Why You Can Trust CNET Electrolux EFLW427UIW review: A solid, simple washing machine
This Electrolux washer nails stain removal, but it doesn't have that many features.
Electrolux's $999 EFLW427UIW outscores nearly every front-load washing machine we've tested -- with the exception of two other Electrolux models that perform slightly better, the $1,199 EFLS527UTT and the $1,349 EFLS627UTT.
Electrolux EFLW427UIW
The Good
The Bad
The Bottom Line
The less-expensive EFLW427UIW is still a great choice, particularly if you're looking to save a couple of hundred bucks. You will be sacrificing some features for that lower price, though. Unlike Electrolux's 500- and 600-series washers , this model doesn't come with a dedicated dispenser for detergent pods. It also has fewer cleaning cycles and a white finish (the only color option available).
The Electrolux EFLW427UIW is a solid washer worth considering, but keep in mind its comparatively limited features as you make your buying decision.
Electrolux's 400-series washer
See how the Electrolux EFLW427UIW stacks up against the Electrolux EFLS527UTT and the Samsung WF45M5500AZ in the chart below.
Comparing washing machines
| Electrolux EFLW427UIW | Electrolux EFLS527UTT | Samsung WF45M5500AZ | |
| Price | $999 | $1,199 | $999 |
| Color finish | White | Titanium; (white for $1,099) | Azure blue and platinum; (white for $899) |
| Capacity | 4.3 cubic feet | 4.3 cubic feet | 4.5 cubic feet |
| # of cycles | 7 | 9 | 10 |
| Energy consumption | 55 kWh/year | 75 kWh/year | 105 kWh/year |
| Dimensions (width, height, depth) | 27 x 38 x 32 inches | 27 x 38 x 31.5 inches | 27 x 38.7 x 33.8 inches |
| App | No | No | No |
The EFLW427UIW is priced the same as Samsung's WF45M5500AZ, but the WF45M5500AZ has a larger cubic-foot capacity and more cleaning cycles. Electrolux's EFLS527UTT has the same 4.3-cubic-foot capacity as the EFLW427UIW, but it has two additional cycles and a dispenser especially for detergent pods.
I really like the EFLW427UIW's display, despite its lack of features. There's a flat, circular digital panel in the center that provides a clear readout of the time remaining in a cycle. That said, the EFLS527UTT and the EFLS627UTT have even better display panels that double as knobs for selecting your cycles, as well as telling you how much time is left before your laundry is done.
Cleaning power
To test a washer's performance, we measure two things: how well it removes stains and how gentle it is on fabric. We test both of these using a normal wash cycle -- that's a normal cycle with a normal soil level, hot water and a high spin speed.
For stain removal, we use prepackaged strips of fabric covered in five tough-to-remove stains: sebum (skin oil), carbon (mineral oil), pig's blood, cocoa and red wine. After we run the stain strips through a cleaning cycle, we calculate the percentage of the original stains that remain. The lower the number, the better the stain removal.
This Electrolux washer had just 41 percent of its original stains remaining on average after a cleaning cycle. That's a great score, only surpassed by two other front-loaders we've tested -- the Electrolux EFLS627UTT (36 percent) and the Electrolux EFLS527UTT (38 percent).
Samsung's front-load competitor, the WF45M5500AZ, had 44 percent of its stains remaining. That's also a very good score, but not as good as any of these Electrolux washers.
The lower the percentage, the better the washer did removing that stain.
For the gentleness test, we use prepackaged fabric squares with five holes punched in the middle. After running these "mechanical action" strips through a cleaning cycle, we count the number of attached, frayed threads in each hole that measures at or over 2 millimeters long. The lower the number, the better the washer performs in terms of wear and tear.
The EFLW427UIW had 301 attached, frayed threads on average. That's pretty high, but the EFLS627UTT still holds the record for the highest wear-and-tear count so far. It had 333 attached, frayed threads. The EFLS527UTT had a 292-count and the Samsung WF45M5500AZ had a 294-count.
While none of these washers are especially gentle using the normal cycle, keep in mind that all of them, including the Electrolux EFLW427UIW, have delicate cycles designed specifically for garments needing a little extra care.
The verdict
The $999 Electrolux EFLW427UIW is a great washer. That said, Electrolux has other front-load washing machines that perform even better -- and offer more features.
I'd suggest spending the extra $100 for the Electrolux 500-series in a white finish if you want to keep the cost down, but still need a couple of additional cleaning cycles and the dispenser for detergent pods. If you don't care about those options, stick with the simple but impressive EFLW427UIW.