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  • Features

  • Performance

  • What about that pod dispenser?

  • Other washers you should consider

  • Should you buy the Electrolux EFLS527UTT?

  • Features
  • Performance
  • What about that pod dispenser?
  • Other washers you should consider
  • Should you buy the Electrolux EFLS527UTT?

Pros

  • Excellent stain removal

  • Pod detergent slot

  • Gentle Delicates cycle

Cons

  • None that we could find

In fact, the only washer we can recommend more highly is the Electrolux 627, the step-up model from this one.

Features

Options like Extended Refresh and StainTreat II help propel the 527 to the top of the washer game.
Credit: Reviewed / Jonathan Chan

Options like Extended Refresh and StainTreat II help propel the 527 to the top of the washer game.

The 527 has several features that gives it a stain-removal edge over other washers:

Built-in Water Heater: Allows it to achieve temperatures that kill bacteria and help remove greasy stains.

StainTreat II: Certain types of stains like chocolate and blood require special care. The 527 has specialized wash programs just for these common stains.

Extended Refresh: If you leave your laundry in the machine for too long it gets all musty. Extended Refresh keeps the drum tumbling so you can get to your laundry when you're ready and not have to worry about your clothes developing an odor.

Performance

The 4.3-cu.-ft. drum is lined with steel bubbles to gently scrub clothing.
Credit: Reviewed / Jonathan Chan

The 4.3-cu.-ft. drum is lined with steel bubbles to gently scrub clothing.

When it comes to stain removal, the 527 ranks well above average. The Heavy Duty cycle is a great example. On the EFLS527UTT, this cycle takes an hour to complete and removes about six percent more stains than the Heavy Duty cycle on the similar Whirlpool WFW75HEFW. This comparison holds up across multiple cycles and brands. In the few instances where the 527 didn't out-perform its competition in stain removal, it had much shorter cycle times.

What about that pod dispenser?

The 527 can accept all manner of detergents, including powdered, liquid, and pods.
Credit: Reviewed / Jonathan Chan

The 527 can accept all manner of detergents, including powdered, liquid, and pods.

Detergent pods have grown in popularity in past few years due to their convenience. The problem is that washers aren't designed to use them properly. Throw two into the drum and they don't disperse properly. If you put them in the detergent drawer, they won't dissolve. Electrolux has come up with a clever solution: a dedicated place for them so they both dissolve and the soap gets equally distributed amongst your clothes.

Other washers you should consider

When browsing online for washers like the 527, the washer you're probably going to see popping up time and time again is the Electrolux 627, which is Electrolux's top of the line and the step-up model from the 527.

We found three major distinctions between these two machines. The first is size, the 627 is slightly larger (0.1 cu. ft.) than the 527— enough for an extra towel or two. Next, the 527 lacks the StainSoak feature that really puts the 627 over the top, in our opinion. StainSoak recirculates detergent to help get out really stubborn stains. Finally, the 627 has a 15-minute Fast wash, while the 527's clocks in at 18-minutes.

The 627 has a Fast washer that's three minutes faster.
Credit: Reviewed / Jonathan Chan

The 527 covers all its bases.

If you're not interested in a wee bit more capacity, slightly faster cycles, or extra stain removal power, the 527 retails for around $50-100 less.

Should you buy the Electrolux EFLS527UTT?

Yes. The Electrolux EFLS527UTT is one of the best front-load washers on the market, matching great performance with a bunch of useful features, including the built-in water heater, pod dispenser, and all the cycle options. Yes, you can find more powerful washers, faster washers, and washers with more features, but there may be no need to.

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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