GE GTW485ASJWS review: This affordable washer is tougher on clothes than stains

The $650 GE GTW485ASJWS might be one of the simplest washing machines you can buy today. It doesn't have a ton of advanced settings, an LED-bedazzled digital display, or on-board Wi-Fi connectivity. You won't find a second washer tucked inside a hidden compartment like the LG Twin Wash or a built-in sink like the Samsung WA52J8700.

But what the 485 lacks in pizazz, it makes up for with a traditional agitator -- something folks nostalgic for the days of laundry-past will like. The downside, of course, is that agitators tend to be tougher on fabric than the impeller-style designs you'll find on most pricier top-loaders. It did do a decent job removing stains, though. Yes, GE's GTW485ASJWS will do fine overall, but you might want to spend a little more for an impeller washing machine if you're concerned about wear and tear.

A simpler wash

While the 485 doesn't exactly do anything innovative in terms of design, it's a nice looking machine considering its price. Available in a glossy white finish, it features the same 13 cleaning cycles as more expensive GE washers. They include:

• Active Wear
• Bulky Items
• Casuals

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• Cold Wash
• Colors/Normals
• Dark Colors
• Delicates
• Drain + Spin
• Heavy Duty
• Jeans
• Speed Wash
• Towels & Sheets
• Whites

It also has a Deep Fill setting, which lets you add more water to a cycle. This isn't great in terms of efficiency, but it does let you customize the fill level if you think the washer isn't adding enough water on its own. Press the Deep Fill button at the top of the display panel either before a cycle begins or after it has finished auto-filling. Press it again to stop it.

The straightforward display features one dial each for soil level, temperature, cleaning cycles, options (this includes things like Auto Soak and Extra Spin), and stain pre-treat.

Here's a look at the 485's basic specs compared to other top-load washers:

Comparing washers

	GTW485ASJWS GE	GE GTW810SSJWS	GE GTW860SPJMC	Samsung WA52J8700
Price	$650	$900	$1,200	$1,199
Color finish	White	White, metallic (for $1,000)	Metallic, white (for $1,100)	Stainless platinum
Capacity	4.2 cubic feet	5.1 cubic feet	5.1 cubic feet	5.2 cubic feet
# of cycles	13	13	13	15
Energy consumption	152 kWh/year	152 kWh/year	152 kWh/year	165 kWh/year
Dimensions (width, height, depth)	27 x 44 x 27 inches	28 x 44.5 x 29 inches	28 x 44.5 x 29 inches	27 x 46 x 29.3 inches
Warranty	1 year, limited	1 year, limited	1 year, limited	1 year, limited
Voltage rating	120V 60Hz	120V 60Hz	120V 60Hz	120V 60Hz
App	No	Yes, Android and iPhone	Yes, Android and iPhone	No

The main difference here is bin capacity. Where models like the GE GTW810SSJWS, the GE GTW860SPJMC, and Samsung's WA52J8700 all have capacities over 5 cubic feet, the 485 has just 4.2 cubic feet of space. This is mainly due to the built-in agitator, although its dimensions are also slightly smaller.

Agitator vs. impeller

A washing machine agitator is a piece of plastic that sprouts up from the bottom of the washer and extends up to the top of the bin. It was a common feature in previous generations of top-load washers, but many have been replaced with impellers. Unlike agitators, impellers live at the bottom of washer bins. They feature grooved designs that can still agitate clothes, but tend to be less intrusive.

The 485's agitator actually did better than two of GE's impeller-style top-load machines we've reviewed when it came to stain removal. Check out this post on how we test washing machines if you want more details (or watch the video above for an overview).

The 485 had an average of 48 percent of the original stains remaining after cleaning. By stain, 42 percent of the sebum remained, 55 percent of the carbon remained, 49 percent of the blood remained, 46 percent of the cocoa remained, and 49 percent of the red wine remained.

Compared to the GTW810SSJWS's 50 percent stains remaining and the GTW860SPJMC's 53 percent stains remaining, this is a pretty good score.

But it did struggle in terms of wear and tear, with an average of 266 attached, frayed fabric threads that measured at or over 2 millimeters long. The GTW810SSJWS and the GTW860SPJMC averaged 241 and 230 threads, so they were less tough on clothes than the 485.

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Conclusion

. That could be a bonus if you prefer traditional agitator-style machines. It's also one of the simplest machines I've reviewed so far -- no fancy extras to complicate usability. At the same time, it's tough on clothes. If you're just looking for something affordable that gets the job done, the GTW485ASJWS will work fine. But you might want to look at some other options before making a final decision.