The Best Traditional Top-Load Agitator Washers of 2021

Laundry purists may stand behind a traditional washing machine design—a top loader with a pole agitator—such as the newLG WT7305CV, but those who can also geek out on special smart features will love this modern machine.

WT7305CV配备LG的ThinQ app, which lets you control the washer remotely, and, through LG's ProActive Care program, it uses AI and wifi to send LG usage diagnostics and appliance problems. It also has some other great features that actually add functionality, like its soft-close lid and a deep fill feature, which is great for users who get their clothesreally, really dirty.

When it comes to cleaning power, the WT7305CV holds its own, but we would've liked to see a bit more stain-fighting power from a washer in this price range. That being said, the WT7305CV is more than capable of handling the average load of laundry—just be careful around red wine and chocolate.

GE obviously has its finger on the pulse of what Americans want in a traditional top-load washing machine. TheGE GTW685BSLWShas built time-tested features into a modern machine. Its soft-close glass lid is a nice bonus, and it allows you to monitor the wash as it agitates. All you need to do to turn on the machine is to lift up the lid.

A single knob lets you dial up a wash cycle; because they’re clearly labeled, it’s a breeze to pick the one you need. You can have granular control over each wash load by choosing the soil level, water temperature, spin, and rinse. Once you’ve set it, you can save it using the My Cycle feature.

Our tests didn’t show the stain guide feature to be particularly helpful on this washer. Stick with the Normal cycle, and you’ll be happier. The Deep Fill button gives you extra water when you want it.

For this top-loading agitator machine, getting clean laundry is a successful balancing act between old-school and high-tech.

TheMaytag MVW7230HWtop-loader carries a premium price, but if you can get it on sale it offers some decent performance for a traditional top-loader. On our tests, we found it performed about as well as the average washer and also had some nice extras like a built-in faucet and an impressive, decade-long warranty.

Want a big washer that can deal with big messes? The 5.2-cu.-ft. capacityMaytag MVW8230HCtop-load washer gets the job done. With its pole agitator, smart features, stainless steel finish, and control panel that has both a dial and buttons, this Maytag washer is a great combination of old-school functionality and new tech features.

In our lab tests, we were really impressed with the stain removal power of the Heavy Duty cycle, and that’s without activating the much-touted Extra Power stain removal booster. The other cycles did a pretty good job of cleaning, but the other great part of this washer is that it was very gentle on our test loads of laundry, so it won’t wear out your clothes prematurely after several washes. If you find yourself constantly tackling really dirty laundry, you’ll appreciate the Maytag MVW8230HC washer.

The made-in-AmericaMaytag MVWC465HWwasher is perfect for people who want a traditional white top-load washing machine with an old-school pole agitator.

The PowerWash cycle does a good job removing stains, but its cycle time is a bit long, clocking in at an hour and 24 minutes. You can try the normal cycle, which has a shorter run time of 47 minutes, but your clothes might not get as clean.

This machine lets you add more water to a cycle with the "Deep Water Wash" option, and the "Deep Rinse" option sprays water on the wash drum itself, cleaning the washer of leftover detergent and stain residue, which means you're not transferring dirt from one load of laundry to another. We think this washer will work well for a smaller, cleaner family.

TheMaytag MVWC565FWwasher is a good value—less expensive than its sibling, the Maytag MVWB765FW, but similar in important ways.The spacious, 4.2-cu.-ft. tub lets you do a lot of laundry at once, and the central corkscrew agitator and lengthy PowerWash cycle work together to produce very clean clothes.

This model also includes a Wrinkle Control cycle (basically a Delicate cycle with warm water) that purports to help clean and mitigate wrinkles onfabrics that might be more difficult to iron, like sports jerseys or clothes made with blended fabrics.

This washer’s five knob interface won’t win any design awards, but whether you’re a laundry expert or you’ve never done a load before, you’ll find every control easy to use. The temperature settings are numerous, you can choose a deep water level for really dirty clothes, and with a turn of the dial, select whether you want one rinse or two.

If you like old-school washers, theMaytag MVWP576KWis a solid choice. It’s a straightforward commercial-grade washer with intuitive controls and an aesthetic reminiscent of the washers from a few decades ago. With a solid metal construction, this top-loader is certainly built for punishment, and its motor comes backed by a 10-year guarantee.

In terms of cleaning, the MVWP576KW didn’t impress us as much as some other Maytags have, but it should be able to handle the average load of laundry.

We’d recommend the Maytag MVWP576KW if high durability is your main concern.

TheGE GTW335ASNWWis a solidly good top-loader. It might not be the greatest we’ve ever tested, but it’s a reasonable price for what it offers. If you’re just looking for an inexpensive, old-school-style washer, this one is a great pick.

Part of the GTW335ASNWW’s low price is due to its feature-light design: If you’re looking for bells and whistles, this washer isn’t for you. If you don’t want a bunch of extra features you won’t use, however, you can save some money by opting for the GTW335ASNWW.

Do you want a basic washing machine that is easy to use, but still has some flexibility when it comes to cycle options? If so, you’ll like the Whirlpool WTW4955HW washer. Its control panel consists of a series of dials; by adjusting the dials, you can choose different cycles or cycle options (soil level, wash temperature, water level, etc.). If you prefer adding more water to your cycles, you’ll like the Deep Water Wash option. LED lights that run along the bottom of the control panel allow you to quickly check on the cycle status.

For tough stains, we definitely recommend using the Heavy cycle; in just over an hour, it did an impressive job at getting our test laundry loads clean. Even better, though, is the fact that the Normal cycle also does a solid job at stain removal, meaning that you can rely on the Normal cycle to meet your day-to-day laundry needs. While this washer was a bit tougher on clothes than we prefer, that’s pretty common for washing machines with pole agitators. For an affordable, no-frills washer, look no further than the Whirlpool WTW4955HW.

Whirlpool makes the low-pricedRoper RTW4516FWtop-load washing machine with a pole agitator. It is very easy to use, and it does an okay job of cleaning your clothes. While it's gentler on your clothes than some of the other agitator washers on this list, it is relatively inefficient when it comes to water usage.

Additionally, this Roper washer doesn't do a great job of spinning the water out of the laundry at the end of the cycle; expect to be pulling wet, heavy laundry loads out of this washer. If you can, wait until you can afford a better washer.