Whirlpool WTW7000DW Washer Review

The most notable and feature on the WTW7000DW (available at Walmart for $918.21) top-load washing machine is Whirlpool's "What to Wash" and "How to Wash" interface, where you choose from one of five options for each. It's an interesting approach, allowing a bit of extra control over your laundry, but it does add a bit of complexity. Typically top-loaders are popular with those who prefer their traditional design, so this control panel melds some of the designs we grew up with and modern convenience.

On our wash tests, we found the WTW7000DW removed between 60% and 70% of stains, which is above average, but not a stellar performance. It'll do the job, but if you have a particularly soiled load or are a bit fastidious with your laundry, it might not live up to your expectations. Generally speaking, people tend to view top-loaders as better able to scrub out stains, which isn't quite the case here.

The only problem we can point to is the WTW7000DW's price, which is just a bit too high for what this washer offers. At this price point we'd expect either slightly better cleaning performance or a few more interesting features, like the Whirlpool Cabrio WTW8000DW.

About the Whirlpool WTW7000DW

Dimensions: 42” x 27.5” x 27” (H x W x D) Capacity: 4.8 cu. ft. Finish: White Wash cycles: There are nine wash cycles with 25 customizable combinations (five "What to Wash" options and five "How to Wash" options that can be mixed). What to Wash includes: Mixed, Casuals, Whites, Delicates, Bulky/Sheets. How to Wash: Normal, Quick, Cold, Deep Water, ColorLast. Cycle features: Deep Clean and Extra Rinse options, along with three spin levels, four soil levels, and five temperature levels.

What we like

The control panel adds a sleek look

The controls on the Whirlpool WTW7000DW will likely be a love-it-or-hate-it feature for most families. Along the tip are an array of "What to Wash" and "How to Wash" controls, you choose one of each, and the washer gives you a customized cycle based on those parameters. Underneath are cycle options to allow an even further degree of control over your wash, such as a deep cleaning mode, temperature control, and water level control. We like the layout and the buttons were very responsive, though it might have a bit of a learning curve if you're used to a traditional dial. Overall, we're glad Whirlpool is trying something new with this control scheme.

Normal cycles have decent cleaning

On the Normal + Mixed cycle, the WTW7000DW was able to clean about 70% of stains away, which is slightly better than the average of 60%. We also noticed the Deep Clean feature did, in fact, offer a more thorough clean, bumping that 70% up to 72%. It's not too significant, but we would recommend using the Deep Clean feature for particularly soiled loads. On other settings, it could clean just about the average 60%, putting it right in line with what we expect to see from a washing machine.

What we didn't like

Not a lot of extras

At the Whirlpool WTW7000DW's price point, we'd expect a bit more in the way of extra features. Something like steam cleaning options or a sanitize mode—a feature that adds just a little bit of additional value over the base functionality. Unfortunately, other than some unique controls, base functionality is all you're getting here.

Control panel labels don't light up

While the options you select light up, the labels on the control panel do not. We found the controls were a bit hard to read in a dim room, so this may not be the best choice for a laundry set-up in a darker basement.

What users are saying

Users seem to be echoing our sentiments, giving this Whirlpool an average 4.4 stars out of 5 on Whirlpool's own page. The most common complaints are about the lackluster cleaning efficacy, which we think is maybe a bit harsh. To be fair, the overwhelming majority of users had no issues with the level of clean this washer provides. There are also very few complaints about durability, which is a good indicator the products are built to last. Common points of praise included the controls, the aesthetics, and the large capacity drum.

Warranty

The Whirlpool WTW8000DW has a one-year warranty that will cover parts and labor for any defect found at time of purchase. This is a pretty bare-bones warranty and we would've liked to see a bit more coverage and for longer.

Should I buy it?

It's not that this is a bad washer, it's just that you can do better. If you're shopping for products made in the U.S., we'd highly recommend checking out the Maytag MVWB865GC, which is one of the better top-loaders we tested this year. If you like the control scheme and don't mind paying a bit more, the Whirlpool Cabrio WTW8000DW offers more features and better cleaning performance.