These are the best laundry & cleaning products of 2019

The Electrolux EFLS627UTT front-load washer stands as one of the best front-load washers on the market. One reason? It is the world's first washer to have a special place for detergent pods in the drawer, allowing for even distribution of soap. However, this washer also has powerful stain removal and efficient cycles; it managed to do a solid stain-removal job in both the 46-minute-long Normal cycle and the 15-minute-long Quick cycle.

The EFLS627UTT has a stainless steel tub and is chock-full of features and options including Sanitize, Perfect Steam, StainSoak, and Extended Refresh. StainSoak reheats and recirculates the detergent so that it has more time to tackle your really tough stains. Extended Refresh is great for those who can't stick around to immediately get wet laundry into the dryer; it continues to tumble your wet laundry in the washer until you get home. Between the bevy of features and great cleaning performance, it's no surprise that the EFLS627UTT is our favorite washer.

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The Electrolux EFME627UTT dryer is great-looking, has simple controls, and is rich with cycles and options, including Perfect Steam, which can help to relax any wrinkles away. Its Quick Dry cycle completes in a mere 15 minutes. Though the Normal cycle is slow, the Heavy cycle takes only an hour. While cycle times may vary, we found that each cycle got clothes more than 99% dry each time, and that temperatures never got hot enough to start damaging clothes. The Electrolux EFME627UTT represents the perfect balance between cycle times and cycle temperatures.

As the counterpart to the stellar Electrolux EFLS627UTT washing machine that has a spot in the detergent drawer for laundry pods, this dryer is another great addition to the Electrolux laundry family.

Gas version of this dryer: Electrolux EFMG627UTT

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We love LG front loader washing machines, and the LG WM3700HWA is one of the reasons why. In addition to its stellar cleaning performance, it's also one of the most water- and energy-efficient washers we've tested. With a dizzying array of features, including an Allergiene cycle that combats pet dander, to the Add Garments button, which allows you to easily pause the cycle and throw in more laundry, it's not surprising that we found this washer to be a people-pleaser.

Even better, the WM3700HWA has a door stop that props the door open after a cycle finishes to help the door gasket dry. This feature may seem minor, but allowing the gasket proper time to dry can prevent mold growth that results in terrible smells. One thing to consider is that the control panel isn't backlit, so to prevent eyestrain, we recommend this washer for well-lit laundry rooms, rather than sparsely-lit basements. That shouldn't be a problem though, since this washer's performance and energy savings mean you'll be dying to show it off to anyone who drops by.

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The LG WT7500CW is one of our top picks for top-load washers thanks to its size, speed, and power. The huge 5.2-cubic-foot drum is one of the highest-capacity top-load washers on the market today, and easily accommodates a load of laundry from a family of four. Even better, when you need clean clothes in a hurry, its Normal cycle can be as quick as 30 minutes. The best part is that during those 30 minutes, it performed admirably in our stain removal tests.

Other options on the WT7500CW, such as Cold Wash, Water Plus, and TurboWash, allow you flexibility and customization with your wash cycles. Its only major drawback is how much water it uses, but if you prefer more water when you do your laundry, then the increased water usage is worth the slightly elevated utility bills.

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The Miele W1 WWH860 blows most compact washers out of the water. Not only does it satisfy the needs to fit in a laundry closet or tiny home, but it also has innovations that we’d normally see on a full-sized flagship model. What really impressed us was this Miele’s versatility. It has the ability to satisfy consumers that want to set their laundry and forget it and micromanagers that want to control every aspect of the wash.

This model comes with TwinDos—a feature that utilizes pre-filled detergent and oxygen bleach cartridges. It automatically dispenses the correct amount of detergent, giving you the optimum clean. However, you can also adjust the amount of detergent dispensed down to the milliliter to suit your specific needs. As many fancy features as the Miele has, we think the more important thing is that it cleans well. In that regard, this washer passed with flying colors. Our lab tests show that the one-hour-and-23-minute Normal cycle is one of the best in its class, and we found that the honeycomb textured drum lifts stains from clothes without fraying them. High-tech features combined with good, old-fashioned scrubbing creates a top-notch compact washer. While the 860 is very expensive, it’ll pay back everything you put into it.

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When it comes to space-saving dryers, the Miele T1 tops the list. Unlike most compacts, the T1 can plug into any regular 120V outlet and work just fine. It doesn’t even need a vent or drain. Instead, all the excess water gets pumped into a drawer in the upper-left corner of the unit. While it does require you to empty it out after every cycle, it means this dryer needs no extra infrastructure to run. However, there is an option to bypass the drawer, and have the collected water go down the drain.

Once placed in the desired location, the T1 outshines the competition. Going through the menus, we found specialized cycles for everything from tablecloths to denim. During testing, the T1 got laundry 99.5% dry, while keeping its internal temperature under 150°F—the point which fabric starts to degrade. And it didn’t matter if we put in thin pillowcases or bulky comforters, the T1 got it all dry. As well as drying, the T1 has steam options to eliminate wrinkles and a system called FragranceDos to always keep your clothes smelling fresh, without adding overwhelming scents.

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If your laundry room is too small for a 24-inch compact washing machine, but you still want to be able to chuck your clothes in a washing machine, look no further than the Panda PAN50SWR1 compact washing machine. This compact washer is only about 20 inches wide, and its tall, narrow profile should make it easier to squeeze this into a laundry closet than it would be for a normal compact washer.

We love the Panda compact washer because despite its size, it has a number of appealing features. It has both a normal water hook-up and a faucet adapter, so if you don't have a dedicated water line, you can still get your laundry done by attaching the hose to your kitchen sink. Additionally, it has all of the regular laundry cycles you'll need (Normal, Quick, Heavy, Bulky, Delicate, and Spin Only), an intuitive control panel, and a nice soft-close lid with a window so you can watch your laundry tumble around. It does a better cleaning job than you'd expect for paying a fraction of what you'd pay with a 24-inch compact washer.

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Though Persil has only been on sale in the US since mid-2015, it has long been a best-selling laundry detergent in Europe. It crossed the Atlantic to take on Tide, which has long been the dominant brand in the U.S.

Our photospectrometer revealed that—across all our tests—Persil removed an average of 2 percent more stains than Tide. While that difference isn't clearly visible to the naked eye, it does make a difference over repeated washings—and that's how Persil eked out a win over a longstanding favorite.

However, Persil isn't perfect for everyone. Although it's now sold at multiple retailers, it was originally launched as a Walmart exclusive. At most retailers, Persil is more expensive than Tide. While the price gap isn't extreme, over a year's worth of washing with Persil ProClean power liquid, it can add up.

Our in-house survey and review of online opinions also show that many consumers think Persil smells "sweet"—which may be a turnoff. Still, if stain removal is critical, Persil is the undisputed winner.

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The iRobot Roomba i7+ is the first robot vacuum that can empty itself. A vacuum in the charging base suctions everything out of the bin into a sealable bag. That means you don't have to see, touch, or smell what your robot vacuum picks up. Also for your convenience, the i7+ has a whole host of smart features. Plus, it’s compatible with Alexaand Google Home. The i7+ can even make virtual maps that can track cleaning cycles and even keep it out of individual rooms.

Fancy tech aside, the i7+ picks up quite a bit. On average, it picked up 10 grams of debris, so in a week, it can keep up with a mild manual cleaning. The i7+ is expensive, but every penny is accounted for in the large number of features and its excellent performance.

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The Eufy Robovac 11S is the heir to the much-loved Robovac 11. This robot vacuum does its predecessor proud, offering excellent suction and improved navigation. The slimmer design allows the S to get its brushes into more places.

When we tested, the 11S picked up around 11.6 grams of dirt per run, more than what most iRobot models manage. We also noted that during operation, the 11S was quiet, rarely making enough noise to interrupt a conversation. The combination of good dirt pickup and quiet operation make the 11S one of our favorite robot vacuums.

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The Dyson V11 Torque Drive is a no-compromise cordless vacuum. It has powerful cleaning, great battery life, and features you won’t find anywhere else. The V11 has two major features that set it apart from all other cordless vacuums: an LCD screen on the back and automatic suction adjustment.

The screen lets you know, down to the second, how much battery life you have left. This feature ensures you’ll never be caught short while vacuuming between the cushions. The self-adjusting suction is a little more subtle. When you’re cleaning, the V11 lowers or increases the amount of suction based on the type of surface you’re cleaning. This increases battery life and helps keep this Dyson from damaging your floors.

Shiny new toys aside, the V11 also aces the basics. Our testing showed that this Dyson picked up 95 percent of the dirt we laid out for it. The large debris tests also impressed us: A lot of vacuums just plows crumbs from one side of the room to the other, whereas the V11 has specialized gaps in its brush head to ensure pickup.

The major downside is that the Dyson V11 Torque Drive is expensive. What you’re getting is a vacuum that has features no other brand has; the top-tier performance is icing on the cake. However, there are vacuums with better value, providing a clean that’s almost as thorough for a fraction of the cost.

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