Skip to main content
DEAL WATCH: Keurig K-Express | 22% off $69.99

Keurig has changed the face of coffee, and snagging one of these for less than $70 is a solid deal. Read Review

BUY NOW
  • Design & Usability

  • Performance & Features

  • Conclusion

  • By the Numbers

  • Cleaning Performance

  • Efficiency

  • Design & Usability
  • Performance & Features
  • Conclusion
  • By the Numbers
  • Cleaning Performance
  • Efficiency

In terms of pure cleaning performance, the NFW5700BW is a bit below average, and its special features are nonexistent. But if you're into no-nonsense appliances, this Amana is as basic as front loaders come. It can also be had for as low as $750. For that price, however, you could get the LG WM3050CW, which did better than the Amana across our tests.

To read our full review of this washer's matching dryer, the Amana NED5700BW, click here.

Design & Usability

Ebony and ivory wash together in perfect harmony.

{{ photo_gallery name="Amana" }}

As you can see, the Amana NFW5700BW is black and white. The handles and knobs you interact with are black, while everything else is white . If you're looking for a washer that appeals to your inner Surrealist, you've come to the wrong place, since all controls are placed right where you'd expect them.

Simplicity is this washer's strong suit...

Simplicity is this washer's strong suit, and with only five actual wash cycles, there's very little room for confusion. The easy-to-read control panel lights up in bright green, and pleasant chimes let you know when a wash is done.

In terms of actually using the NFW5700BW, we found a few bugs. The touch controls are not as responsive as mechanical buttons, and the fit and finish matches the MSRP. For instance, you'd probably never lean against the control panel, but if you did you'd feel it cave in a little. The finish on the door handle felt a little sharp. We see these as minor flaws, but they add up.

Performance & Features

This Amana achieves adequacy.

How well does the Amana NFW5700BW clean clothes? Our tests show it does a descent job. Even when considering its budget status, this Amana seems up to everyday tasks.

Amongst all the washing machines we've ever tested, this one rides the line between average and good. It's very efficient, and the Normal and Heavy Duty cycles ran about an hour each. However, it has middle-of the-road cleaning performance. It did well with protein-based stains like blood, but poorly against red wine. A 4.1 cubic foot drum means the NFW5700BW is large enough to accommodate a family's worth of laundry, but that's the only feature that stood out on this machine.

Overall, what we have here is a generalist, ideal for folks who select "Normal" and walk away. The Amana NFW5700BW will please most people most of the time, but it's not for laundry perfectionists.

For in-depth performance information, please visit the Science Page.

Conclusion

You'll get what you pay for.

If you buy the Amana NFW5700BW, you'll get a reasonably-priced front-loading washing machine. With a street price that hovers around $750, this isn't a bad washing machine. The 4.1 cu. ft. drum puts the Amana on the larger side of entry-level front loaders. It doesn't have any specialty cycles nor does it get hot enough to sanitize items, so it may not be suitable for a family with those needs. And the similarly-priced LG WM3050CW does a better job at pure performance.

The design is straightforward with no frills. For most people, that's a plus. The cleaning performance doesn't stand out, but for most people, it will do the trick.

By the Numbers

At Reviewed.com, we strive to evaluate appliances with tests that are scientific and unbiased. Washing machine performance is all about cleaning ability and efficiency.

Cleaning Performance

Our cleaning performance testing relies on standardized machine-stained strips of cloth coated in common household stains like cocoa and red wine. After each cycle finishes, we scan each strip with a photospectrometer to see how much of each stain has been lifted.

The Amana NFW5700BW's Heavy Duty cycle was the best. It had the easiest time with protein-based stains like cocoa and blood. However, it lagged behind with red wine. This pattern repeated itself across all cycles.

Efficiency

Efficiency is two-pronged in our testing labs: It's a measure of what goes in and what comes out. Water and electricity are what go in. To measure that, we attached energy and water meters to the Amana NFW5700BW and recorded how much each cycle used. Using national average costs and use patterns, we calculated that the yearly running cost to be around $35.50.

The second prong of our efficiency assault is water retention. Every drop of water that your washer doesn't spin out requires that much more time in your dryer. And your dryer uses energy like there's no tomorrow. In this regard, the NFW5700BW did alright. On average it spun out 59% of excess water. We like to see 50% or better.

Meet the tester

Jonathan Chan

Jonathan Chan

Senior Manager of Lab Operations

@Jonfromthelab1

Jonathan Chan currently serves as the Lab Manager at Reviewed. If you clean with it, it's likely that Jon oversees its testing. Since joining the Reviewed in 2012, Jon has helped launch the company's efforts in reviewing laptops, vacuums, and outdoor gear. He thinks he's a pretty big deal. In the pursuit of data, he's plunged his hands into freezing cold water, consented to be literally dragged through the mud, and watched paint dry. Jon demands you have a nice day.

See all of Jonathan Chan's reviews

Checking our work.

Our team is here for one purpose: to help you buy the best stuff and love what you own. Our writers, editors, and lab technicians obsess over the products we cover to make sure you're confident and satisfied. Have a different opinion about something we recommend? Email us and we'll compare notes.

Shoot us an email

Up next