors, but they can leave residue on your clothes. And that can cause rashes if you have allergies or sensitive skin.
If you wash your clothes correctly with an effective laundry detergent (even a fragrant one), and finish loads off with a high-performing dryer, few of those ancillary products are necessary, according to Rich Handel, CR’s laundry expert. So you can save some cash by skipping them. Let your laundry machines and detergents do their thing.
Should You Wash Clothes in Hot Water?
Think your clothes come out cleaner with hot water? A Consumer Reports appliance expert explains to “Consumer 101” TV show host Jack Rico why it might not be necessary to wash clothes at a higher temperature.
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