Wondering why LG washers and dryers sit at the top of so many review sites?
LG’s top-rated washers are gentle on clothes without sacrificing on wash quality. Odds are your old top-load washer was harsh on your clothing and smaller than most front-load models.
But with LG, you’ll be amazed at how gentle the washers and dryers are on even the most delicate fabrics, making your laundry experience more enjoyable in keeping your clothes looking brand new.
In this review, we’ll give you an in-depth overview of the 4 different series of LG top-load washers and dryers.
And if you stick around until the end, we’ll give you our top expert recommendation on which series we think is best for most people, as well the one reason LG might not be right for you.
So what sets LG’s top load washers and dryers apart from the competition?
Table of Contents
Impeller vs. Agitator
To start, they’re gentle on clothes without sacrificing on cleaning performance. This is because they use both an impeller and their signature 6Motion technology.
Most older top-load models use an agitator, which aggressively twists and pulls on fabrics during the cleaning process.
Although agitators help to loosen soiling and work water and detergent into the fabrics, it’s not a very gentle method.
In impeller models, the washer uses drum motions to rub the clothing against each other. This helps to prevent damage to your clothes.
LG’s top load washers use the signature 6Motion technology, which uses up to six drum motions to get your clothes clean.
Together, these two features give you a deep clean without damaging your laundry.
Large Capacity Drum
Another feature that makes LG’s top-load models unique is their extra large capacity.
Because the majority of LG’s top load washers don’t have an agitator take up space, there’s significantly more room inside of the wash tub.
In fact, about ten years ago, the max capacity of a top-load model was about 4 cubic feet. Today, LG’s washers range from 4.5 to 5.5 cubic feet, making even their smallest models big enough to fit a king-sized comforter.
Grinding Noise
With all the positive reviews for LG washers and dryers from popular consumer ratings agencies, you may be surprised to find that most washers average only about 4 out of 5 stars and not the perfect 5 out of 5 you’d expect, and these are reviews on the LG website from actual customers.
We combed through the reviews and found one common thread: many people complained of a loud grinding sound coming from the washer.
It turns out that the washer drip pan you have to protect your home from water damage may interfere with the machine’s rotation.
Some pans have deep ridges, and these ridges end up pressing against the bottom of the machine, leading to a grinding sound.
If you don’t have a washer drip pan, this isn’t a problem but if you do, there’s an easy fix. The easiest fix is just to raise the leveling legs as high as possible and this should clear the ridges.
Even with the legs raised, we’ve still seen some people complain, so a surefire bet is to invest in a perfectly flat washer drain pan like one made by Killarney Metals.
These pans are low profile and made out of stainless steel so you don’t have to worry about them cracking during install, and they actually look pretty nice, especially compared to the cheaper versions builders usually include with your house.
I actually have these myself and I’m really happy with the quality.
Now that you have a better understanding of what sets LG apart from the competition, let’s break down the different series available.
LG Washer Dyer Series Breakdown
Although model numbers can feel overwhelming at first, you can figure out what series an LG washer or dryer belongs in based on the numbers in the middle.
The letters simply indicate other aspects of the model like washer type, color, and special features.
There are four series of LG top load washers and dryers: the 7100, 7300, 7800, and 7900.
LG WT7100CW Washer Overview
First up is the 7100 series, which are LG’s entry-level washers and dryers.
These 27 inch top-load washers have a 4.5 cubic foot capacity and eight different cycles to tackle different types of loads.
They also feature a CoolWash option, which saves energy without sacrificing cleaning performance by using cold water in combination with a longer duration and enhanced wash motions.
This is a welcome feature to me. I always wash all my clothes with cold water just to avoid the risk of shrinking. It’s nice not to have to sacrifice cleaning performance with coldwash.
The 7100 series also includes a deep fill option called WaterPlus that adds extra water to your cycle.
Since these are entry level units, the styling is pretty basic and they are only available in white.
Also, the matching dryer doesn’t have steam technology, so if your hearts set on a steam dryer to help reduce wrinkles, stick around for the 7800 series, which does pair with a steam dryer.
LG WT7300CW Washer Overview
Next we have the 7300 series, which are a step-up from the entry-level models.
Here you can expect a slightly larger, 5 cubic foot capacity in the same 27-inch footprint and the styling now looks much more refined and worthy of b with gray accents on the lid and control.
These are available in both white and a color LG calls graphite steel.
With the 7300 you’ll pick up WiFi connectivity, which allows you to monitor your laundry with the help of your smartphone.
My wife and I love having wifi connectivity on our current washer because it helps get laundry done quicker by letting us know when the clothes are ready to move from the washer to the dryer.
With WiFi, you can download new specialty cycles straight to the machine for handling specific types of laundry and you can even connect them to Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa to manage your laundry with voice commands.
But the most important addition in the 7300 is the innovative TurboWash 3D technology, which uses powerful jets to quickly and effectively clean your clothes.
When used on a normal cycle, your clothes will be completely clean in under 30 minutes. This is pretty much unheard of for such a powerful and complete clean.
To put this into perspective, similar cycles from other manufacturers can take over 50 minutes to get the same results.
The TurboWash 3D technology is great for heavy soiling, so if you have a job where you frequently wash heavily soiled clothes, like a mechanic or landscaper, or if you have kids that play sports or like to get messy outside, this technology is a must-have.
LG WT7800CW Washer Overview
The 7800 series washers bring an even larger capacity and lots of modern features.
At 5.5 cu. Ft., these are considered mega sized units, but still somehow occupy the same footprint as the others we’ve covered.
With 5.5 cu. Ft. of capacity you can do more laundry at the same time reducing the number of loads you need to run.
The 7800 series also gives you a oxi sanitize cycle, which reduces 99.9% of bacteria from your laundry.
This cycle works by using extra hot water during the wash cycle, and cold water when your clothes are being rinsed.
Unlike the previous two series, the matching dryer has a steam feature, which helps to keep your clothing wrinkle-free.
LG WT7900HBA Washer Overview
And finally, we have the top-of-the-line 7900 series.
In addition to all the features we’ve already mentioned, these washers now include steam technology, which helps to fight tough stains without damaging your fabrics.
If you have pets, kids, or just have allergies yourself, you’ll love the Allergiene Cycle, which is designed to reduce certain allergy-causing particles like dander and dust with the use of steam.
These are only available in LG’s black steel which we think looks awesome, especially if you have a laundry room with contrasting white cabinets.
Best LG Top Load Washer and Dryer
Now that you have a better understanding of each series, let’s talk about which one we recommend for most people.
Although all of LG’s top-load washers and dryers are great, we love the 7300 series washers because they combine a ton of great features for the price.
The 5 cubic foot capacity is large enough to handle everything from everyday laundry to a king-sized comforter, and the wifi connectivity is a huge plus for on-the-go families.
It also features the intuitive TurboWash 3D technology, which can give your clothes a complete and thorough clean in under 30 minutes.
The one thing you are missing with the 7300 series is steam cleaning, but in reality the majority of people who get a washer and dryer with steam never even use the feature.
Although you’ll gain a few more features as you move towards the higher-end models, the 7300 series is perfect for almost all your laundry needs.
Negatives about LG Top Load Washing Machine
When we recommend a product, we want you to have the full picture before making your decision.
So what’s the one reason why an LG top-load washer and dryer might not be a good fit for your home?
Believe it or not, top load washers are a polarizing topic.
Certain people just love their agitator based machines and refuse to switch to the gentler impeller technology we’ve been discussing.
Maybe it’s a bad experience in the past or maybe people just feel good about being able to see and hear the machine churning, doing it’s job.
So if you are in the agitator camp and refuse to buy anything other than that, these units might not be for you.
However, there is a bit of good news on that front. Manufacturers are starting to realize that it’s not worth fighting against what customers want, so some are starting to reintroduce agitator models once again and LG is one of those brands.
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