Best High-Efficiency Washing Machines for Your Home

Washing machines come in a wide range of sizes and styles with many different features. They're sold as separate washer and dryer appliances, top load washers and front load washers. They also come as portable washers, laundry centers and washer/dryer combos.

What is an HE washer? HE washers were developed beginning in the 1990s in response to guidelines set by the Department of Energy. The best high-efficiency washer is designed to use up to 65 percent less water and 50 percent less energy than a traditional top load washer, statistics that continue to improve as energy-efficient appliances become more and more efficient.

Tip: To improve energy efficiency, look for the Energy Star label. These certified models use about 20% less energy and about 30% less water.

HE top load washers use an impeller, a kind of rotating mechanism, to clean clothes by gently moving them through the water. HE front load washers achieve the movement of the clothes through a tumbling action. Traditional washers have a center post, or agitator. The agitator rubs against the clothes as they move through the water.

When comparing an agitator vs. impeller, it's helpful to know that an impeller creates strong currents in the water to whisk soil and stains out of fabrics. With no center agitator to thrash against, clothing is protected from wear and tear while still being cleaned efficiently.

Another difference in an agitator vs. impeller is that an impeller also takes up less space in a washer. This allows an HE washing machine to have more usable cubic feet of space in the wash tub than a traditional machine.

Again, HE washing machines use less water and energy than traditional models. This saves you money on utility bills and conserves natural resources. They're available with matching dryers, or you can purchase different models and styles of washers and dryers separately.

When you're choosing between HE front load and top load washers, you have a lot to consider. Keep these facts in mind to help find the washer that best suits your needs.

Front load washers:

• Space-saving, stackable HE models are available with stacking kits (sold separately).
• An optional pedestal can be purchased to raise the machine higher.
• Wash time for a normal cycle takes 75 to 120 minutes. They typically clean better than top load washers due to the tumbling action.
• Users must bend over to add or remove clothes from machines without a pedestal.

Top load washers:

• Top load HE washers aren’t stackable. An HE washer and dryer can be placed side-by-side.
• No pedestal is needed. Many have larger capacities than front-loaders.
• Wash time for a normal cycle takes 60 to 80 minutes. It can vary widely by brand.
• They’re usually less expensive than HE front-loaders.

High-efficiency washers come in both front load washer and top load washer styles. Most HE washer models can fit larger loads. Some recent HE washer models come with smartphone connectivity. A smart washer alerts you when your wash cycle is complete.

Not all top load washers earn the HE designation, so the best high-efficiency top load washer will use less energy than a traditional top load washer.

Portable washers are also available as HE models. These washers are ideal for small spaces, apartments, individuals or two-person households. Portable washers are single appliances that wash but do not dry.

HE laundry centers, like portable washers, are useful for small spaces and small wash loads. They consist of two appliances, a washer and a dryer, in one unit.

Features of the best high-efficiency top load washers:

• They're relatively quiet.
• They have larger capacities than most top load agitator models.
• The best high-efficiency washer cleans very well, using less water in the wash cycle and extracting more water during the spin cycle than many agitator models.

Use only HE detergent in both HE front load washers and HE top load washers. HE detergent is specially formulated for the lower water volume used by HE washers. HE detergent is low-sudsing and made to keep soil from redepositing on clean clothes. Look for the HE symbol on detergent packaging.

Be sure to read the instructions for your brand of HE detergent and use only the amount indicated.

Leave the HE front load washer door open slightly at the end of each use to let the moisture inside the machine evaporate. This helps prevents mildew and mold from developing around the tight-fitting door seals. Top load washers typically have lids that don't seal as tightly, so mold and mildew are less likely to be a problem.

Clean your HE washer once a month. Run the cleaning cycle on your machine to keep the machine fresh and free of odors. HE washing machine cleaners use the normal wash cycle to clean the interior of the appliance.

When you add professional installation to your new appliance purchase from The Home Depot, a compatible cord is required. Three-prong plugs are used for homes built before the year 2000. Dryer plugs, also called 4-prong plugs, are used for homes built after 2000.

When you purchase a new appliance from The Home Depot for DIY installation, a 4-prong cord is sent by default. If your home is equipped with a 3-prong outlet, you'll need to purchase a 3-prong cord or connector adapter separately.