Tip of the Day: Buy the best washing machine for your home

In our 2007 report on washing machines, some of the top-loading models were only so-so performers. But manufacturers made improvements to their models, as we found in our 2008 washers review.

If you're in the market for a new washing machine, watch our video (right) and read our latest report and buying advice.

Essential information: Follow our washing tips to get your clothes clean, learn about the best laundry detergents, and plan your new laundry room. And don’t forget to check out our new Home Improvement Guide interactive, which provides buying advice and more for appliances, tools, and building materials for every area of your home.

Best fabric softeners

Conventional wisdom suggests that you should use fabric-softener sheets in the dryer to lessen static cling, but we found that liquids you use in the washing machine reduced the static charge in a load of synthetic clothing slightly better than sheets did.

Our tests of 12 liquids, eight sheets, a dryer ball, and a reusable dryer cloth revealed one excellent product, Ultra Gain Joyful Expressions liquid, and debunked the belief that fabric softeners, especially liquids, leave towels far less absorbent. (See our Ratings of fabric softeners, available to subscribers only.)

The loss of absorbency was very noticeable with only Snuggle Concentrate and liquid Snuggle Exhilarations. (More laundry detergents are being formulated with a softener. But in past tests, we found that they left clothes less soft than those laundered with separate detergent and softener.)

Other findings from our tests:

• Products differed mainly in their ability to soften clothes. Some liquids were very good; the dryer sheets were so-so at best.

• The reusable Method Softener Infused Dryer Cloth and the Dryer Max Dryer Balls scored just fair overall. Testers said that laundry dried with them felt more scratchy or stiff than most.

• Costs range from 2 cents per use to 26 cents; we rated some of the lower-priced products very good.

• Past tests have shown that even the best fabric softeners can build up over time, especially on fleece and flannel, which can reduce the flame resistance. Most products warn against use on flame-resistant clothes or kids' sleepwear.

The Consumer Reports take. The best overall softener was Ultra Gain Joyful Expressions liquid (9 cents per load). The manufacturer claims that its package has recycled content and that its ingredients are biodegradable. If you prefer dryer sheets, consider Bounce (5 cents), Gain, (4 cents), or Kirkland Signature (Costco), just 2 cents per load in the 492-sheet pack.

Among the best fabric softeners we tested, many liquids do one load per ounce; Touch Liquid weighs 64 ounces but delivers just 21 loads. The Ultra Gain Joyful Expressions, Ultra Downy with Febreze, and Ultra Downy concentrated liquids give you a few more loads than regular products for the same weight.

If scent bothers you, try Ultra Downy liquid or Bounce sheets, the only conventional products we tested that come in an unscented version.

Essential information: Visit our washing machine page for expert advice on buying and using this appliance. See the full list (in alphabetical order) of tested fabric softeners below.

Inside CR Test Labs: Measuring washing machine performance

It’s one thing to wish away stains that are both metaphorical and real, as in Lady Macbeth’s tormented line, “Out, damned spot! Out, I say!” (Macbeth, Act V, Scene I). But in the Consumer Reports test labs, we do our darnedest with literal spots and stains in our assessments of how washing machines remove grime from a variety of common sources.

For our washing-performance test, we use industry-standard strips of sewn-together six-patch swatches (shown). Before washing (top swatch), each patch gets soaked in either cocoa, wine, sebum—that’s human sweat—or oily charcoal dust. For the Lady Macbeths out there, there’s even a blood patch, along with an untreated control patch. Several strips go into each of various normal and heavy-duty cycles in both an 8-pound and a maximum-size load.

After washing, our technicians analyze the swatches and compare the results using a special instrument, called a colorimeter. (They use the same device to analyze the swatches before washing, too.) The middle swatch shown was washed in the front-loading Kenmore Elite HE5t Steam 4778, without steam; this model scored excellent for washing. The bottom one is a reference swatch indicating how a model that rated a poor in wash performance would do. Compare that swatch to the unwashed sample at the top, and it’s nearly, well, a wash.—Ed Perratore

Essential information: Read our February 2008 report on washers and dryers, then refer to our Ratings of front- and top-loading washers and dryers to find the model that’s right for your family. And if you’re having trouble with spots, see our washing tips and laundry detergents coverage. Finally, watch how we tests washers in our labs.

International Builders' Show Product Preview: GE Profile WPDH8800J Washer With SmartDispense

All washing machines are set-it-and-forget-it when it comes to the water—but it’s still up to you to measure and add the detergent. We’ve seen liquid-detergent-and-fabric-softener dispensers for washers before, but GE’s new Profile WPDH8800J front-loader (left in the photo) is the first washer designed to dole out the right amount of detergent and softener based on the load size, soil level, fabric, cycle, or even water hardness. Called SmartDispense, the new feature is built into the pedestal below the Energy Star–qualified washer and has a claimed capacity of up to 350 ounces of detergent and 85 ounces of fabric softener—roughly six months’ worth for a typical household.

Costing $1,800 with the pedestal, the washer and its matching model DPVH880 dryer, $1,329, aren’t cheap. If you’re willing to dispense with the SmartDispense feature, you’ll find high-scoring front-loaders from our washer tests for as little as $650 and top-loaders starting at $400.

The washer and dryer will be in stores in July.—Kimberly Janeway

Essential information: Read our latest report on washers and dryers.

Prevent a dryer fire at your home

Recent incidents in Stuyvesant, New York, Bridgewater, New Jersey, and Erwin, North Carolina, point to the dangers of dryer fires. In fact, on average, more than 13,000 fires start in laundry rooms in the United States each year, resulting in 10 deaths and $97 million in property damage. Nearly 4,000 of these fires arise from lint buildup that occurs when people fail to clean their dryer vents. The following advice can help you prevent a disaster.

When it comes to dryer fires, flexible dryer ducts made of foil or plastic (plastic is shown at right) are the most problematic because they can sag and let lint build up at low points. Ridges can also trap lint. Metal ducts, either flexible or rigid (rigid is shown at left ), are far safer because they don't sag, so lint is less likely to accumulate. What’s more, if a fire does start, a metal duct is more likely to contain it.

No matter which kind of duct you have, clean it regularly. Also clean the lint screen each time you use your dryer and get rid of any lint inside, behind, and underneath the dryer. These simple steps will not only reduce the risk of a fire, but your dryer will also dry your clothes faster and use less energy. Learn more dryer-safety tips from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, whose illustration is shown at right.

Essential information: Watch our safety alert video for more information on preventing dryer fires. If you’re in the market for a new dryer or washer, read our February 2008 report on laundry appliances. And find the best detergents to get your laundry clean.

Buy the best appliances and kitchen gear

Shopping for appliances and kitchen gear shouldn’t be a race against the clock. You’re going to live with these products for years, so it’s important to choose models that blend performance, value, and brand reliability.

But if you can’t dedicate loads of time to researching your purchases, scout our all-star lineup of appliances and kitchen gear below. They’re the top performers from a year's worth of testing at Consumer Reports. Note that models within groups are listed in performance order, and prices for dishwashers, dryers, ranges, refrigerators, and washers are for models with a white finish.

Watch Bob Markovich, editor of the Consumer Reports Home & Yard franchise, present five top-performing appliances on NBC's Today Show, from November 19, 2007.)

(Click on each appliance name below to see models, then learn more about this gear using the links in the "essential information" section.)

• Cooktops & wall ovens
Essential information: Read our buying advice.

• Dishwashers
Essential information: Read our latest report and buying advice and find out which dishwasher detergents work best.

• Gas grills
Essential information: Read our latest report, prepare our easy, delicious grilling recipes, and watch a video buying guide.

• Microwave ovens
Essential information: Read our latest report and buying advice and take our microwave safety quiz.

• Ranges
Essential information: Read our latest report and buying advice.

• Refrigerators
Essential information: Read our latest report and buying advice and find out how much storage space refrigerators really offer.

• Vacuum cleaners
Essential information: Read our latest report and buying advice and watch a video buying guide.

• Washers & dryers
Essential information: Read our latest report on laundry appliances and buying advice for washers and dryers. Use our washing tips to keep you clothes looking their best, and learn how to avoid dryer fires.

• Wet/dry vacuums
Essential information: Read our latest report.