IN THIS ARTICLE

We independently evaluate all recommended products

and services. If you click on links we provide, we may
receive compensation. Learn more.

WHAT TO BUY APPLIANCE REVIEWS WASHER

& DRYERS

The 8 Best Portable

Washing Machines of
2024
These handy appliances can be used
in small laundry areas or temporary
spaces
By ERICA PUISIS

Updated on 02/13/24
Reviewed by LARRY CAMPBELL
Fact checked by EMILY ESTEP

The Spruce / Jay Wilde

A portable washing machine is an

excellent clothes care solution if you
lack the space, budget, or installation
requirements for a full-size appliance.
Despite a smaller form factor, portable
washers can be very effective at
cleaning your clothes. "Using a portable
washing machine doesn't have to mean
compromising," says Jawad Ahmed, a
laundry merchant at The Home Depot.
"With just a smaller load capacity, a
compact washer can penetrate deep
into fabrics to eliminate dirt and odors,
saving you water and energy with the
same outstanding cleaning
performance as a regular-sized washer."

The best portable washing machines

are simple and efficient to use, while
being easy to set up, move, and store.
Depending on your needs and your
budget, there are several types of
portable washers to choose from,
including: fully-automatic models
that wash, rinse, and spin; semi-
automatic versions that have two
separate tubs for washing and spinning;
and manual washers that require you
to do the work of agitating the clothes
inside.

In deciding which type of portable

washer is right for your situation, Ron
Shimek, president of Mr. Appliance,
says to consider how much storage
space you have to store the machine
when it’s not in use. Consider how easy
it is to move the washer and whether it
has the load capacity you need as well.

With these factors in mind, we

researched the top portable washing
machines based on capacity,
convenience
convenience, cycles and features
features,
and power source
source.

What to Know Before

You Get Started
■ There are two types of portable
washers: electric (which includes
both automatic and semi-
automatic models) and non-
electric (also known as manual).
Electric models cost more but
mean less hands-on work, while
non-electric washers can be used in
almost any scenario, regardless of
whether you have a power supply
or water connections.

■ Automatic machines must be

plugged into a standard
household outlet and have a
water hose connected to a
faucet
faucet. Manual washers don’t need
a power supply and typically are
powered by a hand crank or other
mechanism that produces
agitation. You will need to mll the
wash tub with water before each
use, rather than relying on a hose
connected to your kitchen or
bathroom sink.

■ The average capacity of a portable

washing machine is between 1 and
3 cubic feet, or about one to 10
pounds of laundry. That’s less than
a full-size washer, but enough to
wash up to several outmts at a time
or even a bed sheet or a few towels.

You can find even more information

about these portable washing machine
features in our What to Look for in a
Portable Washing Machine section
below.

Our Top Picks

Best Overall:
Black+Decker Small Portable Washer at
Amazon | $285
Jump to Review

Best Value:
Auertech Portable Washing Machine at
Amazon | $110
Jump to Review

Best Splurge:
Whirlpool Compact Top Load Washer at
Home Depot | $938
Jump to Review

Best for Apartments:

Magic Chef Compact Top Load Washer at
Home Depot | $500
Jump to Review

Best Manual:
The Laundry Alternative Portable Mini
Washing Machine at Amazon | $70
Jump to Review

Best Mini:
Giantex Mini Washer and Spinner Combo
at Amazon | $90
Jump to Review

Best for Camping:

Scrubba Portable Wash Bag at Amazon |
$55
Jump to Review

Best Portable Washer and Dryer:

GE Portable Washer & Portable Electric
Dryer Set at Lowe's
Jump to Review

Best Overall
Black+Decker Small
Portable Washer

PHOTO: Amazon

$244 AT AMAZON AMAZON

HOM……
$244 AT HOME DEPOT HOM

$239 AT WALMART WALMART

What We Like
■ Multiple wash cycle settings

■ Powerful spin cycle

■ Delayed start and child lock

features

■ Lightweight and easy to move

What We Don't Like

■ Small capacity

■ Only cold water is recommended

by manufacturer

For a convenient, efficient way to clean

your clothes, look no further than this
compact but powerful portable washing
machine from Black+Decker. It has a
0.9-cubic-foot capacity, a digital control
panel with features like delay wash and
child lock, and a viewing window so
you can watch the suds surround your
favorite fabrics.

Most
Most portable
portable washers
washers are
are best
best
suited
suited for
for handling
handling the
the laundry
laundry
needs
needs of
of one
one or
or two
two people
people. For this
model, expect the stainless steel drum
to hold about 3.5 pounds of laundry,
which may equate to a pair of medium
jeans, a medium sweatshirt, and two XL
T-shirts. (As a result, it’s not the most
spacious washer on our list, but also not
the smallest.) An impeller plate ensures
gentle but through action as the
machine cycles through one of five
different wash settings: heavy, gentle,
normal, rapid, and soak. You can adjust
the cycle based on whether the load is
small, medium, or large and a
countdown timer displays the
remaining minutes left in the cycle.
With a top spin speed of 983 RPM, this
washer powerfully expels remaining
moisture as the cycle comes to a close,
as well.

If you can work with the somewhat

small drum capacity and don’t mind a
cold water wash (which is unfortunately
the only temperature setting
recommended by the manufacturer),
the Black+Decker BPWM09W has a lot
to offer for a portable washer. It cleans
efficiently without using much energy
—it only costs about $3 annually,
according to estimates on the product’s
Energy Guide label—and it’s easy to
maneuver because it has two rear caster
wheels and weighs 48 pounds, which is
significantly less than other portable
washers on our list. That fact makes it
an exceptionally good pick for anyone
that needs a portable washing machine
that can be quickly and smoothly rolled
in and out of its storage location.

Type:
Type: Automatic | Capacity:
Capacity: 0.9 cubic feet |

Weight:
Weight: 48.4 pounds | Cycles:
Cycles: 5

Best Value
Auertech Portable Washing
Machine

PHOTO: Amazon

$110
$110 AT
AT AMAZON
AMAZON AMAZON
AMAZON

What We Like
■ Timer settings for wash and spin
cycles

■ Option to adjust agitation for

delicates

■ Leaves clothes damp-dry

What We Don't Like

■ Short drain hose

■ Spin tub has more limited

capacity

If you don’t mind an extra step in the

wash process (and a few less features in
comparison to our best overall pick),
the best bang for your buck is this semi-
automatic machine: the Auertech
AU0004 Portable Washer. It plugs into
a standard, 120V outlet and has two
tubs: one for washing and one for
spinning out water. You’ll have to move
your laundry from the wash tub to the
spin tub to complete the cycle, but the
process is simple and efficient. When
properly loaded, you can expect your
laundry to emerge from the spin tub
damp-dry thanks to the 1,300 RPM
motor, without much excess moisture.
You can then hang your garments on
your favorite clothes-drying rack or
clothesline.

Some other features that make the

Auertech AU0004 a great value include
an adjustable agitation setting for the
wash cycle (making the washing
machine more suitable for washing
delicates), and separate timers to adjust
the length of the wash and spin cycle.
Just be sure that you abide by the
capacity limitations for the wash tub (9
pounds of clothes) and the spin tub (5
pounds of clothes) for the best results.
In comparison to our best overall pick,
you can put more inside this washer at
one time, though.

It’s also worth noting that the drain

hose is relatively short. You may need
to drain the water from the spin tub
into a bucket if you don’t have a
suitable drain spot nearby. Notably, this
pick is almost half the weight of our
best overall pick, making it easier to
transport.

Type:
Type: Semi-automatic | Capacity:
Capacity: Not listed |

Weight:
Weight: 22 pounds | Cycles:
Cycles: 2

Best Splurge
Whirlpool Compact Top
Load Washer

PHOTO: The Home Depot

$938 AT HOME DEPOT HOM

HOM……

$899
$899 AT
AT LOWE'S
LOWE'S LOWE'S
LOWE'S

VIEW
VIEW ON
ON BUILD.COM
BUILD.COM

What We Like
■ Multiple wash cycle and
temperature settings

■ Permanent or portable
installation options

■ Viewing window and digital

timer

■ Detergent dispenser

What We Don't Like

■ Average capacity

For a portable washing machine that

functions similarly to a full-size
version, consider the Whirlpool
Compact Top Load Washer. It looks
very much like a conventional, top-
loading washer, but it has a smaller
footprint, four caster wheels for easy
mobility, and offers both permanent
and portable installation options. There
are six wash cycles to pick from and a
detergent
detergent dispenser
dispenser, which is not
found on most other portable washing
machines.

The stainless steel drum resists

corrosion and offers a smooth surface
that won’t snag any of your clothes
swished around by the impeller
impeller plate
plate
(more compact than a central agitator,
it’s what shifts your clothes at the
bottom of the washer). Similar to our
best overall pick, you can check in on
the wash process by peeking through
the viewing window on the top of the
washer or at the minutes remaining in
the cycle, brought to you by the
countdown timer.

You’ll spend more for this portable

washer than any other machine on our
list, but it has a reputation for being
easy-to-use and reliable, much like
many other Whirlpool products. The
average capacity (1.6 cubic feet) is
ultimately the biggest downside of this
washer that feels otherwise like a full-
sized model. However, it’s not a deal-
breaker for households with one or two
people, or if you wash small loads
regularly. You can fit just over 4 pounds
of laundry in a single load, which may
be equal to two pairs of jeans and a
sweatshirt, or two beach towels.

Type:
Type: Automatic | Capacity:
Capacity: 1.6 cubic feet |

Weight:
Weight: 81 pounds | Cycles:
Cycles: 6

Best for Apartments

Magic Chef Compact Top
Load Washer

PHOTO: The Home Depot

HOM……
$500 AT HOME DEPOT HOM

What We Like
■ Hot and cold water inlets

■ Electronic controls with LED

display

■ Multiple wash cycle settings

What We Don't Like

■ Harder to transport

This top load washer from Magic Chef

is a great fit for apartments or other
small living spaces that won’t
accommodate full-size washing
machines, which are usually 24 inches
or more in width. The Magic Chef
MCSTCW17W5 is just 20 inches wide
but has a 1.7-cubic-foot drum with
enough capacity for washing medium-
sized loads, including things like bed
sheets or light blankets.

There are six wash cycles, including

settings for bulky items, delicates, and
heavily-soiled loads. It’s also possible to
pick from cold, warm, or hot water
settings, thanks to designated hot and
cold water inlets on the back of the
machine. All of these cycle selections
are easily made using the electronic
controls along the LED display panel at
the front of the machine.

One thing to note is that this washing

machine for small spaces does weigh
more than some other portable picks.
At 72 pounds, it’s not the heaviest on
our list (that designation goes to our
best splurge pick), but it’s also not as
easy to maneuver on its rear wheels as
the 48-pound Black+Decker
BPWM09W (which is our top pick). If
you have a designated laundry area in
your apartment, though, it might be
worth it to gain the extra capacity that’s
afforded by the larger drum of this
Magic Chef model.

Type:
Type: Automatic | Capacity:
Capacity: 1.7 cubic feet |

Weight:
Weight: 72.8 pounds | Cycles:
Cycles: 6

Best Manual
The Laundry Alternative
Portable Mini Washing
Machine

PHOTO: Amazon

$70
$70 AT
AT AMAZON
AMAZON AMAZON
AMAZON

$70
$70 AT
AT WAYFAIR
WAYFAIR WAYFAIR
WAYFAIR

$70
$70 AT
AT WALMART
WALMART WALMART
WALMART

What We Like
■ Large capacity given small
footprint

■ Cleans garments relatively

quickly

■ Great for camping or RVs

What We Don't Like

Ad
■ Must wring out clothes
afterward