If there’s one home appliance we can’t live without, it’s the washing machine. Not only do they make a dull job easier, a washing machine can also get your clothes cleaner than by doing the job by hand, as well as making it cheaper and more efficient.
Although we all need a washing machine, most of us won’t upgrade until there’s a reason to do so: the old model breaks, we move house or have a kitchen redone. In all likelihood, it means that most of us will keep the same washing machine for at least five years, if not longer. Buying a new machine may be a bit more complex than you first imagined, then, as new technology will have come along since you last bought a machine.
That’s where we come in. At Trusted Reviews we actually get the best washing machines in and test them for stain removal, ease of use and energy and water consumption. This means that you can rely on us to help you find the best product for your needs. We’ve reviewed hundreds of washing machines and have a dedicated lab used to test more, constantly updating this list with the current best buys.
High-end washing machines can cost upwards of £1000, which sounds like a lot of money. With these kinds of machines, you’ll typically find the best stain removal, smart features and the lowest running costs. While reduced running costs will take a long time to pay-off compared to buying a cheaper machine, you’re doing your bit for the environment. You’ll usually get a greater range of programmes, designed specifically for certain loads.
Mid-range washing machines are around £500 to £700. Here, you’ll still get decent results and good running costs, but you may find that these machines are a little noisier and don’t have the same range of programmes as their more expensive competition.
Budget washing machines are much more basic, and typically have smaller drums than their higher-end counterparts. Expect fewer wash programmes, higher running costs and more noise. However, if you need something basic and don’t want to spend a fortune, these are a good choice. We’ve reviewed a wide range of products at different prices to help you find the right choices.
Best washing machine at a glance
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How we test Washing Machines
Every washing machine that we review goes through a series of uniform tests, designed to help us spot the quality products from the not so good. We examine build quality, ease of use, wash quality and running costs.
We use a series of real-world tests, using a set of dedicated washing per machine, so that we can accurately compare results between products. All of our tests take place at our dedicated home appliance test lab.
We install and level each washing machine in much the same way that you would at home, so that we’ll get similar results to you. You can see a more detailed breakdown of our testing methodology in our how we test washing machines guide.
Pros
- Low running costs
- Smart control
- Excellent stain removal
Pros
- Excellent stain removal
- Low running costs
- Clever smart features
Cons
- Steam setting could be easier to find
Pros
- Low cost
- Large drum
- Excellent wash performance
Cons
- Slightly confusing interface
Pros
- Very low running costs
- StainExpert delivers brilliant stain removal
- Excellent value
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Low running costs -
Smart control -
Excellent stain removal
Put simply, there’s not much that the Samsung WW11DB8B95GB can’t do. With a large 11kg capacity, AI smarts and some of the best cleaning results we’ve seen, the WW11DB8B95GB is a brilliant choice for busy households.
As it’s one of Samsung’s SpaceMax devices, the WW11DB8B95GB’s 11kg drum fits inside a standard-sized chassis, which means you’ll benefit from more space without the machine protruding from your kitchen cupboards.
The machine can be pre-loaded with liquid detergent and fabric softener for automatic dosing during a wash cycle. Alternatively, you can add powder instead and manually tell the WW11DB8B95GB not to use its detergent drawers during the wash.
Using the WW11DB8B95GB is remarkably straightforward, thanks to its text-driven control panel that provides a clear description of each cycle and the machine’s capacity, eliminating any guesswork from selecting the correct settings.
Speaking of cycles, standard modes are available alongside additional extras like AI Wash, which detects how dirty your clothes are and uses the correct amount of detergent and water.
Overall, we found the WW11DB8B95GB to be relatively inexpensive to run, with the Eco 40-60 programme costing 18p, AI Wash costing more at 36p, and the Steam cycle setting us back around 70p.
The AI Wash was one of the best-performing cycles, capable of removing all but the toughest stains, such as ketchup and red wine, from fabrics. While the Steam Wash also performed brilliantly, and is a great addition to the machine, it costs a whopping 70p per cycle, so it should be used sparingly.
Otherwise, the Cotton 30 cycle performed admirably and cost just 21p each go, although it did struggle with stain removal.
If you want one less household chore to worry about, then you’ll be hard-pressed to find a better option than the Samsung WW11DB8B95GB. Not only does it automatically dose detergent, but it’s also easy to choose the best cycle for your wash, or let AI do the work for you.
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Excellent stain removal -
Low running costs -
Clever smart features
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Steam setting could be easier to find
Boasting a sleek and modern design, an easy user interface and some of the best stain removal we’ve seen from a washing machine, the LG F4X9009TBC is a brilliant addition to most households, although it is one of the more expensive models.
Controlling the F4X9009TBC is done via the dial at the machine’s front and rotating it allows you to scroll through its wash cycle and see a clear description of each via the circular screen inside. You can also enable additional options for all cycles, such as adjust its spin speed, wash intensity and enabling steam.
By default, LG will turn on its cycle optimisation mode to determine which cycles you use the most. After around 10 washes, your most used cycles will appear first on the dial, for faster set-up.
Connect the F4X9009TBC to the LG ThinQ iOS or Android app and you can download additional cycles for cleaning bed sheets, down jackets and more. The ThinQ app also allows you to control the machine remotely and receive notifications when a wash has ended.
Otherwise, the 9kg drum is big enough for an average family’s washing load and can fit some larger items, such as a duvet, with ease. There’s also a nifty light inside which is always a nice touch.
Across our tests, we found that the LG F4X9009TBC performed brilliantly and efficiently, with relatively low running costs too. Its Eco 4-60 cycle not only cost 18p, making it 2p cheaper than the LG F4X7009TWB, but we also found its stain removal was “as good as it gets with no pre-treatment.”
We then tested its 30° Cotton wash which was slightly pricier at 29p per cycle although this is still considerably cheaper than the Haier HW110-BD14397U1. While we found the Cotton cycle wasn’t the best for stain removal, it still performed admirably in our difficult tests.
For the best stain removal, we’d recommend turning on the AI wash cycle, as we hailed this as “exceptional”. At 33p a cycle, almost all the tough stains were totally eliminated or, at least, significantly faded.
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Low cost -
Large drum -
Excellent wash performance
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Slightly confusing interface
With a mammoth 11kg drum, low running costs and impressive performance, the Indesit BWE 111496X WV UK is a great choice for larger households.
The machine is controlled via the dial on its front, with all its available cycles listed on the front drawer too. Alongside standard cycles, such as Eco 40-60 and Cottons, you’ll find Indesit’s special modes for duvets, fast washes and steam modes.
There’s also the Push and Go button, which can be found on other Indesit appliances, and allows you to start a 30°C cycle by pressing and holding it down. Whether this is really useful is debatable, as we’d argue it’s easier to just select your own cycle.
For each wash you have the option to adjust the temperature and spin speeds, plus there’s a button that allows you to select a stain type, upon which the cycle will then adjust to specifically target that kind of mess.
Although this sounds like a clever idea in theory, this stain setting is only compatible with the White cycle, yet the only way to know that is through process of elimination as the manual doesn’t mention this.
Aside from these quirks, the Indesit BWE 111496X WV UK is otherwise easy and intuitive to use.
To begin our tests, we ran the Eco 40-60 cycle which costs an inexpensive 29p to run. Here we found washing performance to be good, although tough stains did struggle to come out. However when we moved to the 20°C wash, not only did running costs drop to just 14p but stain removal was excellent too.
Although the aforementioned White wash at 60°C, with the stain setting enabled, cost a pricier 59p, it’s worth noting that we found it excellent for removing deep, engrained stains with ease.
There’s even a dedicated Ariel Pod setting, which runs at 30°C and costs 35p. Although using pods is convenient, we found stain removal to be a mixed bag, so we wouldn’t recommend opting for this cycle.
Although slightly fiddly to use at first, if you need a large washing machine that performs well and doesn’t have high running costs then the Indesit BWE 111496X WV UK is a fantastic choice for most households.
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Very low running costs -
StainExpert delivers brilliant stain removal -
Excellent value
Although a more entry-level option, what the Beko BM3WT3941 lacks in smart features it makes up for in performance and even boasts some of the lowest running costs we’ve seen from a washing machine.
With a 9kg drum, the Beko BM3WT3941 should suffice for most washes, however we did find it to be shallow and quick to fill up. If you need more room or want to wash large items then we’d recommend the mighty 11kg Indesit BWE 111496X WV.
In lieu of a smart app or an advanced control panel, the BM3WT3941 has an easy-to-understand cycle dial at the front where you’ll find common wash cycles alongside Beko’s special StainExpert Mode, all clearly labelled.
Once you select a cycle, the LCD will show you the estimated run time and allow you to override the temperature setting and spin speed if needed.
We began our tests with the standard Eco 40-60 wash, which resulted in the lowest running cost we’ve ever seen at just 13p per cycle.
We did find that stain removal is only average with this cycle, so if you have heavier soiled garments then you should use the StainExpert mode instead. Although this cycle costs a pricier 60p, stain removal is incredible and on par with the much more expensive Samsung WW11DB8B95GB.
Otherwise the 20°C and Cotton 30°C washes were both equally low in running costs, at 27p and 30p respectively, which puts them in line with other A-rated models.
If you’re on a tight budget then you’d be hard pressed to find a better washing machine than the Beko BM3WT3941. Not only is it affordable, but it boasts some of the lowest running costs we’ve seen yet, all while prioritising performance and efficiency.
Test Data
Samsung WW11DB8B95GB | LG F4X9009TBC | Indesit BWE 111496X WV UK | Beko BM3WT3941 | |
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Energy consumption 30C wash | 0.306 kWh | 0.414 kWh | 0.686 kWh | 0.467 kWh |
Water consumption 30C wash | 44.6 litres | 54.1 litres | 63.2 litres | 78.5 litres |
Percentage water remaining 30C wash | 40.57 % | 41.84 % | 41 % | 41.43 % |
Energy consumption 40C wash | 0.247 kWh | 0.231 kWh | 0.597 kWh | 0.187 kWh |
Water consumption 40C wash | 38.2 litres | 39.8 litres | 47.6 litres | 28.6 litres |
Percentage water remaining 40C wash | 39.18 % | 42.56 % | 37.86 % | 37.35 % |
Full Specs
Samsung WW11DB8B95GB Review | LG F4X9009TBC Review | Indesit BWE 111496X WV UK Review | Beko BM3WT3941 Review | |
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UK RRP | £849 | £1149.98 | £349 | £319 |
Manufacturer | Samsung | LG | – | Beko |
Size (Dimensions) | 600 x 550 x 850 MM | 600 x 850 x 565 MM | 595 x 605 x 850 MM | 600 x 546 x 845 MM |
Weight | 65 G | 68 G | – | 70 KG |
Release Date | 2024 | 2025 | 2024 | 2024 |
First Reviewed Date | 21/08/2024 | 11/03/2025 | 14/10/2024 | 25/11/2024 |
Model Number | Samsung WW11D8B95GB | LG F4X9009TBC | Indesit BWE 111496X WV UK | Beko BM3WT3941 |
Model Variants | – | White and black | – | Black or white |
Rated Efficiency | A | A | A | A |
Drum Capacity | 11 kg | 9 kg | 11 kg | 9 kg |
Spin speed | 1400 rpm | 1398 rpm | 1400 rpm | 1400 rpm |
Special wash modes | – | Wool, AI, delicates | Wool, Ariel Pods, 20°C, Rapid 45 | StainExpert, Hand Wash |
Countdown timer | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Delay timer | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
App Control | Yes | Yes | – | – |
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