Best Portable Washing Machine
1. BEST OVERALL
GE Appliances Portable Washing Machine
PROS
- Large enough to wash towels and bedding
- Automatically senses the size of a load
CONS
- Heaviest of our picks
GE washing machines often ace our GH Cleaning Lab tests, and this portable model has many of the same features we’ve reviewed and loved on their full-size models.
This unit senses the size of the load to determine the right amount of water to use, and it offers deep fill and deep rinse options if you want to add more. At nearly 3 cubic feet, it has the largest capacity of our picks, so it can easily handle loads with larger items, like jeans, bedding and towels. Helpful features include presoak, extra rinse and extra spin options as well as a speed wash cycle for things you need in a hurry and a delayed start option to begin loads at a later time.
Clocking in at just under 100 pounds, it’s the heaviest model on our list, so it may not be the best option if you need to move it around frequently or if you plan to use it in an RV with limited weight capacity.
2. BEST VALUE
Pet Forge Spin Fresh Compact Washing Machine
PROS
- Has 10 different cycles and 4 options for water level
- Pet hair filter helps to remove fur from laundry
CONS
- Drainage hose is a little flimsy
This machine from Pet Forge is designed for washing pet items like bedding and toys to keep them separate from other household laundry. But after testing this washer, we think it can handle your typical load just as well. With 10 different cycles and a filter for catching pet hair, the Spin Fresh offers many of the features of more expensive models for a fraction of the cost. There are also four options for water level.
In addition to being affordable, this unit is high performing. The Spin Fresh was very good at removing soils from our standard load of laundry in our Lab tests, and the machine spun enough of the excess water out of clothing at the end of the cycle that they would be easy to hang dry afterwards.
While the pet hair filter is great for catching clumps of loose hair on the surface of clothing, we noticed that embedded fur usually didn’t budge. We also noticed that the drainage hose was a bit flimsy.
3. BEST NON-ELECTRIC
The Laundry Alternative WonderWash Portable Washing Machine
PROS
- Can wash up to 5 lbs of laundry at a time
- Lightweight
CONS
- No spin dry cycle
With this non-electric portable washing machine, you can squeeze a workout in and do a bit of laundry at the same time. Since this 5.5 pound mini machine doesn’t need an outlet, all of the cleaning power for this unit comes from hand-turning a crank on the side of the barrel.
The machine comes with clear instructions that tell you just how long to keep turning your clothes based on the weight of your load, but how many times you rinse them is up to you. How thoroughly your garments are cleaned will depend on the number of rinses and how much effort you put into wringing out the dirty water between them. In our Lab tests, we found that after five rinses, this machine cleaned just as well as some of the standard electric models we’ve tested. Despite all the wringing, this machine was very gentle on clothing too.
We found turning the crank to be light work, but wringing out the clothing between rinses was pretty tiring. The brand does also offer an electric spin dryer that can be used after washing to lighten the workload.
The WonderWash may not be ideal for large loads of laundry or for anyone who has more than a few loads to wash on any given day, but it’s a great option for keeping small items clean in between trips to the laundromat.
4. MOST ENERGY EFFICIENT
Avanti Portable Top Load Washer
PROS
- Low energy cost
- Has a spin only cycle to help clothes dry faster
CONS
- No bleach or fabric softener dispensers
The size and weight of a portable washing machine is an important consideration, especially if you plan on using it in a camper or RV where water and energy are often in limited supply. This model from Avanti allows you to control the amount of water that goes in by selecting a small, medium or large load size. It offers the best combination of large capacity and low electricity use that we were able to find.
It’s our second-largest pick and it has a full set of features. You can delay the start of the wash for up to 48 hours or wash items you need in a hurry in just 15 minutes on the Quick Wash cycle. Special touches include its soft-close glass top lid and a spin-only cycle that helps clothes dry faster, though the washer lacks separate bleach and fabric softener dispensers.
The Avanti is heavier than other portable models available, but because it has a capacity of 2 cubic feet, it can accommodate larger load items like bedding.
5. BEST FOR APARTMENTS
Whirlpool Portable Top-Load Washer
PROS
- Has dispensers for detergent, bleach and fabric softener
- Can be stacked with a matching dryer
CONS
- Dispenser only works with powdered detergent
Whirlpool is another tried-and-true brand we have tested extensively in our Labs. This portable unit is loaded with features that bring the comfort of a full-size washer to anyone hoping to say goodbye to the laundromat.
It’s on the pricier side, but you get five water temperature choices, the ability to add or remove time from any cycle, rinse- and spin-only options, a dedicated clean washer cycle and an end-of-cycle signal. There are also separate dispensers for detergent, liquid chlorine bleach and fabric softener, though only powder detergent can be added to the detergent dispenser.
Reviews online are largely positive, and with a stacking kit from the brand, it can be paired with a matching portable dryer for a complete at-home laundry experience.
6. BEST FOR CAMPING
Scrubba Wash Bag Portable Laundry System
PROS
- Folds up almost flat when not in use
- Lightweight
CONS
- Very small capacity
While it isn’t technically a portable washing machine, the Scrubba Wash Bag is a convenient quick fix for washing a few dirty items when a traditional washing machine isn’t available, like on a camping trip.
Simply place clothing inside, add water and detergent, seal up the bag and scrub away. We tested the Scrubba Wash Bag in our Cleaning Lab to see how well it removed 20 different food, ink, grass and other stains we applied to cotton fabric test swatches. Following the bag’s instructions, we scrubbed for three minutes and found that it did a good job removing our stains, and the odors were gone too.
The brand says you can wash up to six small items at once in the Scrubba, but reviewers online said it’s easier to wash just half that amount, plus you’ll get a more effective clean if you don’t overfill the bag. It folds down for compact storage and toting, and at under 1 pound, it won’t add much weight to your camping gear.
