Introduction

With a rather pocket-emptying MSRP of $1,449.00 (sale price about $1,200), this model fails to altogether satisfy, and the annual cost of running it is higher than we like to see too, at $34.91. The {{product.model}} is an above average worker with some notable high-end goodies though, such as its Precision Dispense drawer. With this drawer, users pour enough detergent in for about 36 loads, which the washer then measures and dispenses automatically during each wash. This is both convenient and cost effective. We should mention too the Fan Dry option, a feature that tumbles clothes periodically for up to 12 hours as an integrated fan circulates air throughout, reducing humidity so that your damp socks don't smell like death.

Front

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Along the top of the {{product.name}}, one will find a detergent drawer, a control dial, and a cycle customization panel. Underneath is a reversible, transparent door.

Controls

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Drawer

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Interior

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Sides

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Back

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Electricity Use

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Electricity use in washers accounts for a mere fraction of the overall cost, thus the results here have little impact.

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Water Use

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Overall water use falls roughly between 9 gallons for a Quick cycle and a little over 13 gallons for a Whites cycle, which is perhaps a tiny bit better than average for a front loading machine, and vastly better than Jurassic top loading, pole agitating machines.

Cost Per Wash

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This washer costs anywhere from about 4 to 11 cents per cycle, Delicate and Cold washes at the low end of that spectrum and Heavy Duty and Whites at the high end. This is more or less average, although the Whites and Heavy Duty cycles are a few cents more than we would really like to see, putting the annual cost several dollars higher than we prefer. This is due partially to the Whites cycle, which assumes that bleach will be used and thus adds an extra, protective rinse.

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Yearly Running Cost

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Annually, the Whirlpool {{product.model}} costs about $34.91. This isn't astronomical, but similar front loading machines in this price range have achieved a cost of about ten dollars less. We calculate cost based on an average of 392 cycles annually, using a variety of washing cycles.

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Washing Speed

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Wash Performance

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Normal/Permanent Press Cycle

The Normal cycle drags on for 58 minutes but nevertheless does a fine job on every stain we handed it, as you can see below. Clop on then, Normal cycle.

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Cotton/Whites

The Whites cycle takes its merry time, skipping along for all of 83 minutes. If you’re a chocolate fondue enthusiast with poor motor skills, this is your cycle, as it performs particularly well on Cocoa stains. It also does well with red wine and sweat, but failed to really do a powerful number on blood stains.

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Delicates Cycle

The Delicate cycle does not remove stains with wizard-like strength, per se, but customizable features like Extra Soak or Steam Clean may come to the rescue on that note. In terms of handling though, this mode really does have a magical touch. This Delicate cycle has one of the best test scores we’ve ever seen, barely disturbing a thread on our mechanical test strips , so if you have a lot of expensive, delicate items, this is a big-time perk.

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Heavy Duty

Unless you want stains brutally beaten from those underpants, think twice before throwing them into this 92 minute Heavy Duty cycle – which handles clothes more roughly than any other setting while beating the living daylights out of those stains. Once again though, this cycle did not do as powerful a job on the protein-based blood stain.

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Quick Wash Cycle

Reaching 95.7 degrees, the Quick Wash on this machine did fairly well on stains for a 27 minute run. Nevertheless, this cycle is really best suited for only lightly soiled items that need a quick dip.

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Clothes Wear

When this washer meets a stain in a dark alley, it doesn’t settle its differences with words. It beats the stain senseless, and your socks go down with it. Our fabric wear test strips came out of the wash looking rather bedraggled, with loose threads and frayed ends pointed every which way. The Delicate cycle made good on its promise though, scoring very well in terms of wear despite its compatriot’s rougher methods.

Water Retention

The WFW96HEA won’t be leaving all the hard work for the dryer. Our tests on water retention had fairly happy results here, with averages of around 50% water retention, save the Delicate cycle, which refrains from too much spin to spare your threads a thrashing.

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Washing Cycles

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Customization

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The customization panel allows the authoritative launderer a colorful array of controls like pre-soak, temperature control, spin speed control, and soil level, each of which offers within 3 to 5 varying strengths or time allotments.

Additional Wash Options

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Revel in the power. Be the Sultan of your Socks. Exercise your might with additional features like fan dry, precision dispense for detergent, and even water hardness control. Try the {{product.model}}'s EcoBoost mode, which Whirlpool claims will maximize efficiency. Use the control lock to prevent the unwanted touch of a button or turn on a signal to let you know when your laundry is finished.

Washing Options

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Detergent Dispenser

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This drawer includes a blue removable compartment to cater to both liquid and powder detergents. Two smaller compartments release fabric softener and bleach at just the right time during the cycle. If you wish to fill the drawer with enough detergent to last for roughly 36 loads, then select Precision Dispense and the machine will deposit the correct amount for you. Be sure to keep an eye on the level of detergent left in the drawer though, as indicated by a blue light on the control panel. Note also that if your detergent is different than the factory preset of 2x concentration, you will need to indicate as much using the detergent concentration key located below the clock.

Washer Door

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As modern, reasonable people, we demand a cartoonish "click" sound to accompany a closed door, which this machine lacks. Complain. Other than that, this attractive, transparent door is simple enough and easy to use.

Ease of Use

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With the exception of a few minor details like no-click doors and a lock button that doesn't lock everything (you can still accidentally power the machine off when the lock feature is in use), this washer is fairly easy to use. Don't let touch control and blue lights frighten you. They're really quite obedient. At least there aren't gangs of wild pixels gallivanting every which way...

Controls

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Use the easy-to-turn dial to select a cycle and watch as an electric blue LED glows next to your choice. To the left of the knob is a power button and to the right is the start selection. The power button comes on at the touch of a finger, but the start key requires three seconds of light pressure.

Efficiency

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This washer costs $34.91 to run over the course of a year, which is fairly average. We are neither impressed nor particularly upset over this number, but users can lower it by using the Whites cycle sparingly, which adds an extra rinse to wash out bleach, thereby increasing the annual cost.

Performance

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Performance was nice throughout all the cycles in terms of stain removal, but most cycles weren't making our dreams come true as far as wear goes - except for the Delicate cycle, that is, which is so tender it will make your pantaloons swoon.

Features

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The range of customizable goodies and extras on this Whirlpool leave little to the imagination, including options like steam fresh, water hardness control, and much more. With this washer, you can stop lugging that heavy detergent bottle out every time by using the Precision Dispense drawer, which does the job for you for up to 36 loads. Use the Fan Dry option to circulate air and tumble the laundry for up to 12 hours to evaporate extra water and eliminate odor. Aside from a bit of a sticky door and a lock key that won't prevent a user from accidentally powering off their machine, we have no complaints in this department.