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  • Fit and finish

  • Stain removal and efficiency

  • Not perfect

  • Worth it?

  • Fit and finish
  • Stain removal and efficiency
  • Not perfect
  • Worth it?

Pros

  • Excellent stain removal

  • Door stopper lets gasket dry

  • 15-minute Express cycle

Cons

  • No internal water heater

  • Normal and Heavy cycles run slow

It does a good job removing stains, and has a few neat tricks—like an easy-drying door that won't smell funny. Unfortunately, it also took over an hour to wash an 8 lb. load of laundry. By comparison, the next washer up in the Kenmore line—the 41392—costs $100 more, but its Accela-Wash feature cuts wash time in half.

It also lacks features like an extra-huge drum, an effective quick wash, or a Sanitize cycle. Still, we think it's a good value. If you're an average parent doing an average load of laundry and you don't mind waiting for your clothes to get clean, then this slow-but-steady Kenmore will measure up.

Want to see what else is out there? Check out our list of the best front-load washers for under $1000.

Fit and finish

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The Kenmore 41262 doesn't feel entry-level. That's partially because its robust and easy to use, and partially because of a few useful extras.

Stay Fresh: If you've ever forgot your clothes in the machine and they wound up musty, Stay Fresh will tumble your clothes periodically for up to 19 hours to keep them fresh. • Powerful Motor: The 41262's motor can spin as fast as 1300 RPM. A fast spin wrings excess water out of your laundry, which translates to less time in the dryer. • Smart Motion: The drum inside this LG-built Kenmore is capable of five distinct motions designed to evenly distribute water and detergent—plus softener and bleach. • Magnetic Stopper: A magnetic stopper keeps this front loader from smelling funky. It holds the door subtly ajar so the gasket—the rubber ring inside the door—dries between washes.

Stay Fresh keeps laundry tumbling after a cycle is over to keep your clothes from getting musty.
Credit: Reviewed.com / Jonathan Chan

Stay Fresh keeps laundry tumbling after a cycle is over to keep your clothes from getting musty.

Stain removal and efficiency

We tested the 41262's mettle against a myriad of common household stains. After analyzing how much of each stain remained, we were impressed with how well this entry-level machine did against proteins and tannins, although it struggled a bit against oil and sweat stains. When it came to clothes wear, the 41262 was in the middle—not the most gentle on delicate fabrics, but not overly rough.

The 4.5-cu.-ft. interior is coated in steel bubbles.
Credit: Reviewed.com / Jonathan Chan

The 4.5-cu.-ft. interior is coated in steel bubbles.

It's also efficient. Using national average costs for water and electricity, we calculate that the yearly running cost to be on the order of $26. That's about $10 cheaper than an average front loader, and half what the average top loader costs to run.

Not perfect

A clean design like this one cuts down on confusion.
Credit: Reviewed.com / Jonathan Chan

A clean design like this one cuts down on confusion.

As much as we like to praise the 41262 for its unexpected goodies, it still has a few holes in its repertoire. It lacks an internal water heater, so no high temperatures or Sanitize cycle are available. The 41262 also loses out to its higher-end cousins with speciality features like smart connectivity.

If you want to turn laundry day into laundry hour, look elsewhere

However, this machine's biggest drawback is its slower-than-average cycle times. Normal lasted an hour and fifteen minutes, Heavy Duty almost two. Those are almost twice as long as the average front loaders we've tested. Only Express Wash finished in 15 minutes, although it didn't do a great job removing stains. If you want to turn laundry day into laundry hour, look elsewhere.

Worth it?

As of the writing of this article, the 41262 retails for just $599. Despite a few issues, we think that's a good deal for a front loader that exceeds our stain removal expectations. If you want a front-load washing machine but don't want to spend thousands, the Kenmore 41262 is worth checking out. And if you want to get laundry done more quickly, check out the similar Kenmore 41392 with Accela-Wash instead.

Meet the tester

Jonathan Chan

Jonathan Chan

Senior Manager of Lab Operations

@Jonfromthelab1

Jonathan Chan currently serves as the Lab Manager at Reviewed. If you clean with it, it's likely that Jon oversees its testing. Since joining the Reviewed in 2012, Jon has helped launch the company's efforts in reviewing laptops, vacuums, and outdoor gear. He thinks he's a pretty big deal. In the pursuit of data, he's plunged his hands into freezing cold water, consented to be literally dragged through the mud, and watched paint dry. Jon demands you have a nice day.

See all of Jonathan Chan's reviews

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