Washing machines can be a bit of a grudge purchase. Yes, having clean clothes is lovely, but there are far more enjoyable ways to spend hundreds – or even thousands – of dollars.
But spending more money won't necessarily buy you a better washing machine: there are plenty of more affordable models on the market that performed well in our lab tests, matching or even beating more expensive machines.
There are plenty of affordable models on the market that performed well in our lab tests
In fact, of the 15 machines our experts recommend, five of them cost less than $1500 – so if you check our detailed washing machine reviews before you buy you can save yourself hundreds on a new front loader.
"While we find price doesn't necessarily correlate with performance, that doesn't mean just buy the cheapest machine you can find and hope for the best – there are plenty of duds at the bottom of the price range, so it pays to do your research," says CHOICE whitegoods expert Ashley Iredale.
Are front loader washing machines worth the extra money?
Front loaders are generally a bit more expensive than top loaders, due to how they're built.
But while you'll pay more upfront for a front loader, you'll pay less in water and electricity bills over the entire life of the appliance, so it could end up costing about the same or even less in the long run.
While you'll pay more upfront for a front loader, you'll pay less in water and electricity bills
Not to mention that front loaders are more gentle on your clothes than top loaders, so you won't have to replace your favourite t-shirts as quickly if you use a front loader – that's more savings!
But that doesn't mean you need to spend a fortune for a great-performing front-loading washing machine. Exclusively for CHOICE members, we'll reveal the five machines that deliver great performance on a budget.
The front loader washing machines not to buy
Knowing what not to buy is just as useful as knowing what to buy. Here are the washing machines our experts rated the lowest.
You'll notice that some of them are quite cheap – but even at these low prices, our experts don't recommend them.
And several cost $2000 and more (much more, in one case), so if you bought one of these hoping for a high-performance washing machine you'll be sadly disappointed – and out of pocket.
How much is too much for an underwhelming washing machine? This Asko W6088XW costs a huge $2999.
Haier HWF10AN1
- CHOICE Expert Rating: 71%
- Price: $1099
Kogan KATFWASH85B
- CHOICE Expert Rating: 72%
- Price: $860
Haier HWF75AN1
- CHOICE Expert Rating: 73%
- Price: $799
Asko W6088XW
- CHOICE Expert Rating: 74%
- Price: $2999
Asko W4086P.W.AU
- CHOICE Expert Rating: 74%
- Price: $2399
Asko W2084CW
- CHOICE Expert Rating: 74%
- Price: $1999
The best washing machine brands in Australia
Each year, we rank washing machine brands, assessing them on their average test scores, reliability, customer satisfaction and how many of their products score the coveted CHOICE expert seal of approval.
Here are the best brands for 2023, along with their CHOICE Best Brand scores:
- Miele – 87%
- Bosch – 84%
- Samsung – 83%
- LG – 82%
Miele has taken out the Best Brand washing machine prize for six years in a row, sharing the top spot with LG in 2019.
To find out which specific models we recommend based on our test results, and to make sure you buy the best, click on the 'Recommended' box in the filters section of our washing machine reviews.
Our detailed test results are exclusively available to our members. Become a CHOICE member to access our full reviews and see the best performers.
…but don't buy on brand alone
While the four brands above have well-founded reputations, here at CHOICE we know that buying based on brand alone is sometimes a recipe for disappointment: even the best brand sometimes delivers duds.
And focusing solely on one brand in your search for the perfect appliance can mean you overlook other products offering comparable performance for a much smaller price tag.
Machines from the same brand can vary widely in terms of performance, features, capacity, energy efficiency, and more, so don't assume that all products from a reputable manufacturer will give you what you want.
The best thing to do is to focus on individual models by checking CHOICE reviews to find the best washing machines before you buy.
The best front loader washing machines under $1500
To help you find the best washing machine for your situation, we've compiled the best buys for less than $1500, based on our rigorous lab testing.
Consider becoming a CHOICE member to access these and our full washing machine test results.
Plus you will have access to reviews from more than 200 other categories.
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Stock images: Getty, unless otherwise stated.
