6 Best Portable Washing Machines

In the Good Housekeeping Institute Cleaning Lab, we’ve been testing washing machines for 116 years, so we know what to look for and what to stay away from.

We selected portable washers from brands whose full-size washing machines have performed well in previous Cleaning Lab tests, brands who have long-standing experience in all types of compact appliances, products with favorable consumer reviews and those that appear well-designed for their intended use.

Because a portable machine should be easy to move, we also prioritized models with wheels and ones that were light and compact enough to be easily carried from one place to another.

Though most portable washers can be permanently installed like full-size ones, the real advantage is that these machines can also be attached to a kitchen or bathroom sink faucet or disconnected and wheeled out of sight when not in use.

Most come with the necessary sink connections, but it's always best to check before you buy to be sure you have everything you need when you are ready to use it. Keep in mind that certain faucets — like those with pullout spray nozzles — won’t be able to hook up to a portable washer. Usually water drains out of the machine through a separate hose that you can put in a sink or bathtub.

Unless you have somewhere to permanently install your portable washing machine, you will have to hook up the water supply hose to the sink faucet and manually set the faucet to hot, warm or cold water before each use. When it's time for the rinse cycle, you'll have to go back to the faucet and turn off the hot water to get a cold water rinse.

When it comes to choosing the best laundry detergent for a portable washing machine, look for high-efficiency (HE) low-sudsing options. Using too much detergent or a high-sudsing one can cause leaks and will require additional rinse cycles to remove all of the detergent from a load.

After the rinse cycle and spin-dry cycle, remove the clean garments from the washer and hang them to dry. If your model doesn’t have a spin-dry option, you might need to wring the clothing out by hand before air drying.

Every couple of loads you should clean the lint filter on the machine by hand. When you’re done with all your loads for the day, you can disconnect the hose from your sink faucet and wheel your washer to its storage spot.

Aside from making sure that the portable washing machine you purchase will fit your sink faucet, there are a few other things to keep in mind when considering all of the portable washers available on the market.

✔️ Capacity: Most portable washing machines are limited in capacity. Even portable washers with the largest capacities will not be able to fit the large loads that can fit in a full-size washing machine.

Of the models we recommend, only the GE model has a capacity over 2 cubic feet, which is just half the capacity of the smallest full-size washers on the market. Keep in mind that as the capacity of a washer increases, so does its size, so be sure to pick a washer that will work in your space.

✔️ Size and weight: For a portable washing machine to truly be portable, it has to be light enough to be moved from one place to another. How large and heavy of a machine you can accommodate will depend on your space and the weight you are comfortable moving around your home (wheels are helpful here).

If you plan to keep your portable washer in a fixed location, measure the space well and ensure that it will still fit with the door or lid open.

For RVs with low cargo-carrying capacities, the weight of a portable washer will be even more important as you don’t want to overload your vehicle. Keep in mind that the washer will be filled with water during operation, so the weight while in use will be heavier than the weight of the empty washer.

✔️ Cycles: Most portable washing machines have many of the basic cycles that are available in full-size washers. A portable washer should at least have a normal, heavy duty and delicate cycle to cover the laundry needs of most homes. If it doesn’t have pre-set cycle options, look for a washer that allows you to change the water temperature, water level and spin speed so you can tailor the cycle to your needs. If you don’t have much white clothing to wash, or if you rarely wear delicate garments, opt for a simpler washer with just normal and heavy-duty cycles.

You’ll find a portable washing machine is worth it if you live in a small space, or if you’re a frequent RV traveler who is ready to ditch the laundromat.

They’re compact, can be moved into a new space relatively easily and don’t need to be permanently installed to work. They’ll save you time and are less physically taxing than hand-washing clothing, plus you don’t need any special water hookups to use them; just connect the hose to a sink faucet. When it’s done, simply wheel away the washer into a designated, out-of-the-way storage spot.

If your home often has many large loads of laundry to wash each week, a portable washing machine may not be the most efficient option because you’ll have to wash a greater number of smaller loads and will likely spend twice as long on your laundry day as usual.

As long as the sheets or bedding fits comfortably in the machine and still has room for water and for the item to spin properly, it can be washed in a portable washer. Don’t try to wash a full comforter set all at once though.

The same goes for jeans: It will work if the portable washing machine is big enough to fit a pair of jeans (or two). A soaking wet pair of jeans will take forever to air dry, so look for a model with a spin-dry cycle to remove as much excess water as possible.

Carolyn Forté has over 40 years of experience in the Good Housekeeping Institute Home Care and Cleaning Lab. As executive director, she oversees all of the testing and writing done in the Cleaning Lab as well as leading many of the tests herself. Using her extensive knowledge and experience with full-size washing machines, she selected the portable models from reputable brands that have been previously performed well in other categories.

Product Reviews Analyst Noah Pinsonnault most recently updated this article. He is well-versed in testing and reviewing space saving appliances such as combination washer dryers and countertop dishwashers.