Domio WF8 4.5 cu ft Front-Load Washer with Steam – 1,400 RPM, ENERGY STAR, Stackable

Domio WF8 is a 27″ front-load washer for a closet, a basement or a small apartment. The 4.5 cu ft drum takes a queen comforter or a week of towels for four, the steam cycle loosens set-in stains and freshens shirts, and the control panel pairs a dial with a small display that shows the time remaining.

We washed the same 12 lb load of towels and jeans at 1,000 and 1,400 RPM and dried both. The faster spin left 1.6 lb less water in the load and cut 17 minutes off the dryer, which is why spin speed matters more than an extra cubic foot of drum. Our washer guide has the full test.

Fitting it in

• Standard 27″ width, so it replaces most washers without changes to the closet
• Stackable: a dryer can go on top with the stacking kit its maker specifies
• Leave an inch on each side and room behind for the hoses
• Measure the doorways too, not only the closet

Care

• Use HE detergent, and less of it than the cap suggests
• Leave the door and the detergent drawer ajar after the last load so the gasket dries
• Wipe the rubber gasket around the chrome door ring once a week
• Clean the drain filter behind the small panel at the bottom every few months

Before the first load

ENERGY STAR certification means less water and electricity than a standard washer. A normal cycle with a full load takes about an hour. If it walks on its first spin, the shipping bolts are still in; take them out and level the feet. The mop pads of a Bryza X9 come out clean on a warm cycle with the dish towels. The washer qualifies for 12 months 0% APR.