Best Choice Products Portable Mini Twin Tub Compact Washing Machine and Dryer Combo, 18-Pound Load Capacity, w/ 15-Minute Timer, Drain Hose, Spin Dry Cycle, White/Blue

After living in apartments without washing machines for 9 years and debating whether or not to by a small washer for the last 2 years, we finally did it. After a week of use, my only regret is that we didn't buy one sooner. As long as you have realistic expectations, you will be happy. So here is what to expect:(If you want a quick summary go to the end)What it will hold- We are a family of 3 and just being honest, not small people, so you may be able to fit more items. These are all examples of individual loads we have washed:-Child size 10/12 clothing- 3 days worth-Female, 1x clothing- pair of jeans, 2 tops, 2 sets of pajamas, 5 undergarments-Male, 2x clothing- pair of jeans, 1 t-shirt, 2 short sleeve button up shirts, 2 pairs of socks, 2 underwear-1 twin size sheet set-1 king size flat or fitted sheet (1 at a time)-2 average sized bath towels and 1 hand towel (towels absorb a lot of water and become heavy, so be careful with how many you put)-6 twin and 4 king pillowcases, 1 quilted sham, and 1 body pillow caseOf course it is not as much as you would fit in a regular washing machine. But, if you are tired of lugging laundry out every week and having to deal with all that comes with that task, then being able to do multiple small loads throughout the week is a great relief. We will still need to take large items, like bedspreads, to the laundromat.Where to put it- If you want to be happy, you need a good place to put the machine where it will not be in the way or be difficult to set up every time. The last thing you need is for it to become a hassle. We have two bathrooms, so we put it in the larger of the two. We found some piece of furniture (I think it is a Besta) in the as-is section of Ikea and the machine fits perfectly on top of it. Underneath, there is a large compartment to store laundry and bathroom paraphernalia. We placed a towel under the washer to prevent sliding and catch water drips. We are considering attaching casters for ease of movement, but have found that our current setup does not require it. The machine does not have a pump and uses gravity to drain. This means that if you don't want the water to drain out onto the floor, then you need to raise the machine to the level of your bathtub or whatever you are draining into. We have our setup next to the bathtub. The way our bathroom is configured, the only option was to place the machine with the drain hose on the opposite side from the bathtub. We actually took one of the loose hoses that came with the machine and attached it to the drain hose. This allows us to drain into the bathtub without having to move anything. We have a handheld shower head and just use that to fill the washer. It is easier for us than disconnecting and reconnecting hoses and whatnot. If you have a spot where you can have a permanent hookup, then it will be much more convenient. If you will be using the machine in a shared space, you need to consider the ease of use and whether or not it is realistic for you. Before finding a stand for the washer, we just placed it inside the bathtub during use. It is 30 lbs, so that may not be something you want to do.How it works- The machine is not automatic, meaning that you will need to do each step- fill, rinse, spin. It is fairly quiet. Would I run it after 10pm? Maybe, if I was really in need. There are a number of reviews with videos, here on amazon, for similar products. I suggest you take a look, as they all work the same way (  Giantex Portable Mini Compact Twin Tub 11lb Washing Machine Washer Spin Dryer  and  Best Choice Products Portable Compact Mini Twin Tub Washing Machine and Spin Cycle w/ Hose, 13lbs. Capacity  ). The reason we chose this machine was that it had the largest capacity among similar products and the customer service for Best Choice Products was well lauded in reviews for their other model.How well it works- In our experience, it washes very well. Stained items that were pre-treated all came out clean. Everything else came out clean too. The washer is very powerful, so much so that you need to be careful, as with any washing machine, and make sure that children or adults do not stick there hands into it while it's running. It is shorter that most washers and depending on your configuration, may be more accessible to children. The spin portion does very well with getting out the water. Most of our clothing dries within a few hours in our apartment. Heavier items dry completely within 12 hours. If we were able to dry outside, it would be much faster. We have also washed several loads and then taken the items to a dryer. In that case, everything was dry within 30 minutes. The only thing we don't like is that items can become tangled together in the wash. That problem was solved by placing some items into mesh wash bags, which we already had. Also, just so you know, there is a strong plastic smell, but after a week it has mostly dissipated.We are happy with the washer so far. Part of this has to do with the product itself, which has met our expectations. The other part has to do with how annoying it is to be without a washing machine. Having to deal with taking laundry to a laundromat or even dealing with apartment laundry rooms is a pain. The closest laundromat to us is pretty sketchy. Our apartment provides 8 washers for 86 apartments. There is always at least one that is broken. There are a few people who weekly use every machine at once. There are people who don't remove their laundry for hours. Who knows what people wash in the machines? We have had expensive, brand new sheets ruined from some unknown black stuff in one of the machines, even though I inspect them before placing my laundry in. There have been machines full of cat hair, rubber backing, used band-aids andforgotten feminine hygiene products. Also, the laundry room closes at 9pm. And if you have kids you have to bring with you, the frustration only increases. Chances are if you are looking at this product then you already know and I'm just preaching to the choir. Point being, this washer does require some work on your part, but the trade off is worth it.Quick summary-If you have a good place to put a washer with accessible drainage (bathtub, sink, etc) and a water connection (shower, faucet, etc.) that will not become cumbersome to use, then this is a good option. Do not expect to wash a week's worth of laundry at once. Small loads can be done quickly and spin out a good amount of water for quick hang drying. (See my list of items washed for an example of how much the washer can hold.) This machine is not automatic, you will need to do each step- fill, rinse, spin.There is no pump, draining requires gravity. Watch out for children when the washer is in use. To avoid clothing being tangled, use the gentler setting and mesh laundry bags. It is relatively quiet, more so than expected. There is a strong plastic smell that dissipates after a week. We are happy with the product and the small amount of work required on our part is worth not having to deal with taking laundry elsewhere.

I originally purchased this item with cloth diapers in mind, and it seems to be perfect! We live in an apartment with shared laundry machines, but it costs 3.00 a load and that really adds up for a family of 5. I had been hand washing diapers and small articles of clothing, but after two years I was starting to lose my mind a bit. So after much deliberation, I chose this wonderful little machine to help me out! So far I have done about 4 small loads, and I am pretty impressed overall. Some pros:1.) It's bigger than you think. I can fit an entire weeks worth of baby clothes plus his burp cloths (three) and swaddlers (three). As for diapers, I can fit two days worth comfortably (about 10, I use muslin flats and covers, it will depend on the Diaper you use). I also did a week's worth of socks and underwear for two kids and two adults without a problem. Be careful and don't overload it, though. I generally fill the machine up to just below lint catcher with clothes, and then fill the water to just above the lint catcher.2. It's pretty quiet compared to a regular washing machine. Also, my two boys (aged 3 and 4) find loads of entertainment in watching the wash and rinse cycles. I wouldn't leave them alone with the machine, for obvious reasons, but if you have young kids it certainly makes laundry more exciting.3. It's not super heavy. I have to place mine in the bathtub while I'm using it, and then move it to my bedroom when I'm finished. It's doable, but I'm not saying wheels wouldn't be nice or anything.4. It does its job very well. All of the clothes I washed turned out super clean. I'm impressed.Honestly the only cons I see with this machine are the obvious ones--- it's only semi automatic, so you have to wash, then spin, then rinse with no soap, then spin again. Which requires moving laundry back and forth a few times. Also, the water inlet pipes are terrible, so unless you are a DIY type person, you will need to use a bucket or one of those moveable shower heads ( what I use) to fill the washer. And lastly, the gravity drain is annoying. You either need to raise the machine up on a table to train into the tub, or you need to drain it into a pot or something. Or you can just put the whole machine in the tub like me. Also, clothes tend to tangle, so be wary, and put delicate things in mesh bags if it helps.Anyway, in short, this is worth the investment. I am very happy I finally decided to buy it! I have only had it for two days, but I will update if anything goes wrong with the machine.Update 09/30/18: So, I have had this machine for over a year now, and it still works great. If you plan on using this for cloth diapers, I would recommend using anything other than flats! They tangled so much from the spinning, that they weren't really getting clean. Literally any other kind of cloth diaper (pockets, prefolds, fitted, AIOs) is okay, though! We switched to fitted diapers and pocket diapers and no longer have to worry about tangling. Still a five star product!

Been hand washing clothes for years so this is amazing. Arrived yesterday, already used it a quiet a bit. Spins them almost dry. No more dripping wet clothes! couldnt be happier. To elevate the washer I used two milk crates turned upside down and put an old scarf I had over them.