The ability to do washing anywhere at any time in a way that suits your lifestyle.
Sometimes, we don’t have the space for a full-sized washing machine at home. Some of us move around a lot. And some of us just want to cut down on our overall footprint in life. For all of these reasons our best portable washing machines list exists.
Whether you’re one of the millions of Americans heading out camping this year or moving into a tiny home, apartment or condo, this is the list for you.
GE Space-Saving Portable Top-Load Washer
EDITOR’S CHOICE
A big washing machine which can really handle all the laundry that one family can do.
Black + Decker Portable Washer
BEST VALUE CHOICE
Very easy to move around and the viewing window gives you a look at what’s going on.
Magic Chef Topload Compact Washer
TOP RATED CHOICE
The best water temperature options and the detergent dispenser is super handy.
Best Portable Washing Machines
GE Space-Saving 2.8-cu ft Portable Top-Load Washer
It can be pretty annoying to realize that most portable washing machines, by their very nature, are a bit of the small side.
They’re great for a single person living by themself but for a family?
You’re going to be doing a lot of washing loads but not with this GE model.
This has great options for how you do your washing too with a bunch of different program cycles.
Quick Fact: The interior compartment on this washing machine is 2.8 cubic feet and that’s about three times the size of any other portable washing machine.
1. Lots of room inside – family washes are easy
2. Many different wash cycles to give you control over the way you wash
3. Wheels for easy moving around
1. It’s not the cheapest option out there
2. It doesn’t fill quite to the top which is a little annoying
3. It’s quite noisy when it’s running
Black + Decker BPWM09W Portable Washer
If you want something smaller and more portable, say for a studio apartment, then this Black + Decker portable washing machine is great.
It only has 0.9 cubic feet of capacity but it looks amazing and should easily blend in with your other gadgets and appliances.
It also has a good selection of program options to give you optimum control over your washing.
Quick Fact: This model is one of the lightest we’ve ever encountered. When you want to move it around, it’s very easy to pick up and put down elsewhere.
1. So easy to move about
2. The styling is very modern and tasteful
3. It has a viewing window to keep an eye on the load
1. The interior compartment is a touch small
2. The buttons are said to get stuck occasionally
3. Some people report minor water spills when it’s in use
Magic Chef 1.6 Cu.ft. Topload Compact Washer
Our only complaint about the Magic Chef which is a good size at 1.6 cubic feet and which has a decent selection of wash cycles to choose from too, is that it’s not as portable as it could be.
We found it quite bulky and not so easy to shift around.
No biggie if you only move it occasionally but if you want to move it daily – it might be a real pain.
Quick Fact: This has a detergent dispenser that you just fill up and then it automatically dispenses the right amount for a load. That’s unusual for a portable machine.
1. Transparent window for monitoring the load
2. A range of temperature options
3. Washes really well
1. Difficult to shift around
2. We found that it leaks a little
3. Struggles to clean if you fill it more than half full sometimes
Costway Portable Mini Compact Twin Tub 20Lbs Total Washing Machine Washer
If you’re on a tight budget and you need a compact portable washing machine then this Costway model might be exactly what you need.
However, be warned that it doesn’t dry very well and you’ll need to air your clothes before you wear them and it won’t switch off by itself – something that might be a deal breaker for some.
Quick Fact: Yes, this really is a twin tub machine – it also has a spin dryer facility that can get rid of most of the moisture from your clothes while the other washes.
1. It’s really cheap
2. You can set timers for both functions
3. It washes well
1. Clothes won’t dry properly
2. No auto-shutdown sequence
3. Instruction manual isn’t great
Danby 0.9 Cu. Ft. Portable Clothes Washer
If you want the ultimate control over your laundry experience and don’t mind a smaller tub and a higher price tag then the Danby is great.
It has a bunch of wash settings, different speeds, dispensers for fabric softener and detergent and even a delay function if you want to hold off on getting your wash started.
Quick Fact: The spin cycle on this Danby washing machine is excellent and it really does get rid of almost all the moisture in your clothes.
1. The fabric softener and detergent dispensers
2. The stainless steel tub design
3. The ability to delay the start of a wash
1. It’s not the easiest machine to move
2. It’s hard to install if you’re not used to it
3. Occasionally gives an error message which goes away on reset
Interested in other changes to your home to make things more sustainable? Think about a composting toilet!
