Washing Machine Articles: Guides to Choosing, Sizing and Using Your Washer

What Is the Delicate Cycle on a Washer?

The delicate cycle on a washer cuts agitation, uses cold water and spins slowly for fragile, lightly soiled fabrics. It cleans less and leaves clothes wetter.

How to Clean a Top-Load Washer

Clean a top-load washer in about an hour: run an empty hot cycle with a tablet or 1 cup of bleach, hand-clean the softener cup and rim, then rinse and air dry.

What Size Washer Do You Need for a King Comforter?

A king comforter needs a washer drum of at least 4.5 cu ft, and 5.0 to 5.5 cu ft is comfortable. Below 4.5 cu ft it does not fit, and the dryer needs 7.0 cu ft.

What Is a Washing Machine Agitator?

An agitator is the finned post in the middle of a top-load washer. What it does, the types, how to tell if your washer has one, and how to load and clean around it.

What Does Tub Clean Mean on a Washer?

Tub Clean is a maintenance cycle that cleans the inside of the washer, not your clothes. It runs empty, with hot water and no detergent. Here is how it works.

What Size Washer Do You Need?

Most US homes need a 4.0 to 5.0 cu ft washer. See the capacity chart by household size, what fits a king comforter, and how to check your space before buying.

LG Washer TurboWash: What It Does and When to Use It

TurboWash is LG's jet-spray wash system on select washers. Learn how it works, what the under-30-minute claim really means, and when to turn it on or off.

How to Level a Washer

Level a washer in about 15 minutes: set all four feet on a solid floor, pass the bubble and rock checks, tighten the lock nuts, and know when it is not the feet.

Washer Cycles Explained: Which Setting to Use for Each Load

Washer cycles explained in plain terms: what each cycle does, which one to pick for towels, jeans, delicates or bedding, and why the timer keeps changing.

Washer and Dryer in the Kitchen: Is It a Good Idea?

Putting a washer and dryer in the kitchen is legal and doable, but depth and venting decide it. US dimensions, code rules, layouts and the honest downsides.

How Many Amps Does a Washing Machine Use?

Most US washing machines draw about 6 to 12 amps at 120 volts, on a dedicated 20-amp laundry circuit. Here is what the machine pulls and what the breaker carries.

Washer Shipping Bolts: Why and How to Remove Them

Washer shipping bolts lock the drum for transit and must come out before the first wash. Learn how to remove them, keep them, and refit them before a move.

What Does Heavy Duty Mean on a Washer?

Heavy duty on a washer means a wash cycle on the panel or a sturdier build. Learn how to tell them apart before you pay more.

When Is the Best Time to Buy a Washer and Dryer?

Late September through November is the best time to buy a washer and dryer. See the month-by-month calendar, the best holidays and the worst times.

Frequently asked questions

Are these articles rankings of washing machines?

No. They are practical explainers and comparisons that answer a single question each, such as how much space a washer needs or what a cycle does. They do not rank products or sell anything.

Which article should I read first if I am buying my first washer?

Start with the comparison of top load and front load washers, then check the dimensions pages against your space. Once you know the type and size, the weight, water and amps pages help you confirm your home can support it.