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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

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  • Introduction

  • Front

  • Controls

  • Drawer

  • Interior

  • Sides

  • Back

  • Electricity Use

  • Water Use

  • Cost Per Wash

  • Yearly Running Cost

  • Washing Speed

  • Washing Cycles

  • Customization

  • Additional Wash Options

  • Washing Options

  • Detergent Dispenser

  • Washer Door

  • Ease of Use

  • Controls

  • Comparison

  • Comparison

  • Comparison

  • Efficiency

  • Performance

  • Features

  • Introduction
  • Front
  • Controls
  • Drawer
  • Interior
  • Sides
  • Back
  • Electricity Use
  • Water Use
  • Cost Per Wash
  • Yearly Running Cost
  • Washing Speed
  • Washing Cycles
  • Customization
  • Additional Wash Options
  • Washing Options
  • Detergent Dispenser
  • Washer Door
  • Ease of Use
  • Controls
  • Comparison
  • Comparison
  • Comparison
  • Efficiency
  • Performance
  • Features

Introduction

Front

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Controls

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Drawer

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Interior

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The interior of the CDWT980VSS.

Sides

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Olympus SZ-31MR iHS side views

Back

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Electricity Use

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Electricity use isn't a big cost driver for washers. In fact, the total average yearly electricity cost to run the {{product.name}} is around a dollar.

Water Use

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Especially on heavy-duty and delicate cycles, the {{product.name}} uses a lot of water. Luckily, its normal wash is programmed to use mostly cold water, which saves money on the most frequently used cycle.

Cost Per Wash

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Each wash will cost you around a nickel on the {{product.name}}. It's 3 cents to wash, drain and spin and 13 cents per Power Wash with all others falling in between.

Yearly Running Cost

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The average user will spend $36.22 each year to run the {{product.name}}.

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Washing Speed

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Washing Cycles

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Customization

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Should you want to customize a wash, the {{product.name}} lets you change the temperature, amount of time spent soaking, spin speed and number of rinses.

Additional Wash Options

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Special options keep clothes from staying soapy or wet.

Washing Options

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Detergent Dispenser

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No problems here. Liquid and powdered detergents can be used without removing any special cups or funnels.

Washer Door

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The door opens easily and shuts without too much effort.

The interior of the CDWT980VSS.

Ease of Use

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Front-loaders are harder to fill than top-loaders, as they require the person doing the laundry to bend down.

Controls

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It's nice to have a control panel on a washer, but the {{product.name}}'s is somewhat difficult to use. First, the electronic display is so bright that it's blurry behind tinted plastic. From a distance, it looks somewhat like E.T.'s heart. Second, you'll quickly learn that you must press and hold the start button to get a wash going, though it doesn't say that on the body of the washer itself.

Comparison

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For less than $200 more, the {{product.name}} has better wash performance and dirt removal than the Frigidaire. Plus, it's got a better control panel, feels more solid and offers more features.

Normal Stain Performance

Comparison

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For about $100 less, the GE has better stain and dirt removal performance -- especially on the heavy duty cycles -- than the {{product.name}}. It has fewer wash cycles, but all the important ones are there.

Normal Stain Performance

Comparison

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The pricier Kenmore has more washing features and specialty cycles, though it took longer on the Normal wash and didn't do as good a job removing stains on heavier-duty washes.

Normal Stain Performance

Efficiency

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Neither energy hog nor miser, the {{product.name}} is right in the middle of the pack when it comes to electricity and water use. It's especially economic to run the Normal cycle.

Performance

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Great stain removal and good dirt removal. The Heavy Duty and Whites cycles really power through spills and dirt, and no cycle has any problem with oil or sweat. Just watch out for delicate clothes that might be damaged by an aggressive agitator.

Features

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The {{product.name}} has features that keep stains from setting in and wash out any detergent left behind. There's even a feature that keeps tumbling clothes so they don't get stale if you can't immediately put them in the dryer.

Meet the tester

Keith Barry

Keith Barry

Former Editor in Chief, Reviewed Home

@itskeithbarry

Keith was the Editor in Chief of Reviewed's appliance and automotive sites. His work has appeared in publications such as Wired, Car & Driver, and CityLab.

See all of Keith Barry's reviews

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