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The LG WM9000 laundry pair. Credit: LG

The Best Washers for Large Families of 2023

Recommendations are independently chosen by Reviewed's editors. Purchases made through the links below may earn us and our publishing partners a commission. Prices were accurate at the time this article was published but may change over time.

The LG WM9000 laundry pair. Credit: LG

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Editor's Choice Product image of LG WM9000HVA
Best Overall

LG WM9000HVA

Boasts great form and function. LG has cleverly designed its angled basin so that it's easier to unload without having to bend over as much. It also has an extremely quiet operation. Read More

Pros

  • Fast cycles
  • Well-above-average stain removal
  • Efficient with power

Cons

  • Unimpressive smart app
2
Editor's Choice Product image of LG WT7900HBA
Best Top-loader For Large Families

LG WT7900HBA

With a 5.5 cu. ft. capacity and an Allergiene cycle, the LG WT7900HBA is great for those with families and pets alike. Read More

Pros

  • Steam cycles
  • Allergiene cycle
  • 5.5 cu. ft. capacity

Cons

  • None that we could find
3
Editor's Choice Product image of Maytag MHW8630HC

Maytag MHW8630HC

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

Pros

  • Power Heavy Duty cycle
  • High number of features
  • Streamlined controls

Cons

  • Expensive
  • Slow cycles
4
Editor's Choice Product image of LG WM4500HBA

LG WM4500HBA

If you need to get through tons of laundry, this is the washer for you. It also has some nice smart features, like remote start and notifications. Read More

Pros

  • Large capacity drum
  • Fast cycle times
  • Smart features

Cons

  • Average cleaning power
  • Expensive
5
Editor's Choice Product image of LG WM6700HBA

LG WM6700HBA

The LG WM6700HBA is a gorgeous, high-performance washer that's perfect for large families. Read More

Pros

  • Large wash drum
  • Fast cycles
  • Solid stain-scrubbing power

Cons

  • Causes more wear and tear damage than average
  • AI Wash cycle is underwhelming

Everything scales up when you have a big family. Groceries are consumed faster, toilet paper disappears in a blink of an eye, and laundry piles up until it's taller than your youngest.

For these situations, you need a washer with a high capacity and speedy cycles. Also, since children enjoy finding creative ways to get dirty, families with small children should invest in a washer with a sanitize feature. 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 LG WM9000HVA (available at Best Buy for $1,799.99) came out as the clear winner. It has everything we were looking for: high capacity, fast cycles, and the ability to sanitize clothing.

If you think the WM9000HVA is way too expensive, not to worry, our roundup also included more affordable models.

Editor's Note:
Due to supply chain challenges and soaring demand, there is widespread unavailability of home appliances and long wait times for delivery of backordered product. If you're a consumer in need of a washer or dryer, here are the best places to buy in-stock appliances right now.
LG WM9000HVA washing machine
Credit: Reviewed
Best Overall
LG WM9000HVA
  • Style: Front-load
  • Dimensions: 41.25" x 29" x 33.75" (H x W x D)
  • Capacity: 5.2 cu. ft.
  • Special features: TurboWash, Steam
  • Smart features: ThinQ app support
  • Dispensers: 4-Tray Dispenser (prewash and main wash detergent, bleach, fabric softener)
  • Matching dryer: LG DLEX9000V (electric) / LG DLGX9001V (gas)
  • Energy Star rated: Yes

With a steam cycle, a sanitizing wash, and a large 5.2-cubic-foot capacity, the giant LG WM9000HVA has a unique, sleek look that will class up a laundry room.

Despite knowing that its 29-inch width is 2 inches wider than most other washers, we were impressed by how much this front-load washer could fit—and how well it cleaned. The Heavy cycle removed about 81 percent of the stains in our test, which makes it one of the highest performing washers we've ever tested when it comes to stain removal.

If you've got a lot of laundry to do, this LG will make short work of it. Since it's compatible with LG's TwinWash system, you can do two loads at once if you need to.

Read our full review of the LG WM9000HVA.

Pros

  • Fast cycles

  • Well-above-average stain removal

  • Efficient with power

Cons

  • Unimpressive smart app

Two shots of the washer, one from straight on and one from the top-down, with its door open, revealing brightly-colored laundry inside
Credit: Reviewed / Jonathan Chan
Best Top-loader For Large Families
LG WT7900HBA
  • Style: Top-load
  • Dimensions: 44.5" x 27" x 28.38" (H x W x D)
  • Capacity: 5.5 cu. ft.
  • Special features: TurboWash, Steam, Allergiene
  • Smart features: ThinQ app support
  • Dispensers: 3-tray dispenser (detergent, bleach, fabric softener)
  • Matching dryer: LG DLEX7900BE (electric) / LG DLGX7901BE (gas)
  • Energy Star rated: Yes

If you want a workhouse washer that can deal with lots of laundry, you’ll want to take a look at the LG WT7900HBA top-loading washer.

This top-loader washer has a lot of appealing features, including a 5.5-cubic-foot capacity (most normal washers have a capacity of ~4.8 cubic feet), an Allergiene cycle (which claims to remove pet dander and dust mites), and seven steam cycles (including Normal, Allergiene, and Sanitary).

Additionally, the cycle times are nice and short. The Normal and Speed Wash cycles both clock in at 30 minutes long. If you really have some serious stains to remove, though, we recommend the Heavy Duty cycle, which performed the best in our stain removal tests, and takes less than two hours to run.

While this washer isn’t as efficient as some LG front-load washers we’ve tested, if you like top-load washers and want a larger tub capacity, fast cycle times, and steam, the LG WT7900HBA might be a good fit for you.

Read our full review of the LG WT7900HBA.

Pros

  • Steam cycles

  • Allergiene cycle

  • 5.5 cu. ft. capacity

Cons

  • None that we could find


Other Washers We Tested

Product image of Maytag MHW8630HC
Maytag MHW8630HC
  • Style: Front-load
  • Dimensions: 32.94” x 38.63” x 27” (D x H x W)
  • Capacity: 5 cu. ft.
  • Special features: Extra power / boost option, steam
  • Smart features: Maytag app support
  • Dispensers: Detergent (8-load reservoir)
  • Matching dryer: Maytag MED8630HC (electric)
  • Energy Star rated: Yes

Combining excellent stain removal ability, a massive drum, and a plethora of features, the MHW8630HC is the best Maytag washer we’ve tested to date. The Heavy Duty cycle aced our cleaning tests, dealing with everything from red wine to oil.

We also appreciated the MHW8630HC’s internal water heater. With it, the Sanitize cycle achieved temperatures of around 130°F, allowing you to easily eliminate the most common illness-causing bacteria.

Cleaning alone does not make a great washer. This Maytag also makes the chore of doing laundry easier. It has an automatic detergent dispenser that holds soap for up to eight loads so you don’t need to keep busting out the bottle.

In addition, the MHW8630HC comes with Fresh Hold and Overnight Wash & Dry. Both these features tumble the drum after a wash has finished, which means that for full-sized loads, it keeps a musty odor from developing or can wash and dry a shirt or two.

Read our full review of the Maytag MHW8630HC.

Pros

  • Power Heavy Duty cycle

  • High number of features

  • Streamlined controls

Cons

  • Expensive

  • Slow cycles

Product image of LG WM4500HBA
LG WM4500HBA
  • Style: Front-load
  • Dimensions: 39" x 27" x 33 1/4"(H x W x D)
  • Capacity: 5.0 cu. ft.
  • Special features: Steam, Allergiene
  • Smart features: LG ThinQ app support
  • Dispensers: detergent and fabric softener (18-load reservoir)
  • Matching dryer: LG DLEX4500B (electric), LG DLGX4501B (gas)
  • Energy Star rated: Yes

If you need to get through tons of laundry, the LG WM4500HBA should be your go-to front-loader. Its huge 5-cubic-foot drum will help you tumble through piles of dirty clothes, and its automatic detergent and fabric softener dispensers only need to be refilled every 18 cycles.

It also has some nice smart features, like remote start and notifications, which can help with accessibility (or for those of us who set a cycle going and then completely forget about it).

The WM4500HBA has average cleaning performance, which is more than enough for lightly-soiled laundry, but it might struggle with scrubbing out significant stains. Still, we believe this machine succeeds at what it's trying to do, which is clean lots of laundry very quickly.

Read our full review of the LG WM4500HBA.

Pros

  • Large capacity drum

  • Fast cycle times

  • Smart features

Cons

  • Average cleaning power

  • Expensive

Product image of LG WM6700HBA
LG WM6700HBA
  • Style: Front-load
  • Dimensions: 39" x 27" x 33.25" (H x W x D)
  • Capacity: 5.0 cu. ft.
  • Special features: TurboWash 360°
  • Smart features: Smart Pairing, AI Wash, LG ThinQ app support
  • Dispensers: ezDispense automatic detergent dispenser
  • Matching dryer: LG DLEX6700B (electric) (electric), LG DLGX6701B (gas)
  • Energy Star rated: Yes

The LG WM6700HBA has a futuristic look and some impressive performance that should appeal to any busy family.

For starters, it has a huge, 5-cubic-foot drum, which should vastly improve your laundry throughput. On top of that, its cycles are incredibly fast, letting you power through piles of laundry. As a cherry on top, it also features an automatic detergent dispenser that further cuts down on laundry overhead.

In terms of stain-scrubbing strength, the WM6700HBA also doesn't disappoint. The only cycle that didn't quite measure up was its AI-powered wash, which took much longer to finish than other cycles and didn't wash as well.

Read our full review of the LG WM6700HBA.

Pros

  • Large wash drum

  • Fast cycles

  • Solid stain-scrubbing power

Cons

  • Causes more wear and tear damage than average

  • AI Wash cycle is underwhelming

Product image of Samsung WF53BB8700AT
Samsung WF53BB8700AT
  • Style: Front-load
  • Dimensions: 38.7” x 27” x 34.4” (H x W x D)
  • Capacity: 6.1 cu. ft.
  • Special features: Modern Bespoke design, high-capacity drum, 28-minute Super Speed 2.0 wash, Smart Dial, steam wash, Self Clean+, VRT Plus noise and vibration reduction, drum light, 20-year warranty for inverter motor
  • Smart features: MultiControl, Samsung SmartThings app support
  • Dispensers: No
  • Matching dryer: Samsung DVE53BB8700T
  • Energy Star rated: Yes

The Samsung WF53BB8700AT brings the popular Bespoke line of appliances to your laundry room—in a big way.

First and foremost, this front-loader features a whopping 6.1-cubic-foot drum, which is great when you have multiple people in your household.

Also, the WF53BB8700AT’s cycles are incredibly efficient, scrubbing out more stains in less time when compared to the average washer. What this means for you is fewer laundry days each week and a faster, smoother experience each time.

The WF53BB8700AT also has a ton of other features that help reduce headaches. Its steam cycles can help sanitize baby clothes or pet blankets, as well as quickly erasing wrinkles without needing to break out the iron.

Its interior LED makes loading and unloading laundry easier, even in a dim laundry room.

Its self-cleaning mode helps automatically clean its interior, preventing odor buildup and removing the need to clean it manually. One of its best features is its ability to stack up with its paired dryer and still fit inside a laundry closet.

Read our full review of the Samsung WF53BB8700AT.

Pros

  • Fast, effective wash cycles

  • Large wash drum

  • Steam, stackable, other features

Cons

  • On-board controls can be difficult to read

  • Loud chime has no volume controls, just on and off

Product image of GE GFW850SPNRS
GE GFW850SPNRS
  • Style: Front-load
  • Dimensions: 34” x 39.75” x 28” (D x H x W)
  • Capacity: 4.5 cu. ft.
  • Special features: UltraFresh vent system with OdorBlock, Microban antimicrobial gasket, steam washer, smart connectivity
  • Smart features: No
  • Dispensers: SmartDispense detergent dispenser (32-load reservoir)
  • Matching dryer: GE GFD85ESPNRS (electric)
  • Energy Star rated: Yes

The GE GFW850SPNRS is a feature-packed, high-performing washing machine that won’t break the bank.

This washer debuts GE’s take on the smelly washing machine problem, which involves a door gasket that incorporates Microban antibacterial materials and a through-door vent system that doubles as a dryer for small laundry loads.

With built-in WiFi, a reversible door, a stunning sapphire blue finish, a capacity of 5.0 cubic feet, automatic detergent dispensing, and a steam cycle, this washer is really pushing the envelope when it comes to useful features.

While the features are nice, what you really need in a washer is performance, and this washing machine doesn’t disappoint. Its stain removal abilities were strong across the board for the four cycles we tested (Normal, PowerWash, Quick Wash, and Delicates), and it exhibited relatively low wear and tear on our test laundry. Its 21-minute-long Quick Wash cycle will get your laundry clean in the blink of an eye.

For a washing machine that’s tough on stains and that you won’t mind showing off to visitors, check out the GE GFW850SPNRS.

Read our full review of the GE GFW850SPNRS.

Pros

  • Good stain removal

  • Venting system controls odors

  • Excellent sanitize feature

Cons

  • Poor Quick Dry and Bulky/Bedding cycle

  • Expensive

Product image of Maytag MVW7232HW
Maytag MVW7232HW
  • Style: Top-load (impeller)
  • Dimensions: 42.88” x 27.25” x 27.88” (H x W x D) • Capacity: 5.3 cu. ft.
  • Special features: Built-in faucet
  • Smart features: No
  • Dispensers: No
  • Matching dryer: Maytag MED7230HW (electric)/Maytag MGD7230HW (gas)
  • Energy Star rated: Yes

The Maytag MVW7232HW top-load washer is a great mix of new features and old-school functionality.

With its capacity of 5.3 cubic feetand it’s Extra Power stain removal booster, this washer can handle large loads without taking a hit on cleaning. For those who like having control over the amount of water in your wash, you’ll be delighted by the Deep Fill option, which allows you to add varying amounts of extra water to your wash cycle.

In terms of stain removal, this washer has some of the best-performing Normal and Heavy Duty cycles that have ever come through our labs. Even better, we found that this washer is gentle on your clothes. While the cycle times are longer than those of some other washers we’ve seen on the market (the Normal cycle clocks in at ~40 minutes), for the kinds of cleaning power you get with the Maytag MVW7232HW, you won’t mind the trade-off.

Read our full review of the Maytag MVW7232HW.

Pros

  • Massive drum

  • Deep fill option

  • Good cleaning

Cons

  • Slow cycles

  • A bit noisy


How We Tested

The Testers

Hello! We're Reviewed's appliance testing team. Between us, we have dozens of years of experience lab-testing appliances, and today we’re turning our attention to washers for large families.

Regardless of what we test, we take a two-pronged approach. For starters, we run each appliance through the paces with a battery of standardized objective tests, which lets us cross-compare each products’ performance. 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.

The Tests

A person loading the front washer with laundry.
Credit: Reviewed / Timothy Renzi

Every washer on this list features both a sanitize cycle and a heavy or extra heavy soil cycle.

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.

What You Should Know Before You Buy A Washer For Large Families

Capacity Is One Of The Most Important Metrics

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.

There’s An Emphasis On Cleaning and Sanitization

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.

If You’re Running Multiple Loads, Speed Matters

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.

Meet the testers

Leigh Harrington

Leigh Harrington

Executive Editor, Home

@

Leigh Harrington has more than 20 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 writing, but mostly editing, consumer ed content and product reviews.

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.

See all of Leigh Harrington's reviews
Mark Brezinski

Mark Brezinski

Senior Writer

@markbrezinski

Mark Brezinski works on the Home Team, reviewing refrigerators, minifridges, dishwashers, washing machines, dryers, air conditioners, air purifiers, and fans.

See all of Mark Brezinski's reviews
Jonathan Chan

Jonathan Chan

Senior Manager of Lab Operations

@Jonfromthelab1

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.

See all of Jonathan Chan's reviews

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