Not everyone wants or needs a full-size washing machine. Some people live in apartments or in small homes that simply aren’t large enough to house a big washing machine, and other people simply don’t want to spend upwards of $500 on a full-capacity washer. In those instances, the best portable washing machine can be a great way for a person to get their clothes clean and do it without dedicating space or money to a large machine.
Of course, just because a washing machine is small and portable doesn’t mean that it’s perfect for a person to buy. When it comes to these machines, there are a few things that need to be considered. That’s why we’ve decided to go ahead and list ten of the best portable machines, along with a handy buying guide. Now everyone can get a machine that fits their needs, their budget, and their space.
The 10 Best Portable Washing Machines
#10 Costway Mini-Washing Machine
This portable washing machine is specifically designed for people with limited space for a full-size machine. It’s only 14x14x20-inches in size but has a 7-pound washing capacity. That makes it a great choice for students living in dorms, apartment dwellers, or people living in condos, RVs, or campers. It’s easy to operate as well, so the consumer only has to load their clothes into it, fill it with water and then set the timer. Although it doesn’t have a spin basket to wring water out of the clothes, it’s otherwise a great solution for anyone looking for a small washing machine for their space.
#9 Think Gizmos Twin Tub Washer
This washing machine has a small stature, so it can be placed in locations where other washers simply wouldn’t fit. However, this washer isn’t just small, it’s also quite effective at washing and spinning dry clothing. It has a capacity of approximately 8-pounds, which is large enough to handle a pair of medium-size jeans, a T-shirt, a bath towel, and maybe, a double bed sheet, too. It has one tub that’s suitable for washing the clothing, and another tub that can be used just for spinning. And all that it requires to operate is access to an electrical outlet, a water supply, and a drain to drain the water.
#8 Zeny Compact Mini-Twin Washer
Anyone tired of making seemingly endless trips to the laundromat is probably going to want to take a look at this washer. This machine is just the right size to fit into even the smallest of apartments but is large enough to handle most people’s washing needs. It’s capable of washing up to 8-pounds of clothing at a time. This machine provides 15-minute washing cycles and 5-minute spin cycles that ensure that the clothes are clean and that they’re not coming out soaking wet. It also features a gravity drain and can wash 8-pounds of clothing while it’s spin-drying 5-pounds of clothing at the same time.
#7 Giantex Full-Automatic Laundry Washer
This portable washing machine might be small, but it has many of the features that can be found on larger machines. it’s capable of washing up to 10-pounds of laundry, has a clear lid that allows the user to keep an eye on water levels, and has a built-in drain pump for automatic drainage. It also features 10 different washing programs, and 8 different water level selections that can be chosen via an easy-to-use LED display. All of these features allow the user of this machine to quickly and efficiently get their laundry done. And do it while saving on electricity and water usage.
#6 Rovsun 16.6-Pound Twin Tub Washer
This washing machine is the perfect combination of features, size, and performance. It has a washer capacity of 10-pounds, a spinner capacity of 6.6-pounds and is only 24.4×14.3×28.7-inches in size. That means that it can not only handle enough laundry to accommodate the needs of most people but is also the right size for using in an RV, dorm, apartment or small home. This product has a 110-volt motor that spins at 1,300 RPMs and a timer that allows for 15-minute loads. It also has a 5-minute spin cycle that ensures that the clothes aren’t too wet for throwing into a dryer or hanging on a laundry line.
#5 Super Deal Compact Mini Washer
This machine touts itself as one of the lightest and smallest twin-tub portable washers, and that just might be the case. This machine is only 14.6x14x22-inches in size, and it weighs under 14-pounds. Even though it’s small, it’s still capable of doing quite a bit of laundry, however. This machine is capable of washing up to 5.5-pounds of clothing or spin dry 4.4-pounds of clothing. This machine also has features that many people look for in a portable washer. For example, it has clear sides that allow the wash cycle to be monitored, has a 15-minute wash cycle and 5-minute spin cycle, and it provides effective deep cycle rinses.
#4 Giantex Mini-Compact Washing Machine
This portable washing machine might be small, but it more than delivers enough power to handle most people’s laundry needs. It has a washtub section that has a capacity of 11-pounds, and a spin dryer tub that has a capacity of 6.6-pounds. It also features a 15-minute wash cycle and a 5-minute spin cycle. Although the size of the spin tub is half the size of the washtub, which requires loads to be split in half for spin-drying, it’s still capable of quickly handling most loads of laundry effectively. And that makes it a great tool for use in homes, apartments, dorms or RVs.
#3 Lavrio Portable Clothing Washer
Although some people may take issues with this washer being in the number three position on our list because it’s a manual machine, it’s a great washer. Sure, this product doesn’t use electricity and therefore requires the user to manually agitate the clothing during wash, but it also means that it can be used more places than other portable washing =machines can be used. This is a portable and lightweight device that uses less water than most machines and will get clothes clean in about 20-minutes. It’s great for people who have only a few items to wash and don’t have access to an electrical outlet.
#2 Panda 1.6 Cubic-Foot Compact Washer
This machine uses an ordinary 110-volt electrical outlet for its electrical supply and can be connected directly to a faucet for its water supply. This allows it to be used in a variety of different locations. Once installed, this machine has a 1.6 cubic-foot capacity that can clean up to 11-pounds of clothing quickly and easily. This machine has a stainless steel drum that’s more durable than most portable washing machines and resists rust and chipping. It also has 10 different washing programs and 8 different water levels for the user’s convenience. These features make this a great machine for use in dorms, RVs, apartments or homes.
#1 Panda 11-Pound Portable Washer
Anyone searching for the best portable washing machine is going to love the Panda PAN56MGW2. That’s because this unit is small enough to fit into small houses, apartments, dorms or RVs, but is constructed in much the same way as a full-size washer. It features a durable stainless steel tub that resists both rust and chipping, and it has electronic controls with an LED display. It also has 10 different washing programs and 8 different water levels for the user’s convenience. And since it only requires a standard electrical outlet, a drain, and a water faucet connection, it can be installed virtually anywhere.
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Portable Washing Machine Buying Guide
It used to be that people who wanted to get their laundry done but didn’t have space or money to buy a full-size washing machine only had 3 options. They could take their laundry over to a family member or friend’s house to wash, they could wash it out in their tub or sink, or they could take it to a laundry mat. Let’s just state outright that none of those options are very viable. It can be embarrassing and time-consuming to trek laundry over to other people’s houses and clothes washed out by hand in the sink don’t get very clean. And going to the laundromat every weekend is not only time-consuming but can also be quite expensive, too. Fortunately, people now have a fourth option, and that’s to buy a portable washing machine.
Portable washers do an amazing job of getting clothes clean and they can be placed in areas that are simply too small for full-capacity washers. And that makes them a great choice for people living in small homes or apartments. It also makes them an inexpensive solution for most people because these machines are at least half the cost of full-capacity washers. They also use less water and power, which makes them even more economical.
However, consumers need to realize that not all of these washers are alike. Some models do a great job of cleaning clothing and don’t cost a whole lot to buy, and other models are either not very helpful for doing laundry or cost too much for what they do offer the user. That’s why we’ve decided to write this guide on buying the best portable washing machine available. Hopefully, the following information will prove useful for consumers thinking about buying one of these machines.
Consider The Machines Size
The first thing that needs to be considered is the size of the area the machine is going to be installed in and the size of the machine itself. Although most of these machines are quite small, they all come in different sizes. Some models are as small as 14-inches high and other models are larger than 24-inches. Therefore, it’s important to always read the machine’s specifications and compare it against the space it’s going to be used in to ensure a proper fit.
Electric-Powered Or Manual Machines
Not all of the machines sold as portable units are electric. There are plenty of manual models. These models have to be agitated by hand by the user, and some of them don’t even offer water hookups that can be used to fill the washer—the user has to manually fit it. Although these models are usually inexpensive, they can be a pain to operate. It’s usually better to get an electric model that takes some of the work out of the washing process. However, if you do absolutely need to save on the total cost of the machine, then manual units can be used effectively to get clothes clean, they’ll just take a little bit of extra work to get the job done.
Consider The Machine’s Capacity
It’s also important to consider the capacity of the washing machine. Although most standard washers are measured in cubic-feet, portable washing machines usually state their capacity by listing the total weight of the laundry they can wash per pound. So to figure out the minimum size washer you need, you’re going to have to know how much your clothes weight. Since most people probably don’t want to weight out their clothes, we’ve provided a convenient chart that lists the average weight or clothing articles. Please keep in mind, however, that the following figures are average weights and may not be an accurate representation of the laundry in your home.
- Medium Blue Jeans: 1.7-pounds
- Large Blue Jeans: 2.2-pounds
- Medium Sweatshirt: 1-pound
- Extra Large T-Shirt: 0.5-pound
- Beach towel: 1.7-pounds
- Full-size bedsheet: 1.4-pounds
Additional Features
Now it’s time to think about some of the additional features that you may need your portable washing machine to have. Below are some things to think about before running out and purchasing your machine. The following features aren’t necessary but make using the machine a whole lot easier.
- Caster wheels for moving it around the home.
- An all-metal washtub for durability.
- A separate washtub and spin tub for lessening washing time.
- The ability to wash and spin dry loads at the same time.
- Different wash settings and water level settings
- The ability to drain water automatically.
- An automatic wash feature.
- A low noise motor
- A see-through lid for monitoring loads.
- Electronic controls and an LED display
- The ability to connect to a standard faucet.
