Whirlpool WFW87HEDW review – CNET

The Good Whirlpool’s $1,199 WFW87HEDW washing machine looks sleek, has simple controls, plenty of features and very good performance.

The Bad Most of the display settings sound a different musical tone when pressed, which gets old fast. The WFW87HEDW has no app or other smart-home compatibility.

The Bottom Line The Whirlpool WFW87HEDW is a well-rounded washer that doesn’t quite match the cleaning power of Electrolux’s similarly priced EFLS617S.

Strip away a washing machine’s bonus features, like multiple specialty cycles and a related app, and you wind up with Whirlpool’s $1,199 WFW87HEDW. Like the $1,099 Electrolux EFLS617S, the WFW87HEDW is a no-frills front-load model that gets the job done.

That said, it isn’t an entry-level washer either. Complete with 10 cleaning cycles plus a steam setting, the WFW87HEDW is a solid upgrade over the most basic of front-loaders. Its premium-looking Titanium finish helps too. While it can’t quite match Electrolux’s EFLS617S in terms of performance, it’s still worth a closer look.

This Whirlpool washer gets the job done for…
See full gallery

1 – 5 of 5

Next
Prev

What do you want from a washer?

More washing machine coverage:

• Find more washer reviews here
• How we test washing machines
• 16 washers to help you clean up your laundry routine (pictures)
• Marathon wants to remove dryers from the laundry equation

The Whirlpool WFW87HEDW is a simple washer with some basic upgrades like a Steam Clean setting, a Titanium finish (it’s also available in white for $100 less), and 10 cycles. They include:

• Clean Washer
• Cold Wash
• Delicates
• Drain & Spin
• Heavy Duty
• Normal
• Quick Wash
• Sanitize
• Towels
• Whites

Its touch-style display panel is very responsive and a small screen displays the cycle time remaining in easy-to-see green LEDs. While easy to use overall, each button seems to sound a different musical tone, which I would absolutely turn off if I had this machine at home. I do like having sound associated with each button press, but I found these particularly annoying. Fortunately, they’re easy to turn off — just press and hold the Cycle Signal button on the bottom right of the panel for a few seconds and presto.

Here’s a closer look at the Whirlpool WFW87HEDW alongside its Electrolux EFLS617S competitor:

Whirlpool WFW87HEDW	Electrolux EFLS617S
$1,199	$1,099
Chrome Shadow, White (for $1,099)	White, Titanium (for $1,199)
4.3 cubic feet	4.4 cubic feet
10	9
109 kWh/yr	85 kWh/year
27 inches x 38.75 inches x 33.13 inches	27 inches x 38 inches x 31.5 inches
1 year, limited	1 year, limited
120V 60Hz	120V 60Hz
No	No

Performance

Drag
Close

Here’s how we test washing machines

It might seem simple enough — toss your dirty laundry in a washer and see how well it cleans — but testing washing machines is actually a lot more involved.

by Megan Wollerton

December 28, 2015

For the full rundown of washing machine test procedures, check out this how we test article — or watch the video to the right.

Basically, we run three identical loads. That’s a normal cycle, with normal soil, hot water, and a high spin. Each load has long fabric strips stained with sebum/skin oil (Gross? Yes. Hard to get off clothes? Double yes.), carbon black/mineral oil, blood (pig’s blood), cocoa (chocolate and milk) and aged red wine.