The best portable washing machine is a savvy investment if you don't have access to a regular laundry appliance. There are many who will find such a device useful; students in dorms, people who regularly work away from home, campers and caravanners, holidaymakers, and anyone who can't fit a full-size machine into where they live. These machines can also help anyone who needs to wash items, such as reusable nappies or animal accessories and doesn't want to taint their regular washer.
Portable washing machines come in a wide range of designs, from automatic options that look similar to the real deal but are able to be relatively easily moved, to tiny turbine machines that can fit inside a suitcase and be deployed inside a bucket. Investing in such a machine saves the hassle of having to hand wash clothes.
Best portable washing machines at a glance:
• Best overall: FitnessClub 5kg Portable Twin Tub Washing Machine - Buy now on Amazon UK
• Best compact: Display4top Portable Mini Washing Machine - Buy now on Amazon UK
• Best fully automatic: TANGZON 2-in-1 Portable Washing Machine - Buy now on Amazon UK
There are obviously some compromises that have to be made with portable washing machines, the biggest of which is capacity. While the average UK washing machine can handle around eight or nine kilograms of clothing, portable options can only cope with smaller loads. The benefits are space-saving, smaller footprint, less energy usage, reduced water consumption, and smaller initial cost.
Best portable washing machines
Best overall
AmazonThis compact and capable machine will cover you for three kilograms of washing, so enough to refresh daily essentials. Once you fill the machine with the integrated hose you can select between two wash modes, 'Normal', and 'Gentle' for delicates. The wash timer can run for three, six, nine, 12, or 15 minutes, then the two-kilogram-capacity spin cycle will get your clothing ready to be dried.
Customer review: "Bought for our narrowboat and it absolutely outdoes itself! Had my doubts to be honest. But this washes well and spins fantastically. It's not huge but I've managed a double duvet cover okay. Would highly recommend."
Pros
- Timer functionality
- Simple, top-loading design
Cons
- Spin cycle is noisy
Best for larger capacity
AmazonThis is another FitnessClub option that works in a similar way as our overall pick but boasts a larger capacity. That larger capacity does make for a bigger footprint and taller height in comparison, but the ability to be able to wash 6.5 kilograms of clothing might make up for it. This boasts a standard wash setting and a 'Soft' option for delicates. It can wash in cycles ranging from three to 15 minutes and spins for up to five.
Customer review: "This portable lightweight machine works well. It has a reasonable capacity (both washing and spinning) and cleans and spin-dries well."
Pros
- 6.5kg washing capacity
- Two wash settings
Cons
- Only 2kg spin capacity
Best compact option
AmazonDisplay4top's best-selling mini portable washing machine is a great alternative to hand washing and has many reviews praising its compact dimensions and reliability for washing small loads. This portable washing machine can take on around three kilograms of clothing at a time, washing them in 15-minute intervals before you drain the water with the integrated hose and activate the spin cycle to dry.
Customer review: "Great little machine! I've had it for a few months now and use it nearly every day. Usually many times a day. My old washing machine quit on me and I couldn't afford to replace it right away so I got this. It washes significantly better than my regular household washer did! Very impressed!"
Pros
- Transparent tank
- Timer options
Cons
- No fill hose
Best folding portable washing machine
This foldable washing machine is an ideal for solution for anyone spending time away from home as it offers full washing and spinning functionality in compact 30 by 21 by 32cm dimensions. This can wash your smalls in ten and 15-minute sessions, then spin in two-minute intervals to get your bits ready to dry. This mini-machine is available in purple and blue.
Customer review: "Great little portable washer ideal for socks, sportswear, etc, which is exactly why I bought it. Takes five minutes, it's dead simple to use and stores away easily. Great."
Pros
- Compact to store
- Touch controls
Cons
- Spin timer is only two minutes
Best USB-powered
AmazonThis mini machine could work for students who want to clean essentials between trips to the laundrette, parents who want to give reusable nappies a once-over before they put them in their full-size machine, or pet owners who need to clean grubby outdoor clothing. It's basically a bucket with a mini turbine washer that attaches via suction and rotates to wash for 30 minutes at a time. It's USB-powered for convenience and portability.
Customer review: "I must admit, I was a little sceptical about the effectiveness of this. However, I'm very impressed and happy with the quality, ease and standard of this amazing easy to set up product. Not only is it quiet and mess free, it's almost as good as a domestic standard washing machine."
Pros
- Folding design
- Integrated carry handle
Cons
- No lid
Best fully automatic
AmazonThe largest of all the washing machines we're featuring, this is as close to a full-size washer as you'll get while still remaining portable at 23 kilograms. The larger dimensions allow for more functionality and full automation with eight water levels and 10 washing programmes. These include a handy 'Fast' function, a time-saving rinse and spin option, and an air dry option to get your clothing dried and ready to go out of the machine.
Customer review: "I love this washer. I live alone and never had a full load for my regular machine, now I do my few lights, then pop my few darks in the same water and get all my washing done. The spinner is great, much drier than regular machine. So compact and easy to store… love it."
Pros
- 10 washing programs
- Easy clean filter
Cons
- Weighs 23kg
Best mini option
AmazonThis option is both ultra-budget-friendly and ultra-portable. You simply get the turbine washer which measures in at just 9cm by 6.5cm. This means you have to BYO bucket or other kind of container, or if you're travelling, at a pinch you could use this in a sink. This is USB-powered and operated via a wired controller that allows you to set the intensity of the wash cycle and the timing options.
Customer review: "Works so well that I ordered more. With the 'big mini' washing machine I already saved two to three hours cleaning and washing time in shared area utility room. Not to mention the price of all the products…"
Pros
- Ultra-portable
- 30-minute timer
Cons
- No bucket included
What laundry detergents should you use in a portable washing machine?
• Don't use pods or tablet-style washing detergents. These single-use products are specifically designed to be used in full-size washers, so it's a waste to use them in a smaller device. It's almost certain the soap won't have the chance to get properly washed out of your clothing.
• Do use a liquid laundry detergent. This is our overall recommendation for portable washers. You'll need to experiment with the exact quantities, but a liquid will dissolve instantly into the water.
• Only use washing powder if you can fill your machine with hot, or at least warm, water. This means the powder is more likely to dissolve and you won't end up with a grainy load of laundry.
• Bio or non-bio? The simple difference between bio and non-bio is that biological detergents have enzymes in. Enzymes help break down and remove stains, such as food, sweat, and grease, and can work at lower temperatures (which most portable washing machines will be operating at). Non-bios don't have enzymes and are kinder to sensitive skin. If you don't need to worry about skin issues, opt for biological detergents as they are more efficient.
• Do put in a small splash of eco-friendly liquid fabric softener or conditioner, although we'd recommend adding this on a second cycle after the initial wash has finished.
• Don't put scented booster beads or pearls directly into the load as again, these won't have the chance to properly break down and you could end up with an oily residue. If you really can't live without them, use them sparingly and put them in a mesh bag to keep them separate from your clothing.
Now you just need to think about solutions to dry your clothing. We have recommendations for both traditional clothes dryers and more advanced heated clothes airer options for you to consider...
Amy-Mae Turner is a Commerce Content Writer for Modern Gardens, Yours, Take A Break Pets, and A Modern Kitchen. When she's not pottering in the garden or mucking around in the kitchen, she can be found having doggy cuddles with her two beloved cockapoochis.