We tried one of the most popular stacked washer-dryers, the LG WashTower. Here’s how it went, from installation to months of use.
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LG WashTower Review: We Tried It, Here’s Everything You Need to Know
Updated Sep. 18, 2024
As someone who has been wanting a new stackable washer-dryer combo for a while, I was pumped when I was asked to review the LG WashTower. I’ve had my eye on the best washer-dryer sets for years, watching different lists come out with their top contenders. I noticed that the LG WashTower frequently lands as a top option on lists from multiple sources, and LG is often cited as one of the most reliable washer-dryer brands.
Why a stackable washer-dryer? Stackables make shopping for washers and dryers easier, as you only have to buy one machine. Additionally, stacked washer-dryers fit into smaller spaces easier. If your laundry room or nook is small but you want to include shelving and drawers, a stackable washer-dryer can help you achieve the laundry setup of your dreams by saving you valuable floor space.
Furthermore, the stackable LG WashTower has a single control panel that’s easy to access and operate—no complicated cycle selections. You can even select and start your cycles remotely from the LG app. What’s not to love about that?
When asked to write this review, I immediately ordered the LG WashTower. I’ve been curious about the washer-dryer since the day it came out, and I didn’t waste any more time before trying it for myself. After using the LG WashTower multiple times daily for months, here are my honest thoughts about it.
What is the LG WashTower?
The LG WashTower is a large-capacity, stackable washer-dryer machine. It has an LED touchscreen display that allows you to start and stop cycles instantly without bulky knobs or buttons. You can also switch to remote control from the control panel to select, start and stop cycles from your phone in the LG ThinQ app.
The remote feature must first be activated from the control panel for safety reasons. Still, you can select and schedule cycles from your phone to send to the machine without activating the remote function first. Then, when you are near the machine, you can start the sent cycle with one touch. Additionally, you can schedule cycles to start at a delayed time to prevent wet clothes from sitting in the washing machine too long—a great feature if you know you’ll be gone for a few hours but want freshly washed clothes when you get home.
The LG WashTower has an ultra-large capacity washer (4.5 cubic feet) and dryer (7.4 cubic feet), so you can wash and dry large loads and bedding. There’s also no agitator in the washing machine, so quilts, delicates and other washables won’t get caught up or snagged. The tower measures 27 inches wide, almost 75 inches tall and nearly 31 inches deep. It needs to sit about four inches from the wall for hosing and cords to have room, and when the doors are wide open, the depth goes from about 31 to 55 inches.
That’s not all: The LG WashTower has several other impressive features, like AI technology and advanced cycle settings. See all the deets about its features below.
VIA MERCHANT
I Tried It
LG WashTower Electric Stacked Laundry Center
Pros:
- Sleek piece of machinery with thick, tempered glass doors and LED control panel with touch buttons
- Smart capabilities like remote start via the ThinQ app
- Impressive cleaning performance and NeverRust stainless steel drum
- 4-tray dispenser in washer
- Washer (4.5 cu. ft.) and dryer (7.4 cu. ft.) large enough for most families
- Steam settings on both washer and dryer
- Energy efficient with energy monitoring
- Multiple color options: black steel, candy apple red, nature green and white
Cons:
- Drying sensor frequently ends cycles prematurely when clothes are still damp
- Pre-set cycle settings can’t be adjusted within the app
LG WashTower Product Features
Ultra-Large Capacity
As mentioned, the washer and dryer both have large-load capacities. I can fit almost anything in the 7.4-cubic-foot dryer—bedding, beach towels, washable rugs and more. While the washer is a bit smaller, it’s still large (4.5 cubic feet). I can fit comforters easily in the washer because there’s no agitator to maneuver around. I’ve even washed small rugs like the washable runner I keep in my kitchen, with zero issues. I love that the stackable washer and dryer are space-saving without sacrificing room the size of the tub or drum.
Built-In AI Technology and Smart Control
Built-in intelligence selects your clothes’ optimal wash and dry settings by sensing the load size, materials and dirt level. The WashTower will adjust cycle settings based on individual loads, and smart pairing lets you sync the dryer cycle with the washer settings. In any other mode than timed drying, the dryer will shut off when it senses clothes are dry.
The LG ThinQ app offers loads of (pun intended) additional smart features like energy monitoring, tub cleaning recommendations, smart diagnoses, routine scheduling and a recording of recently used cycles. There are also a ton of cycle settings in the app that wouldn’t fit on the control panel, so you don’t have to guess which settings are best for beachwear or sweat stains.
Advanced Wash and Dry Settings
The control panel on the front of the washer and dryer has six standard settings for each machine. The buttons on the front of the washer and dryer let you choose from normal, heavy-duty, speed wash, bedding, delicates and downloaded (from the app) cycles. You can select the water temperature, spin speed and soil level on the washer’s control panel. Plus, there are additional buttons for steam cleaning, adding an extra rinse or pre-wash, plus turbo wash or tub cleaning. You can select the temperature, desired dryness and dry time on the dryer’s control panel. The control panel has additional buttons for steam cleaning, static reduction, wrinkle care and energy-saving mode.
Of course, those buttons don’t include additional settings in the app. More advanced settings for the washer include:
- An “Allergiene” cycle to help reduce certain allergens on clothes
- Hand-wash settings for woolen items
- Overnight wash, which utilizes a rolling motion to minimize noise and prevent wrinkles,
- A sweat stains cycle for removing stains and odors
The number of auto-cycle options in the app impressed me. Plus, app’s dryer cycle settings include special options for denim, deodorization, bacteria removal, easy ironing (which leaves clothes slightly damp), air drying, static reduction and much more.
Steam Settings
Steam settings are sought-after features, especially for new parents or those with jobs that leave their clothes extra dirty. The steam kit for the LG WashTower enables SteamFresh cleaning in the washer and TurboSteam in the dryer. In the washer, it helps sanitize clothes and fabrics, and in the dryer, it helps to de-wrinkle clothing quickly without needing to iron.
I’ve enjoyed the SteamFresh feature for sanitizing machine-washable baby fabrics and the TurboSteam feature for knocking wrinkles out of clothing. Truthfully, the dryer alone does a sufficient job of getting wrinkles out, but the TurboSteam seems to give it an added boost.
Premium Looks
The LG WashTower looks excellent in person, with its real tempered glass doors and ultra-shiny finish. I opted for the incredibly sleek black steel color, but you can also choose white, hunter green or red. Additionally, LG offers a larger WashTower with a 5-cubic-foot tub capacity. It’s available in white, black steel and a lighter gray steel color.
The drum and tub lights are nice, too. They illuminate the machine for added visibility when doing nighttime laundry, and they look elegant, too.
How We Tested It
We purchased the LG WashTower from Best Buy, which offered delivery and installation for an additional $160. The installation service ensured that the WashTower had all the required parts: A vent kit, power cord, hosing and steam dryer kit. However, there were some hiccups with delivery.
Though the delivery was on time and speedy fast, it wasn’t flawless. While the delivery team unpacked and wheeled the unit into my laundry area, they could not complete the hookup because there was rust on my water hookups. They told me that completing the hookup with evidence of prior leakage was a liability risk, which I understood. So, I had to hook up the unit myself.
On the other hand, a couple of other issues weren’t as reasonable. Firstly, the delivery team dented the top of the unit during delivery by running it into the front door. They attempted to smooth it out by pounding their fists into the top, which worked surprisingly well but didn’t completely fix the imperfection. Secondly, they did not include the steam kit that enables steam settings in both the washer and dryer, which cost extra. So, I couldn’t use the steam function initially.
Disclaimer: Individual delivery experiences probably vary from store to store and even from one delivery team to the next. Your delivery experience with Best Buy might be flawless, but it might not be, so 1) look to make sure all the parts and services you’ve paid for are included and 2) speak up if the delivery team damages your machine. (I didn’t because, ultimately, I decided the minor imperfection at the top of the unit was barely noticeable and not worth going through the effort of replacing the whole machine—plus, I had dirty baby onesies waiting for me.)
I did call about getting the steam dryer installation kit, which Best Buy refused to send out without replacing the entire unit. So, I purchased that separately (again). To avoid this, ensure all parts are included during delivery!
For an additional $60, you can request that the delivery team haul away or move your old washer and dryer to another room. I removed my old stackable unit alone and did not use this service, but if you plan on keeping your old unit(s) for a second laundry station, utilizing this service may be helpful.
Apart from delivery, testing of the washer and dryer went well. I love the large capacities of the tub and drum, the convenience of the remote control setting and the endless cycle options for all my washing and drying needs. It seems like the washer gets my clothes noticeably cleaner than my previous washing machine (granted, my former washer was pretty old and had no advanced cycle settings). I also love that the dryer is suitable for all types of fabrics with its delicate, air-dry and high-heat functions.
My issues with the LG WashTower—that’s why you’re here, right?—include a few minor drawbacks. The primary drawback I found was with the washer’s drying sensor. The dryer doesn’t dry clothes all the way on most dry settings when the sensor is enabled. Most pre-set drying cycles leave my laundry slightly damp. The workaround is easy, however. I use the timed dry function when I want my clothes dry (I mean hot, crispy dry).
Additionally, I’m not in love with the LG ThinQ app. The remote start function for the WashTower is great, and I like that it sends notifications when your laundry is finished. While there are many pre-set cycles within the app, the settings (water temperature, spin speed, soil level, etc.) can’t be individually adjusted with those cycles. I also can’t seem to enable steam cleaning and drying, prewash, cold wash and turbo wash from the app.
Lastly—and the following flaws are even more minor issues, in my opinion—the lighting on the control panel isn’t super precise, so it’s sometimes difficult to tell which buttons are lit up. On one occasion, I noticed the dryer seal leaking (I can’t say what happened there, but water droplets were leaking out at the bottom of the dryer door). Also, hair frequently gets stuck around the lint trap in the dryer—not in the trap, as you might expect, but around it—and is difficult to remove because it gets wrapped around the metal parts of the dryer.
FAQ
What is the advantage of the LG WashTower?
The LG WashTower offers many perks. It has a smaller footprint, fast and efficient washing and drying cycles, and smart capabilities that let you turn your machine on and off remotely.
Can I wash a king-size comforter in the LG WashTower?
Yes. I wash my king-size comforter in the LG WashTower. Of course, it depends on how big and thick your bedding is, but generally, four cubic feet can accommodate a king-size comforter or quilt, and the washer on this tower is 4.5 cubic feet.
What Other Reviewers Say
Almost all the negative reviews I encountered called out issues with LG’s customer service. Many negative reviews cite long wait times, and some reviewers even say customer support was “nonexistent” when problems arose. While I had some significant issues with Best Buy’s customer service team, I have not had to use LG’s customer support in the months that I’ve owned the WashTower. So, I can’t speak directly to the quality of LG’s customer support quality. However, LG frequently suggests that customers send private messages via social media to get support.
LG WashTower vs. Individual LG Units
The Smart Wi-Fi Enabled Front Load Washer and Dryer are comparable to the WashTower but sold individually. All three use the LG ThinQ app and have large-capacity tubs and drums (4.5 cu. ft. for the washer tubs and 7.4 cu. ft. for the dryer drums). They all have tempered glass doors and almost identical customer ratings.
While the control panel is a bit different between the WashTower and individual units, they all have an LED display. The individual units have control knobs and touch buttons, while the WashTower has only touch buttons. They’re all also energy-certified, but the individual units seem to have a few more wash and dry settings than the WashTower.
Personally, I think the WashTower has all the wash and dry settings we need as a small family with an infant. From the product descriptions, it does look like the individual machines offer low-decibel, quiet operation, which the WashTower does not have. That would probably be nice if you’re not wanting to wake a sleeping baby, for instance. Although, I don’t find the WashTower overly noisy.
If you’re choosing between the LG WashTower and the individual LG Smart Wi-Fi Enabled Washer and Dryer, I’d say it boils down to whether you want your washer and dryer stacked. The stacked unit takes up less floor space and makes space in the laundry room for other things like shelving.
The “compare products” feature allows you to shop and compare all LG washer and dryer models. This feature gives you a full breakdown of all the appliances’ specs and features. You can also toggle to see “differences only” between products.
Final Verdict
So far, I’ve loved the LG WashTower. It looks great in my space, and the space-saving, stackable design leaves floorspace in the laundry room for shelving and cabinets. It also makes it easier to walk into my laundry room without bulky appliances side by side. I’ve enjoyed using the ThinQ app to program laundry cycles and routines. The remote start function is helpful when you don’t want to come home to wet clothes sitting in the washer. (You can delay the start of the cycle or trigger it to start remotely from anywhere.) The washer gets my clothes very clean, and the dryer works well, especially on the timed-dry setting. While I wish you could manipulate specific settings within pre-programmed cycles in the app and that the dryer’s sensor was more accurate, the WashTower’s efficiency, overall appearance and advanced features (like steam cleaning) outweigh the hiccups.
If you’re looking for a stacked washer/dryer unit, the LG WashTower is unrivaled.
Where to Buy the LG WashTower
VIA MERCHANT
I Tried It
LG WashTower Electric Stacked Laundry Center
Find the LG WashTower at Lowe’s, Best Buy and LG for about $1,900.
Originally Published: September 18, 2024
