Buying a washer is often a big purchase for most households. Whether you need something that holds more items, are replacing a broken machine, or want to upgrade your laundry room’s look, the washer and dryer set that you choose can make or break your clothes laundering experience. I tested the Samsung 5.4 Cubic Feet Top Load Washer with Active Water Jet and loved its performance and aesthetic appeal. I am a big fan of Samsung products, including their washers and dryers. This washer is the third Samsung that I have owned. I was happy with its performance, look, and set up. I opted for the installation and hauling away of my old set when I had the Samsung washer and matching dryer delivered. If you are handy, you can install them yourself to save a little bit of money. But you will need an install kit that includes the necessary hoses and a little bit of know-how to hook them up properly. My laundry room is on the second floor, which also meant some muscle power to get the new washer upstairs and the old washer downstairs. Installation cost $25, and the haul-away of the old unit was $15 through Samsung. It was worth every penny. If you choose to install the washer yourself, make sure you know where to hook up the hot and cold hoses, as well as how to hook up the drain. The included instruction manual has written and illustrated installation instructions. You also need to level the washer, ensuring it is not tilted before you use it. If you need to make small adjustments, you can turn the leveling feet on the machine’s bottom. This is a large washer. Make sure that you measure your space before purchasing it. You need one inch of clearance on each side and in the front, 5.9 inches of clearance from the back wall, and 21 inches of overhead clearance. You need at least a one-inch gap between the washer and dryer if you install them side-by-side. For your new washer’s maiden run, choose a setting, keep it empty, and run it to calibrate the new machine. The installers knew what to do, guided me through the process, and started that step for me. They made sure that the washer was working properly before they left. If you plan to use the top of your washer and dryer as a usable workspace, the top of this set is slanted and does not accommodate that. Folding items on top of the washer is not ideal. The angled top did not affect me since I prefer to keep my laundry room free of any extra items. When you are ready to wash, load up your items in the large capacity drum. I ran multiple loads through the washer, including a week’s worth of baby clothes, my workout clothes and towels, and my husband’s work uniforms. One of my favorite features of the washer was 10 setting options from normal to heavy-duty and whites to bedding, using the spin dial. All cleaning products—fabric softener, bleach, and detergent—go in their particular spots in the pull-out drawer. I used Tide HE liquid detergent, although you can use powdered detergent compartment in the same place as the liquid detergent. The Samsung 5.4 Cu. Ft. Top Load washer has five temperature settings ranging from cold (no warm water added) to hot (ideal for heavily soiled items with colors that will not run). Some settings have a preset temperature, rinse, spin, and soil configuration, but you can customize the settings to get the perfect wash for your items. The washer has a pre-soak option, a deep fill option, and an optional alarm. I have turned off the alarm because my laundry room is next to the baby’s room, but it’s nice to know that I can use this feature when my children are older. If you want to keep tabs on your load, Samsung’s Smart Care feature can help you troubleshoot via your smartphone. The deep-fill setting adds extra water for soaking when you have heavily soiled items that you want to saturate with water. I tested this setting on my children’s’ outdoor play clothes. I did not see a noticeable difference in the heavy-duty setting outcome, other than it took less time to run the laundry. This setting comes in handy for clothes or other items that have older, set-in dirt and grime. The Samsung washer does not have a sanitize feature, something that some potential purchasers may want. You can purchase the Samsung 5.4 cu. ft. Top Load Washer with Super Speed for $1,200. This slightly more expensive washer includes the sanitize feature. The washer took just under an hour to run a normal wash. The LED display specifies the amount of time the wash will take when you begin, which helps me plan out my housework. The washer tends to take a little bit less time than the matching dryer. If you’re doing multiple loads, your clothes may need to wait a few minutes in the washer for the dryer to become free. If you want to set the time for when you want the washer to run, you can select the delay start option. This setting is perfect for setting the washer before going to bed, with the targeted finish time for when I wake up the next morning. This setting ensures that clothes do not sit damp in the washer overnight. Cleaning the washer is easy using the self-clean setting. Samsung recommends that you clean the washer once a month or every 20 uses. Washing clothes for a family of five meant the 20-use threshold occurred in four weeks. If you notice visual residue in the washer drum, add liquid bleach before beginning the self-clean cycle. I ran it without bleach, so the washer used hot water to clean the drum.
What is an Active Water Jet?
This feature is a lifesaver for delicate or hand-wash items. Instead of hand washing items, you can use the included Active Water Jet. I had actively avoided buying clothing that needed to be hand-washed because I never had the time for handwashing or did it improperly. Having the Active Water Jet makes handwashing easy. It’s also great for pretreating stains or rinsing.
Is the washer loud?
Samsung uses Vibration Reduction Technology to keep the vibration and resulting noise down. This washer did not seem any quieter than others I have used. It also didn’t make more noise than I expected. Overall, I was happy with the noise level. I did not notice the noise from my bedroom down the hall from the laundry room unless I specifically listened for it. The lid has a soft-close hinge, which reduces accidental noise from dropped washer lids.
What are all of the cycle options?
The Samsung 5.4 Top Load Washer has a whopping 10 cycles. These include normal, heavy-duty, whites, bedding/waterproof, permanent press, quick wash, delicates, rinse + spin, spin only, and self-clean. I tried all of the cycles, favoring normal for most washes. I also liked heavy-duty for my kids’ dirt- and grass-stained clothes and the bedding setting for my periodic comforter washes. If you want to know the temperature, rinse, spin, and soil level recommended for each cycle, the instruction manual lists that. It also displays that information on the LED display when you select the cycle.
How is this washer for cleaning bedding?
The 5.4 cubic feet capacity is one of the largest washers available. It has a bulk setting that is perfect for larger items like comforters or duvets. I used the bulk setting when washing a Queen-size comforter and two pillows without any problems. I also used the washer for towels, stuffed animals, and a down comforter.
Is a top load washer better than a front load washer?
I prefer a top load washer over a front loader, even if the cost is more. The ring seal on the front of the front loader can get dirty or grow mold if you do not air it out after each use. The capacity on a top load washer is often larger, making it an easy choice for me.
What dryer should I use with the Samsung 5.4 Cu. Ft. Top Load Washer?
Samsung makes a matching washer in black stainless steel or white like the washer. It also offers a champagne-colored option, although the washer only comes in black or white. You can use any washing machine, but pairing a matching set gives your laundry room a cohesive look. Make sure your measurements include at least an inch of clearance on each side of the washer. The included instruction manual has a diagram of the required setup for a side-by-side washer and dryer.
What detergent is best to use with the Samsung 5.4 Cu. Ft. Top Load Washer?
This washer is a high-efficiency machine, so you need a HE detergent. Most mainstream detergents have an HE option. HE detergents produce fewer suds when they wash, which works best with the Samsung Top Load Washer design. You can use other detergents, but the washer may not work as efficiently. You might need to clean the drum more often if non-HE detergent builds up. I used the Tide HE liquid detergent without any problems with residue on my clothes or noticeable build up in the washing machine.
Does the washer have a child lock?
The Samsung 5.4 Top Load Washer has a child lock. If the lid opens when the child lock is on, the water automatically drains from the drum. If the washer is mid-wash, the start/pause feature is disabled. Only the power button will work when the child lock feature is enabled. I prefer a top-loading washing machine because it is harder for small children to climb up and into these tall machines; meanwhile, a front-loader is at child height. It is much harder for a child to get accidentally locked into a machine filling with water. This machine’s child lock feature gives me added peace of mind.
Does the washer come with a warranty?
The washer has a 1-year part and labor warranty, 3-year warranty for the tub, and 10-year warranty for the Direct Drive motor.
Samsung 5.4 Cu. Ft. Top Load Washer With Active Water Jet vs. the Competition
If you want to save some money, the Maytag 5.3 Cu. Ft. Top Load Washer has many of the same features as the Samsung model for $1,000. Smaller Samsung and Maytag models are available for about $850. You can also look at getting a front load washer, which can be $200 to $300 less than a front loader. It is worth noting Samsung offers significant savings if you get a washer and dryer bundled set. When purchased individually, the Samsung Top Load Washer with Super Speed and Samsung Dryer with Steam Sanitize+ cost $1,200 each or $2,400 total. But if you get the matching pair, you can save about $600 and get the bundle for $1,800. If you have the room in your budget, you will love the Samsung 5.4 Cu. Ft. Top Load Washer with Active Water Jet. It works on practically all of your clothing and linens; it’s worth the expense.
