Usually not for stain removal alone. In Consumer Reports’ 2023 test of seven washers, steam did not improve stain removal; enabling it increased energy use on every tested machine, and most also used more water. Some cycles took substantially longer. Steam may be worth paying for when a specific model’s refresh or wrinkle-reduction program solves a problem you actually have—but the steam label itself is not evidence that a washer cleans better.
What the independent test found
Consumer Reports compared wash results with and without steam on seven washers from five manufacturers: five front-loaders, one high-efficiency top-loader, and one agitator top-loader. Stain removal was about the same with steam as without it in the tested models. Rich Handel, who oversees the publication’s laundry-appliance testing, put the finding this way: “The steam option didn’t improve a washer’s cleaning ability.” Consumer Reports’ 2023 test and explanation describe those specific machines; the result does not establish that every model’s steam program has no other use.
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The resource tradeoff varied by machine. All seven used more energy when steam was enabled, most used more water, and some cycles ran substantially longer. One washer added 18 gallons of water and used nearly 600% more energy on its steam option. That was the test’s most striking example, not a typical estimate or a figure to apply to other washers.
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For a tough stain, Consumer Reports recommends applying detergent or stain remover to the spot and letting it sit before washing. That is a more direct approach than paying extra for a steam setting that did not improve stain removal in its comparison.
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What “steam” can mean on a washer
Steam is not one standardized feature. On some models it is added to selected wash cycles; on others there is a separate program intended to freshen lightly worn clothes or reduce creases. Check the exact model’s cycle list and manual, rather than assuming a steam badge means a particular benefit.
Steam added to a wash cycle
Manufacturers describe wash-cycle steam in different ways. LG says steam is available only on certain cycles on selected models, and its Allergiene cycle carries a manufacturer claim of reducing common household allergens by over 95%. That is a claim about LG’s named cycle, not independent evidence that steam washers generally reduce allergens. LG also cautions against using steam with wool, silk, or easily discolored fabrics; follow the manual for the specific washer and garment. LG’s steam-cycle guidance gives the model-specific details.
Whirlpool describes its Steam Clean option as adding wash action and heat to help with everyday stains. Its separate claim that a Sanitize Cycle eliminates 99.9% of three named bacteria—K. pneumoniae, P. aeruginosa, and S. aureus—is about that sanitize cycle, not the steam option. Do not treat a steam setting as a general guarantee of sanitizing laundry. Whirlpool’s comparison chart separates its options and claims.
Standalone refresh programs
A refresh program is a different use case from adding steam to a wash. Electrolux UK describes a standalone steam program on selected models for light odors and creases, with a recommended 1 kg load and a cycle taking up to 30 minutes. The company says its program can use up to 96% less water than a regular wash, based on its internal comparison of a 1 kg load on Steam with Delicates. This is a manufacturer test for that program and load, not a general comparison of steam washers with standard washers. Electrolux also advises removing items promptly to avoid creasing. Electrolux’s instructions apply to selected models.
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How to decide whether the premium is worthwhile
- Identify the job you want steam to do. If your main concern is stain removal, the independent comparison gives little reason to pay extra for steam alone. If you would regularly use a particular model’s refresh or crease-reduction program, assess that benefit on its own terms.
- Compare complete models, not feature labels. Look at ordinary-cycle performance, capacity, cycle duration, efficiency, physical fit, and the full price. Steam may be bundled with other features such as specialty cycles, faster washing, or Wi-Fi, so a price gap between two washers is not necessarily the price of steam. Consumer Reports’ market analyst Mark Allwood notes: “The steam option is bundled with other features, like specialty cycles or WiFi.”
- Check operating costs and certification. Use each washer’s yellow EnergyGuide label to compare estimated annual energy costs. ENERGY STAR advises comparing high Integrated Modified Energy Factor (IMEF) and low Integrated Water Factor (IWF) values. Its current clothes-washer guidance says certified washers use about 20% less energy and 30% less water than regular washers; that is a certification comparison, not a steam-versus-no-steam result. ENERGY STAR estimates about $530 in lifetime energy-cost savings for models that earned the certification, but this is a program estimate, not a guaranteed household saving or a steam benefit. For full-sized washers, ENERGY STAR gives a comparison of 14 gallons per load for certified models versus 20 gallons for a standard machine. These figures describe the broader efficiency choice, not the impact of using a steam cycle. See ENERGY STAR’s clothes-washer guidance.
- Read the cycle instructions and care requirements. Confirm which cycles actually use steam, whether the feature is a wash or refresh program, what load size it allows, and which fabrics it excludes. Follow the owner’s manual for cleaning and moisture management; front-load washers in particular need routine care according to their manufacturer’s instructions.
ENERGY STAR says the average American family washes about 300 loads each year. That figure is a useful reminder that the washer’s regular efficiency and capacity can matter repeatedly; it is not an estimate of steam use or savings. A well-sized, efficient washer with cycles you use is a stronger basis for a purchase than a specialty feature you may rarely select.
Bottom line for a washer comparison
If two otherwise comparable washers differ mainly because one advertises steam, the evidence does not support paying more for better stain removal. Consider the steam model when a clearly described, model-specific refresh or crease-reduction cycle is worth the premium to you. Choose between the complete machines by comparing their normal washing performance, efficiency labels, capacity, fit, included features, and total price.
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