6 Best Portable Washing Machines for When You Can't Get to the Laundromat

We updated this article in March 2023 to add more information about each featured product and to provide answers to some frequently asked questions about portable washing machines. Our picks for best value and best non-electric portable washing machines were replaced with new models vetted by the Good Housekeeping Institute Home Care and Cleaning Lab.

Even if you have the space at home for a full-size washing machine, you might remember the days of shared laundry rooms from college or trips to the laundromat from when you moved into your first apartment alone. And while they serve their purpose of getting clothes clean, laundromats are often hot, you never know if there will be a washer available until you get there and are just not the most fun places to be. Living in a small apartment or traveling across the country in an RV doesn’t have to mean you need a laundromat to get your clothes clean though. Portable washing machines are the downsized counterparts of the full-size washing machines we’ve tested and loved for over 100 years. They offer the convenience of washing garments at home while taking up significantly less space than a full-size washer and cutting water and energy usage too. They may not have some of the features that some of the smarter washing machines we’ve tried offer, but can take care of small to medium loads and can be wheeled to the sink when you are ready to use them.

The Good Housekeeping Institute Cleaning Lab has been testing washing machines since they were first made commercially available in 1907. To test full-size washing machines, we use the industry standards developed by the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers and compile hundreds of pieces of data for each model that we test. We haven’t tested the models included in this story yet, but made our selections based on some of the same things we consider for full-size washers, like the cycles each model offers, consumer reviews on online retailer sites and our own experience testing other products from a brand.

Below our picks find more information about portable washing machines like what to look for and answers to some frequently asked questions. Interested in more compact appliances? Check out our guides to the best portable carpet cleaners and the best countertop dishwashers.