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  • By the numbers

  • Performance and features you're looking for

  • Issues

  • Conclusion

  • By the numbers
  • Performance and features you're looking for
  • Issues
  • Conclusion

Front loaders use less water—generally a benefit but maligned by many who believe that more water equates with more cleaning. They also tend to develop an odor if they aren't allowed to dry out. The LG WM3270CW (available at Home Depot for $719.00) has answers to these two common pain points: Water Plus and a magnetic stopper.

When you combine those solutions with powerful cleaning performance, you've got yourself a real crowd pleaser. The LG WM3270CW is a washer with a foot in two worlds.

By the numbers

The 4.5-cu.-ft. drum is covered in bubbles that help scrub clothes without destroying them.
Credit: LG

The WM3270CW and its matching dryer, the DLE3170W

The WM3270CW carries a 4.5-cu-ft. drum, which puts in the middle of the pack, size-wise. However, we crunched the numbers it turns out to have a good cost-to-size ratio. For example, the WM9000HVA is 0.7 cubic feet bigger but costs $700 more.

Capacity aside, we found the WM3270CW to be pretty standard in its specs. It has the industry standard 27-inch width, 38-and-11/16-inch height, 51-inch depth when the door is open. Keep in mind that if you want to put the matching dryer side by side with this washer, you'll need at least 54 inches of space.

The instruction manual claims that the washer has nine cycles, but we only count seven that actually clean clothes. While this LG does have the ability to download more cycles, doing so can be a bit of a pain. The seven cycles will do you just fine, anyway.

This LG really only comes with seven wash cycles.
Credit: Reviewed.com / Jonathan Chan

This LG really only comes with seven wash cycles.

Performance and features you're looking for

When a washer enters our lab, we put it through a battery of tests to measure stain removal, gentleness on clothes, and efficiency. The WM3270CW ranks in the top 30 percent based on it's performance. Once again, the data shows that LG knows how to make a great front-load washer. The WM3270CW does not disappoint.

With a 1,300 rpm motor, the WM3270CW scrubbed stains across the board, from blood to sweat. Oily stains gave it trouble, probably because it lacks a water heater. Our sensors picked up a maximum internal temperature of 101°F.

The 4.5-cu.-ft. drum is covered in bubbles that help scrub clothes without destroying them.
Credit: Reviewed.com / Jonathan Chan

The 4.5-cu.-ft. drum is covered in bubbles that help scrub clothes without destroying them.

It makes up for the lack of really hot water by relying on more mechanical action and rinsing laundry with plenty of water. We hear consumers voice concerns about front loaders not using enough water. LG definitely heard those complaints too, because with the Water Plus feature, you'll never have to worry about that. We tested this feature with the Normal cycle. When engaged, it more than doubled water usage to 24 gallons–the same as older top-loader models.

If you're concerned about a front loader's tendency to get smelly, the WM3270CW has a magnetic stopper, so the door can stay ajar. Being open just a sliver allows it to air out without being in the way.

Water Plus doubles the amount of water used on select cycles.
Credit: Reviewed.com / Jonathan Chan

Water Plus doubles the amount of water used on select cycles.

Issues

During testing, we found only one major flaw: speed. Although LG makes washers with TurboWash—a unique spray pattern that allows for 30-minute Normal cycles—the WM3270CW does not have that feature. As a result, the Normal cycle clocked in at 51 minutes and the Heavy Duty lasted an hour and a half. If you do laundry for a large family, laundry day might not go by as fast as you'd like.

Conclusion

We'd rate the LG WM3270CW as an ideal front-load washer for those who'd prefer to spend well under $1000 while still getting the performance and features of a premium washer. Whether you want to save space, water, or want more modern options, this washer is an effective choice. If you're worried about a front loader not using enough water or getting smelly, this is one worth checking out.

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

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