LG WT7300CW Top Load Washer Review

With its straightforward rotary dial and bright control panel, this machine is a pleasure to use. The texture of its stainless steel drum treats clothes very gently. And it offers options to add extra water, which many buyers look for. But even without using the Deep Wash cycle, we find that this washer guzzles water and is expensive to run. It leaves a lot of moisture in the clothes and its cycles are on the slower side.

About this washer

• Capacity: With 5 cu. ft. of washing space, it has lots of room for a family’s laundry
• Eight wash cycles: Normal, Heavy Duty, Deep Wash, Waterproof, PreWash + Normal, Delicates, Bedding, and Downloaded
• Dimensions: 27" x 44 1/2" x 28 3/8" (WxHxD)

• Cycle speed: Normal: 67 minutes; Heavy: 100 minutes; Delicates: 58 minutes; Speed Wash: 52 minutes

  

What we like

Ease of use: If all you want to do is turn the dial to Normal and start, this washer has you covered. And if you prefer more granular control, there are many customizations available in the control panel.

Gentle on laundry: From the texture of the tub to the use of a wash plate instead of a pole agitator, the design ensures clothes come out with minimal wear and tear.

Ease of loading and unloading: The lid has soft-close hinges, ensuring that it won’t crash down on your hands.

Deep wash: This cycle can help clean really dirty clothes, though we don’t recommend using it all the time.

What we don’t like

Our concerns about this washer are related to slower cycle speeds, higher water retention, high running expense, and an unusual design choice that makes a popular cycle harder to find.

Slower cycles: This washer’s Normal cycle took 67 minutes and its Heavy cycle lasted 100 minutes. If you locate and use the Speed Wash option, you won’t find it speedy at all: It took 52 minutes to complete.

Water retention: When your clothes are loaded with water at the end of a cycle, your dryer has to work longer and harder to get them dry. The WT7300CW left 55% of the water in the laundry using the Normal cycle, 59% using the Heavy cycle, and 76% with the Delicates cycle. We prefer to find 50% or less water retained.

Inefficiency: We predict it will cost you $93 a year to operate this washer. We’ve tested washers at a similar price point that would cost half that to run.

Hidden Speed Wash: To find this quick cycle, you have to look under Special Care on the control panel. Once you find it, it’s easy to use, with just a few button presses needed. But we think if it’s not on the dial, you’re less likely to use it.

Flimsy detergent dispenser: It's a small quibble—the detergent dispenser feels lightweight and unsturdy.

Warranty

LG provides a one-year warranty on parts and labor and a 10-year warranty on the washer’s motor.

What the users say

This is a newer model, so there aren’t too many reviews. Those on major retail sites are positive, averaging 4.6 out of 5 stars. Owners praise the easy-to-understand controls and the extra room the removing the pole agitator provides.

Should you buy this washer?

The WT7300CW’s moderate price and many features and settings may tempt you, but we can recommend better top-loaders in its price range. LG does an outstanding job making front-loaders, but when it comes to top-load washers, competitors like GE Appliances and Whirlpool Corporation are winning the battle for America's laundry rooms.

Consider the GE GTW680BSJWS, an American-made top-loader. It lets you customize each load with features like Deep Fill and Deep Rinse and cleans the clothes very quickly. Its Normal cycle takes just 34 minutes and, at 15 minutes, its Speed Wash is one of the quickest we've ever tested.