LG WM3050CW Washing Machine Review

This washer has the same above average cleaning ability and minimalist cycle selection. This time around, LG has increased the size of the drum from 3.6 to 4.0 cu. ft. But most importantly, the price hasn't increased. If you're looking for a front loader that cuts the fat, and has a good price-to-performance ratio, the LG WM3050CW is definitely worth checking out.

To read our full review of this washer's matching dryer, the LG DLE3050W, click here.

Design & Usability

For people who hate front loaders

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Although front-loaders have many advantages over top-loaders, including decreased water and energy use and generally better stain removal, they've got their share of drawbacks. One of the most severe? The rubber gasket between the door and drum can get smelly if it's kept closed between washes. LG tries to remedy this with a magnetic stopper on the inside of the door. It keeps the door ajar, but out of the way.

Front-loaders also have a tendency to be more expensive. Usually that expense translates to an increased number of features, from stain guides to automated detergent ordering. The WM3050CW went for a barebones route instead, keeping only the most frequently used cycles and options.

You may notice that the LG WM3050CW doesn't have a robust cycle selection. However, what cycles are included are all effective. Adjustments for wash temperature, spin speed, and soil level allow you to tweak cycles according to specific needs.

Because they don't have to "float" clothes in a pool of water to move them around, front loaders also use less water. That makes some consumers worry they aren't getting a thorough cleaning. That's why LG added a Water Plus option, which allows you to use nearly as much water as a top loader.

Performance & Features

A great value

On sale, you can snag the LG WM3050CW for around $720. At that price, the performance-to-cost ratio is excellent. We were glad to see that wash performance is nearly identical to the WM2250CW, meaning it's solid all around. Although pricier machines have scored better, the WM3050CW held its own across all cycles.

It won't cost you that much to run, either. Based on national averages for water and electricity, we estimate that the LG WM3050CW will cost around $38 a year in water and energy costs—around 50 percent less than the average top loader.

While Water Plus will wipe out some of those savings—and any extra detergent you added—LG also has you covered after the wash. Fresh Care keeps clean laundry tumbling for up to eight hours, keeping them from getting musty.

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

Entry Level Excellence

Give this front loader a try

America is the land of the top-loading washing machine. It's been about 10 years since front loaders came back to the states, but some initial teething issues made buyers wary.

We think the accessible LG WM3050CW might be just the thing to convince apprehensive consumers. It cleans well, is fairly efficient, and has the features to help with everyday cleaning, like Water Plus. If you feel like fancy washing machines flush money down the drain along with sudsy waters, this may be the front loader for you.

By the Numbers

The scientific method is the bedrock of our review philosophy. For washers like the LG WM3050CW, the most important factors to examine are cleaning performance and energy efficiency. When you compare our test results to this LG's purchase price, you can see why it's a great deal.

Cleaning Performance

Our cleaning performance testing relies on standardized strips of stained cloth, which are mechanically 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 LG WM3050CW did the best when we set the Normal cycle to Heavy Soil and activated the Water Plus feature. The next best cycle was Normal set to High Heat and with Extra Rinse activated to simulate a Whites cycle. Across all cycles, this LG did the best with cocoa and blood stains.

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 LG WM3050CW. Based on national average costs for electricity and water, we calculate that this washer will cost you $37.78 a year to run.

That's right on the money. Against many top loaders, you'd be saving at least $20 a year—or over $200 over the lifetime of the machine.

The other half of the efficiency equation is water retention. The more water that a washer spins out of laundry, the less time it needs to spend in a the energy sink that is your dryer. Test laundry that was removed from the WM3050CW retained about 60% of its weight in water. That's an acceptable, but unexceptional amount. The best washers can spin out at least 50% of all the water.