Living in a big house has its luxuries, many of which include having a dedicated laundry area for a full-size washing machine to wash and dry your clothes. But living in an apartment these days doesn't have to be so bad with all the innovative and revolutionary small-sized inclusions that the market has to offer right now which include the best portable washing machine.
You can finally stop taking all those trips to the laundromat, and yes, you don't have to hand-wash your items in the bathroom or sink anymore manually. Portable washing machines are a great affordable alternative for all small space dwellers, especially if you don't have access to the permanent hot and cold water hookups.
The best portable washing machine can either be an electric and manual model, so whether you're out camping or just trying to get clean clothes in an apartment or small home, you can find one that suits your needs.
The Best Portable Washing Machines
These portable laundry machines are generally big enough to handle small to medium clothe loads. And most come on roller wheels, so they can be pushed to the sink or area when you need to wash.
These portable washers come in electric and non-electric models. Typically, these portable laundry machines are noticeably smaller and a tad less powerful than the traditional full-sized laundry washers.
1. Magic Chef - MCSTCW16W4 Stainless Steel 1.6 Cu. Ft. Compact Top-Load Washing Machine
An affordable portable washing machine that is sure to deliver superior cleaning, and what's more, it has many features that are the same as those of full-size models. The Magic Chef MCSTCW16W4 top-load portable washing machine is one of the best portable washing machines that looks and feels like a miniature version of a top-load washing machine. At the 1.6-cubic-feet capacity, it is surprisingly perfect for a decent-sized load of dirty clothes.
This portable washer has a top see-through window, a stainless steel inner wash tub, and electronic wash settings. To use it, attach the water supply hose to the water source faucet. It comes with six wash cycles that including normal, heavy-duty, delicates, speed wash, bulky items, and more.
Furthermore, it has three water temperature options that let you tailor the wash settings to the type of fabrics in your wash load and the amount of energy you want to use. On a side note, cold water cycles should use less energy and, therefore, much less costly to run.
You can either pour liquid or powder detergent to the detergent dispenser to automatically wash your clothes. After the spin cycle, when the load is done, this miniature top-load washer alerts you to remove your clothes and hang them out to dry.
Many reviewers have been known to recommend the rapid cycle, which they say efficiently gets the job done. You'd be pleased to know that it's pretty quiet and easy to set up since the fittings can be easily attached to the kitchen sink.
PROS
CONS
2. Giantex Portable Compact Twin Tub Washing Machine
- 【Easy to Operate】: This is our portable mini compact twin tub...
- 【17.6LBS Large Capacity】: Washing tub: place clothing in the wash...
- 【Semi-Automatic Design Relieves You from Hand Washing】: Using this...
- 【300W Wash Power &110W Spin Power】: Ideal for small loads....
- 【Compact Twin Tub Washing Design 】: Convenient for home use. The...
Like many people who rent a walk-up apartment, you might not have a laundry room, and that's where the portable washing machine from Giantex comes in. Giantex mini compact twin tub laundry machine ranks high as one the best-reviewed portable laundry machines on trustworthy sites like Amazon, with over 3,000 five-star rating reviews.
It may not have as much capacity compared to the full-sized laundry machine, but it makes up for that in the time it takes to wash your clothes. The entire wash cycle and dry cycle runs in only 28 minutes.
It has a 17.6 lbs combined wash capacity. The wash tub section has a washing capacity of 11 lbs, while the spinner dryer has a 6.6 lbs capacity. It is also a semi-automatic washing machine with a 300W wash power and 110W spin power. This is most ideal for small loads and delicate washes.
This compact portable washer conveniently comes with a filter net at the side of the washing barrel that you can easily pull out when washing the tube.
PROS
CONS
3. Lavario 1204 Manual Portable Washing Machine
- PATENTED! Best portable clothes washer in the world. See our 2-minute...
- ECO-FRIENDLY: Hand-powered, non-electric, easy up & down motion,...
- SAVES MONEY! Pays for itself in 4-5 trips you won't take to the...
- CONVENIENT: Portable, lightweight and easy to use anywhere. Cleans...
- MADE IN THE USA! Lavario was meticulously engineered for durability &...
Lavario Portable manual washing machine is the best non-electric laundry washing machine to take with you on that camping trip. This compact manual washing machine doesn’t require electricity but will still clean out the ickiest grime. It is fully hand-powered, making it eco-friendly but will then require some arm energy on your part.
The non-electric aspect makes it a straightforward and simple design at only 14 pounds with a 19 x 19 x 24 inches dimension.
This simple portable washer gadget only requires water and detergent. Simply load up the tub with your dirty clothes, pour water and detergent into the bucket, then pump it in an up and down motion to submerge the basket.
In less than 20 minutes, this portable non-electric laundry washing machine should be done washing. Refill the tub with clean water to rinse the clothes. Wring the excess water out, then hang them to dry.
Since this portable manual washer is hand-powered, you can easily and conveniently wash the delicates with mesh. Ultimately, it's one of the best non-electric laundry washers to have either in your home or when you're out in the woods camping.
PROS
CONS
4. Costway Portable Mini Twin Tub Washing Machine
- 💦【Twin Tub Design】You can operate washer or spinner separately,...
- 💦【Effective Performance】With 260W washing power and 140W...
- 💦【Separate Time Setting】This washing machine has separate timer...
- 💦【Compact & Portable Washer】This twin tub washing machine is...
- 💦【Shipping & Customer service】UPS or USPS will deliver the item...
If you are looking for a portable washing machine so you won’t have to always pay for laundry services in the apartment building, then you can score with the Costway portable mini twin tub. Don't be fooled by its small design.
It features two tubs, one to wash and one to spin dry. And each tub comes with its own separate timer to help treat the clothes just right.
To start the wash cycle in the wash tub, toss in the dirty laundry, fill the tub with water, and set the timer to let the cycle begin. It doesn't automatically turn off, so be sure to stay nearby to turn it off because it doesn't have an automatic switch off. Follow the same guidelines for the spin cycle.
Make sure your wash load doesn’t exceed the given 8-pound capacity. You can reliably trust that the spin-drying tub will leave the clothes almost dry since this machine runs on the same 120V voltage that high-end portable washers run on, which is quite impressive considering its delightful price tag.
PROS
CONS
5. Black+Decker Portable Laundry Washing Machine
- 5 CYCLE SELECTION—Wash your laundry with this superior BLACK+DECKER...
- IMPRESSIVE FUNCTIONALITY—With your new washer machine (44.1 lbs.)...
- STAINLESS STEEL TUB— This 0.9 cu. ft. portable washing machine...
- ADDITIONAL FEATURES—There’s a lot going on with our amazing...
- DESIGNED FOR MOBILITY— This fantastic portable clothes washer...
The Black+ Decker portable washing machine is a top load washing machine that's a single-stream. This means that it runs the entire wash-rinse-drain-spin-dry cycle at the click of one button.
It is made of metal instead of regular plastic, meaning it is more durable. This aspect also allows the machine a more rigorous and effective wash-spin-dry cycle.
The sleek Black+Decker 0.9-cubic foot portable machine washer doesn't take up much space and works well with most people's decor. The stylish design comes with LED displays and a see-through viewing window on its top lid, which allows you to check on your laundry conveniently.
The small construction of this portable washing machine is a great fit for apartment living which also lets you choose between five wash cycles and three water temperature levels.
Unfortunately, it doesn't come with wheels but makes up for this with the great features of a miniature washing machine.
PROS
CONS
Factors to Consider to Buy the Best Portable Washing Machine
A. Capacity
A portable washing machine has less than 3.5 cubic feet in capacity than a regular full-sized washing machine, which typically has an average of 5.4 cubic feet. If you need to wash many heavy laundries, you should consider getting a portable washing machine that is not less than 2.8 cubic feet.
A portable washing machine as small as 0.7 cubic feet is suitable for people while on a camping trip or living in an RV. Generally, small-capacity portable washing machine models are manual and are hand-powered.
B. Power source
Portable washing machines can either come as electric or non-electric. The electric portable washing machine operates similarly to the full-sized washer. You'll only need to plug it into the outlet and select the right setting on the control panel. Unlike the full-sized washing machine, portable electric washers normally require only a 120-volt outlet.
C. Water
Some portable washing machines will require you to get the water in and out of the machine manually. High-end portable washing machines have the option to be hooked up to the kitchen or bathroom sink.
D. Caster Wheels
The Caster wheels aid the movement of your portable washer anywhere. Some portable washer models have two wheels either at the front or back, and others have four wheels, each positioned in each corner. The presence of caster wheels is what makes the washing machine portable and convenient enough to push to the sink.
E. Viewing Window
The see-through viewing window on the portable washing machine is mostly located on the top lid. It conveniently allows you to check on the clothes throughout the cycle without having to open the tub. It's most convenient especially if you're working as you do your laundry.
Frequently Asked Questions on the Best Portable Washing Machines
1. How to hook up the portable washing machine?
To hook it up, make sure to have the relevant connectors, adaptors, and hoses at hand. Most brands will come with attachments, but if not, you can separately order them from the brand. One hose should run from the machine to the faucet.
Every model is slightly different, so be sure to follow the user instruction manual. The manual should also indicate which hose to use for water coming in and for draining, which is vital.
2. How do I clean my portable washer?
Unlike their full-sized counterparts, portable washers don't have a self-clean cycle function. However, you can still easily clean them using a dash of vinegar and hot water run. Don't add clothes or detergent at this time. First, run the hot wash cycle; when it's done, add the vinegar and then let the cycle finish.
