Why You Can Trust CNET LG WM3575CV review: Not so fast: This speedy LG washer struggles to clean
Poor performance, a cluttered display and a confusing app put this $1,100 LG washer on our "don't buy" list.
For all of the things LG's $1,100 WM3575CV washing machine gets right, it has one fatal flaw -- poor performance. Out of all of the front-loaders we've reviewed so far, this model earned the lowest overall stain removal score. Given its subpar cleaning skills, I can't recommend the LG WM3575CV. Look instead to the Electrolux EFLS617S or the Whirlpool WFW87HEDW.
LG WM3575CV
The Good
The Bad
The Bottom Line
Speed demon
Before I got the WM3575CV's performance results, I was fairly impressed with it. This LG machine dominates when you stack its features against competitors in the same price range.
It comes in an attractive "Graphite Steel" finish (that's code for gray), has a 4.5-cubic-foot-capacity, 12 cleaning cycles and a related Android and iPhone app for troubleshooting repair needs and other potential issues.
Here's a closer look at the WM3575CV's specs versus the Electrolux and the Whirlpool:
Comparing washing machines
| LG WM3575CV | Whirlpool WFW87HEDW | Electrolux EFLS617S | |
| Price | $1,100 | $1,199 | $1,099 |
| Color finish | Graphite Steel, White (for $1,000) | Chrome Shadow, White (for $1,099) | White, Titanium (for $1,199) |
| Capacity | 4.5 cubic feet | 4.3 cubic feet | 4.4 cubic feet |
| # of cycles | 12 | 10 | 9 |
| Energy consumption | 90 kWh/year | 109 kWh/year | 85 kWh/year |
| Dimensions (width, height, depth) | 27x38.7x29.7 inches | 27x38.7x33.1 inches | 27x38x31.5 inches |
| Warranty | 1 year, limited | 1 year, limited | 1 year, limited |
| Voltage rating | 120V; 60Hz | 120V; 60Hz | 120V; 60Hz |
| App | Yes, Android and iPhone | No | No |
In addition to having a slightly larger drum capacity, slightly more cleaning cycles and an app, the WM3575CV can also complete a laundry cycle faster than the competition.
With help from its TurboWash setting, this LG model can wash a regular ol' load of laundry in 30 minutes flat. It also has a 15-minute Speed Wash cycle that I used to wash some of my clothes in a hurry. Here's a list of all of the WM3575CV's available cleaning options:
- Cotton/Normal
- Bulky/Large
- Perm. Press
- Delicates
- Hand Wash/Wool
- Speed Wash
- Tub Clean
- Heavy Duty
- Bright Whites
- Towels
- Drain+Spin
- Small Load
A cluttered display makes this LG washer a little harder to use.
The dial in the center of the display lets you select the specific cycle you want from the list above. That part of the control panel was simple and straightforward. The right side of the display, on the other hand, looked unnecessarily cluttered. Everything that didn't belong on the dial ended up shoved into that right corner -- from the water temperature and the soil level to the spin speed and a small digital timer that wasn't all that easy to read.
The app portion of the WM3575CV was also a little iffy. LG says all of its washers have Smart Diagnosis, a feature that you can use to pinpoint error messages and other problems with your machine. Even if your washer wasn't isn't technically smart (aka Wi-Fi-enabled), you should still be able to troubleshoot issues via Smart Diagnosis. But there are at least three different apps that all claim to offer Smart Diagnosis. Unfortunately, LG doesn't actively tell you which one to use. So you first have to figure out if your washer has Wi-Fi, and then you have to figure out which app to use. I ended up using the LG Smart Laundry app. This app has a bunch of different features and sections, but the Smart Diagnosis section is the only one that works (that's because the WM3575CV isn't Wi-Fi enabled). Once you figure that out, it's fairly simple to follow the steps to troubleshoot your washer. It could be easier, though.
Cleaning woes
We measure two main things when it comes to washer performance -- how well a machine removes stains and how gentle (or tough) it is on clothes.
Of the eight total front-load washers we've tested to date, the WM3575CV scored the lowest when it comes to stain removal. Specifically, it had 52 percent stains remaining overall. By stain, that translates to:
- Sebum: 50 percent stains remaining
- Carbon: 61 percent stains remaining
- Blood: 33 percent stains remaining
- Cocoa: 60 percent stains remaining
- Wine: 54 percent stains remaining
That's decent-ish, but that 52 percent overall score starts to look a lot worse when you compare that to the Whirlpool's 47 percent stains remaining and the Electrolux's 40 percent stains remaining.
The LG was relatively gentle on clothes, though. To measure how a washer treats clothes, we shove some fabric squares with prepunched holes in the X shape of the 5 on dice and count the number of attached, frayed fabric strands that measure 2 millimeters long or more. The WM3575CV averaged 251 attached frayed fibers, whereas the Whirlpool averaged 263 and the Electrolux averaged 295. Since we weigh stain removal more heavily than gentleness, it still didn't perform particularly well overall.
The verdict
Yes, its 15-minute Speed Wash setting and Smart Diagnosis feature were kind of neat, but the LG WM3575CV just didn't impress in the end because of its poor performance results. Considering that both the $1,199 Whirlpool WFW87HEDW and the $1,099 Electrolux EFLS617S offer similar options, but clean much better, I'd skip the WM3575CV altogether.