Credit:
LG
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Credit:
LG
Reviewed's mission is to help you buy the best stuff and get the most out of what you already own. Our team of product experts thoroughly vet every product we recommend to help you cut through the clutter and find what you need.
Learn more about our product testing
The Maytag MHW8630HC is a powerful washer that lets you do laundry on your terms. It's 5.0-cu.-ft. drum can handle just about anything. Read More
The GE Profile PTW900BPTRS is designed to handle a lot of laundry with a huge 5.4-cubic-foot drum and built-in detergent reservoirs. Read More
The Samsung WF53BB8700AT looks great, washes well, has a gigantic 6.1-cubic-foot wash drum, and comes with a ton of other features. Read More
The LG WM6700HBA is a gorgeous, high-performance washer that's perfect for large families. Read More
4.1
With a built-in automatic detergent dispenser and an intuitive app, the Whirlpool WFW9620HC will make doing laundry a breeze. Read More
Everything scales up when you have a big family. Groceries are consumed faster, toilet paper disappears in the blink of an eye, and laundry piles up until it's taller than your youngest.
For these situations, look for the best large capacity washer. Since children enjoy finding creative ways to get dirty, families with small children should invest in a washer with a sanitize feature and speedy cycles. There are even washers out there that come with a secondary mini-washer to keep items like cloth diapers separate from everything else.
Considering the various needs of a large family, we went through the data we’ve collected from testing hundreds of washing machines to select the best one.
The Maytag MHW8630HC (available at AJ Madison) came out as the clear winner. It’s the best large capacity washer we’ve tested, with powerful cleaning cycles, and a useful steam mode that will sanitize. If you think the MHW8630HC is too expensive, don't worry: Our roundup also includes more affordable models.
Editor's Note: Appliances purchases are a large investment of both money and time. We’ve not only compiled lists of the best washers to shop, but also the best places to buy in-stock appliances right now and the best times of year to buy appliances to take advantage of sales and new releases.
Sanitize even the largest of loads with this laundry tank.
Large wash drum
Fast cycles
Solid stain-scrubbing power
Causes more wear and tear damage than average
AI Wash cycle is underwhelming
Very fast quick wash
Intuitive app
Cycles finish with very wet laundry
Not very gentle
Expensive
Good cleaning
Built-in faucet
Removable agitator
Rougher on clothes with pole in place
Effective and fast cycles
Steam features
Controls aren't responsive
More wear and tear on gentle cycle than is typical
When we recommend a washer as one that’s good for large families, we’re mostly looking at that washer’s capacity. A washer’s drum is rated in cubic feet, and the higher the number is, the more laundry you can fit into the washing machine for a given cycle.
The average washing machine has a drum capacity between 4.2 cubic feet and 4.5 cubic feet. This drum size can accommodate the laundry needs of a family of four.
When you have a larger family, however, chances are that you’ll have bigger and more frequent laundry loads; in this case, we look for washing machines that have capacities with a minimum of 5 cubic feet.
Every washer on this list features both a sanitize cycle and a heavy or extra heavy soil cycle. Why? Because babies poop a lot, little kids are constantly on the ground grinding dirt and grass stains into their knees, and pre-teens and teens are dripping paint, ketchup, or cosmetics all over themselves. Families need wash options that are both tougher and germ-conscious.
Another spec that makes a washer good for large families is the washer’s cycle time. Sometimes, even with large capacity washers like the ones listed here, you’re still going to be running multiple cycles of laundry in a given day; it’s best for everyone if those cycles don’t take too long.
You’d think that more laundry in a load would automatically translate into longer cycle times, since, you know, there’s more laundry to clean. However, some brands have come up with ways to efficiently disperse detergent and rinse it out fairly quickly, which cuts down on the time you’re standing around waiting to put laundry into the dryer.
Every washing machine that comes into Reviewed’s labs gets put through the same testing regime, which addresses both performance and user-friendliness. We look at stain removal, wear and tear, water retention, and cycle time.
When testing washing machines through the lens of large families, we specifically look at the washer’s drum size to gauge how much laundry it can hold at one time—our minimum size requirement is 5.2 cubic feet—as well as whether it has a sanitize cycle and a heavy or extra heavy soil setting to deal with all manners of family generated stains, from muddy knees and poopy diapers to pasta sauce and red wine spills.
We also make sure to just use the products normally, like how anyone would use them in their own home. This pass lets us catch any user interface issues or particularly brilliant design flourishes that you’ll only notice on the hundredth time you do something.
Mark Brezinski works on the Home Team, reviewing refrigerators, minifridges, dishwashers, washing machines, dryers, air conditioners, air purifiers, and fans.
Jonathan Chan currently serves as the Lab Manager at Reviewed. If you clean with it, it's likely that Jon oversees its testing. Since joining the Reviewed in 2012, Jon has helped launch the company's efforts in reviewing laptops, vacuums, and outdoor gear. He thinks he's a pretty big deal. In the pursuit of data, he's plunged his hands into freezing cold water, consented to be literally dragged through the mud, and watched paint dry. Jon demands you have a nice day.
Leigh Harrington has 25 years experience as a writer and editor for myriad print and digital publications.
At USA TODAY and Reviewed, Harrington oversees large appliances, including refrigerators, dishwashers, ranges, and laundry, and manages Reviewed's overall home content, including areas of focus like home improvement, cleaning, gardening, cooking, and parenting. She focuses on developing and editing consumer ed content, product reviews and buying guides, but she also writes, too.
Harrington is also an experienced travel writer, and has authored books including Fodor's Boston, 100 Things to Do in Boston Before You Die, and Colorful Boston, an adult coloring book. www.leighharrington.com
Gabriel Morgan
Staff Writer, Home
Gabriel Morgan is a staff writer on Reviewed's home team, where he covers consumer education topics such as earthquake preparedness, radon in the home, and concerns about health and wellness in product design. He also writes product reviews and how-to articles on appliances, smart home technology, and goods for the home.
Our team is here for one purpose: to help you buy the best stuff and love what you own. Our writers, editors, and lab technicians obsess over the products we cover to make sure you're confident and satisfied. Have a different opinion about something we recommend? Email us and we'll compare notes.
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