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The best front-load washing machines in 2024
Samsung
Some of the best washing machines are front-load washers. But finding the best top-rated, front-load washing machines can be hard. That’s where we come in. The shopping experts at CBS Essentials have curated a list of the best front-load washing machines for you. These laundry devices boast smart technology, artificial intelligence, incredible washing power, Wi-Fi connectivity and tons of rave customer reviews. They’ll look great in your laundry room too.
Experts say old washing machines should be replaced every 12.6 years. Factors such as stress, abrasion and lack of maintenance can all contribute to a washing machine with low efficiency. Can’t remember when you purchased your old washer? It’s a great time to buy a new front-load washing machine. All of our picks are on sale now.
What is the best front-load washing machine to buy in 2024?
Shop our selection of the best front-load washing machines in 2024. These front-load washing machines from reliable brands such as Samsung and LG all feature a four-star rating or higher and include tons of positive reviews. We’ve chosen a range of machines that suit a variety of budgets.
Samsung extra-large capacity Smart Dial front-load washer with OptiWash
Samsung
This 4.5-star-rated washing machine features a range of smart abilities that older washers lack. Its OptiWash technology can automatically sense soil levels while washing and add more time or detergent to ensure your clothes are clean.
Along with incredible built-in sensors, this front-load washer is treated with antimicrobial technology and harnesses the power of steam to gently remove stains.
It even features an AI-powered Smart Dial which learns and recommends your optimal wash cycles for the utmost customization. Get this Samsung front-load washer on sale for just $799 (regularly $1,239).
Why we like this Samsung washing machine:
- This 5-cubic-foot Samsung washer can wash a load of laundry in as little as 28 minutes.
- Its auto-dispense system lets you fill your detergent drawer with up to 20 loads of detergent and softener.
- The washer’s innovative Vibration Reduction technology significantly reduces noise for quiet washing.
- When you download Samsung’s SmartThings App, you can remotely start or stop the appliances, receive end-of-cycle alerts, schedule cycles and more.
Bespoke 5.3 cu. ft. front load washer with AI OptiWash and auto dispense
Samsung
This 5.3 cubic-foot Samsung front-load washer boasts many of the same smart capabilities as the one above. In addition to its speedy cleaning power, the machine’s CleanGuard technology works its antimicrobial magic on high-touch areas and maintains a fresh-smelling drum.
The 4.7-star-rated washer also features Wi-Fi connectivity, which means choosing a wash cycle is as easy as opening up the SmartThings app on your phone.
The best part is that the unit’s AI Optiwash practically does all the work, adjusting wash times and dispensing the correct amount of detergent by automatically sensing fabric type and soil levels. And, how beautiful is this forest green color?
“I bought this a couple of months ago and I’m so happy I did,” a reviewer on the Samsung site says. “This has been the most efficient washer my family has ever owned and used. It saves lots of time and money by being so efficient and I would recommend it to everyone.”
Why we like this Samsung washing machine:
- This ultra-capacity size is the largest capacity in its class.
- The automatic soil and fabric detection takes the guesswork out of laundry day.
- The unit stores and dispenses up to 32 loads of detergent and softener.
LG smart Wi-Fi enabled front-load washer with TurboWash and Built-In Intelligence
LG
If a smart washing machine with a huge capacity is on your radar, then you’re in luck. This 4.6-star rated LG appliance is built to add convenience and stellar cleaning results into your laundry routine.
At a capacity of 5.2-cubic-feet, this machine can wash large loads of laundry in as little as 30 minutes. Along the way, its built-in intelligence uses AI technology to select the optimal wash settings.
Looking for a smart washer and dryer combo? If you have the matching LG dryer, this washer can auto-select a compatible drying cycle.
This washer is $300 off right now at Best Buy.
Why we like this LG washing machine:
- Its TurboWash technology uses stronger wash motions and increased water temperatures to improve and speed up the wash cycle.
- Its Allergiene Cycle harnesses the power of steam to reduce over 95% of allergens such as dust, pollen and pet dander.
- When you download the LG TinQ app, you can control and monitor your appliance from your smartphone.
Samsung front-load washer with vibration reduction technology
Samsung
Good news if you work from home: This 4.6-star-rated Samsung washer uses Vibration Reduction Technology+ for a quieter wash. That means no more laundry sounds drowning out your Zoom calls.
Customers love that this self-cleaning washer includes 10 preset washing cycles with six additional washing cycles – and we love that it’s on sale right now at Best Buy.
“I purchased the Samsung washer and a matching dryer and I couldn’t be happier with my choice.” wrote a Best Buy customer who purchased the washer. “I barely even notice that they’re in operation because of how quiet they are. Best investment I have ever made since we moved into our new home.”
This front-load washer is $315 off at Best Buy.
Why we like this Samsung washing machine:
- This 4.5-cubic-foot Samsung washer is designed with a closet-depth fit and a wider drum for a modern look without sacrificing any capacity.
- This Energy Star-certified machine is recognized by the EPA for its cutting-edge efficiency in saving water and energy while delivering thorough cleaning results.
- You can troubleshoot your washer with Smart Care on your smartphone for immediate diagnoses and quick solutions.
Front-load vs. top-load washers: Which is better?
Washing machines come as either front-load washers or top-load washers. But which is better? We gravitate toward the former for a few reasons.
- Front-load washing machines make it easier to take laundry in and out — no leaning all the way into the machine.
- Front-load washers frequently feature reversible doors for flexible positioning.
- Thinking about stacking your laundry devices? You can’t do that with a top-load washer, you’d block the machine door. This space-saving option can only be done with front-load machines.
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U.S. stocks plummeted in one of their worst days of the year after the Federal Reserve forecast Wednesday it may deliver fewer shots of adrenaline for the economy in 2025 than it had earlier projected.
The S&P 500 fell 178 points, or 3%, pulling it further from its all-time high set a couple weeks ago. The Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 1,123 points, or 2.6%, while the Nasdaq composite dropped 3.6%.
The Fed said Wednesday it’s cutting its benchmark interest rate for a third time this year, continuing the sharp turnaround begun in September when it started lowering rates from a two-decade high to support the job market. Wall Street loves lower interest rates, but the Dec. 18 cut had been widely expected by Wall Street.
Why is the stock market down today?
Investors were unsettled by the Fed’s forecast for fewer cuts in 2025, even though many economists had already been paring their expectations given sticky inflation.
“Markets have a really bad of habit of overreacting to Fed policy moves,” Jamie Cox, managing partner for Harris Financial Group, said in an analyst note. “The Fed didn’t do or say anything that deviated from what the market expected—this seems more like, I’m leaving for Christmas break, so I’ll sell and start up next year.”
The bigger question centers on how much more the Fed could cut next year. A lot is riding on it, particularly after expectations for a series of cuts in 2025 helped the U.S. stock market set an all-time high 57 times so far in 2024.
Fed officials released projections on Wednesday showing the median expectation among them is for two more cuts to the federal funds rate in 2025, or half a percentage point’s worth. That’s down from the four cuts they had expected just three months ago.
“We are in a new phase of the process,” Fed Chair Jerome Powell said. The central bank has already quickly eased its main interest rate by a full percentage point, to a range of 4.25% to 4.50%, since September.
What happened to the stock market today?
Asked why Fed officials are looking to slow their pace of cuts, Powell pointed to how the job market looks to be performing well overall and how recent inflation readings have picked up. He also cited uncertainties that will require policy makers to react to upcoming, to-be-determined changes in the economy.
While lower rates can goose the economy by making it cheaper to borrow and boosting prices for investments, they can also offer more fuel for inflation.
Powell said some Fed officials, but not all, are also already trying to incorporate uncertainties inherent in a new administration coming into the White House. Worries are rising on Wall Street that President-elect Donald Trump’s preference for tariffs and other policies could further juice inflation, along with economic growth.
“When the path is uncertain, you go a little slower,” Powell said. It’s “not unlike driving on a foggy night or walking into a dark room full of furniture. You just slow down.”
One official, Cleveland Fed President Beth Hammack, thought the central bank should not have even cut rates this time around. She was the lone vote against Wednesday’s rate cut.
Wall Street’s worst performers
The reduced expectations for 2025 rate cuts sent Treasury yields rising in the bond market, squeezing the stock market.
The yield on the 10-year Treasury rose to 4.51% from 4.40% late Tuesday, which is a notable move for the bond market. The two-year yield, which more closely tracks expectations for Fed action, climbed to 4.35% from 4.25%.
On Wall Street, stocks of companies that can feel the most pressure from higher interest rates fell to some of the worst losses.
Stocks of smaller companies did particularly poorly, for example. Many need to borrow to fuel their growth, meaning they can feel more pain when having to pay higher interest rates for loans. The Russell 2000 index of small-cap stocks tumbled 4.4%.
Elsewhere on Wall Street, General Mills dropped 3.1% despite reporting a stronger profit for the latest quarter than expected. The maker of Progresso soups and Cheerios said it will increase its investments in brands to help them grow, which pushed it to cut its forecast for profit this fiscal year.
Nvidia, the superstar stock responsible for a chunk of Wall Street’s rally to records in recent years, fell 1.1% to extend its weekslong funk. It has dropped more than 13% from its record set last month and fallen in nine of the last 10 days as its big momentum slows.
“As we wrote in our 2025 outlook a couple of weeks ago, stretched positioning and sentiment left stocks vulnerable to a sell-off,” Jeff Buchbinder, chief equity strategist for LPL Financial said in a note about today’s market sell-off. “The big jump in inflation expectations and related bond sell-off was a convenient excuse. Once support from tech evaporated, no other groups were able to step in to fill that gaping hole.”
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