Which? Don't Buy washing machines

Our tough tests help us find the best washing machines, which you can rely on to give your clothes a great wash every time, as well as the worst washing machines that do a pitiful job.

Don't Buy washing machines leave your clothes dirty – wasting energy, water and your money. Some also leave detergent on your clothes, which isn't ideal if you've got sensitive skin. Go for a Best Buy washing machine instead. 

We've found Best Buys for just over £400 and Don't Buys that cost over £500.

Join Which? to find out which washing machines we've named as Don't Buys

The best vs the worst washing machines

Every year we test hundreds of machines from Beko, Bosch, Miele, Samsung, Hotpoint, Indesit and many more brands. 

We've found that even the most reliable brands can make a dud that's bad at cleaning, rinsing or spinning. The worst washing machines are a combination of all three. 

Don't throw your money away. 

• No one tests as thoroughly as Which?. We wash more than 1,750kg of clothes each year to separate the best washing machines from the rest.
• We test every washing machine for its ability to tackle tough-to-shift stains including coffee, wine, grass and blood. 
• We run every machine three times on each of the programs included in our tests. So you can be sure a good wash is a certainty rather than a fluke.
• We use specialist equipment to measure how much detergent is left on the laundry at the end of the wash and how much water is left in the clothes, so we can identify those that don't do a good job of rinsing and spinning. 

Energy use is another key issue, from an environmental perspective and with the cost of living rising. But a washing machine's energy rating isn't always the best indicator of future running costs. 

We measure how much water and energy each washing machine uses to give you the estimated running costs. We've encountered models that are low on energy use but poor at their main function - washing.

Avoid the worst washing machines

If you avoid the worst washing machines, cleaning your clothes will be less of a chore. 

Struggling to meet the cost of a new washing machine? We've rounded up the best deals on washing machines this month.

There are also some great lower-priced or more energy-efficient washing machines on the market.

Or find out which washing machines are Don't Buys and which are Best Buys by joining Which? today.

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