18 washer and dryer features to look for in 2026

Washing machine agitators are the tall spindles in the center of the wash basket that move back and forth and “agitate” the clothing to clean it. They differ from their counterparts, impellers, which are low-profile cones or discs that cause clothes to rub against each other as they spin.
 

However, with a Whirlpool^® 2 in 1 Removable Agitator, you don’t have to choose between these two styles. Washers with this feature let you easily remove the agitator for delicate items like sweaters or to make room for bulky items, then add it back in when you’re ready, so you can customize your laundry load to fit your family’s unique needs.

Smart washers can connect to the internet, allowing you to control them via an app and receive tips on maintaining and using your appliances. Certain smart washers even allow you to schedule cycles to start, control the washer with voice commands and track your cycles as they run.

Select smart washers from Whirlpool brand also let you download cycles for special items right in the machine’s app—then offer guidance on the best dryer cycle to use—or send maintenance alerts so you know when something needs attention.

Certain washing machines are equipped with sensors to help determine the right cycle combinations, temperatures and cycle times for your laundry. These sensors can help remove some of the guesswork when it comes to choosing laundry settings.
 

Whirlpool^® Washers with Adaptive Wash Technology with Active Bloom^™ Wash Action sense the size of each load and then adapt water levels and wash actions based on the type of load being washed, for optimal cleaning.

Some washers include a cycle that uses hot water to sanitize your clothing. Sanitize cycles on washers and dryers use extra-hot temperatures to help reduce certain common household bacteria. This is helpful for washing items like bedding, athletic wear or bath towels, which might carry extra bacteria.

Select Whirlpool^® Washers feature the Sanitize Cycle that uses increased water temperature to eliminate 99.9% of household bacteria.¹

UV technology offers a gentle way to help reduce bacteria in clothing during the wash cycle. Instead of relying on high heat or added chemicals, ultraviolet light treats the water and reduces bacteria during the washing process.

Washers with auto-dispensing detergent features can help you skip steps and save time. Simply add a large amount of detergent to your washer and let the machine do the rest by automatically dispensing it based on the size of your load.

Whirlpool^® Load and Go^™ Dispensers automatically sense your laundry load size and add the right amount of detergent, so you don’t need to add it each time you start a new load. These dispensers are designed to store enough detergent for 20-40 loads of laundry,³ depending on the model.

There are several wash cycles and options to customize your laundry needs. Select models include options to delay cycle start times, presoak your clothes, or settings that help wash specific types of items like swimwear, activewear or sleeping bags.

Modern washers may come with more advanced features, such as AI Intelligent Wash available on select Whirlpool^® Washers. This intelligent wash technology helps you simplify your laundry routine. It uses sensors to detect load size and fabric type, then automatically adjusts water levels, temperature and wash actions for ideal fabric care and effective cleaning performance.

Select models, such as this Whirlpool^® 4.5 Cu. Ft. Ventless All In One Washer Dryer, offer a Cold Wash Cycle that adjusts wash actions and time, combined with gentle temperatures, to provide optimal fabric care. Other washers, such as this front load model from Whirlpool brand, clean your lightly soiled loads in as little as 30 minutes with the Quick Wash Cycle.⁴

Some front load washers have a setting that continues to tumble clothes and circulate air periodically after your wash cycle finishes. It gives you more time and flexibility around removing your clothing and may make it possible to dry light items without running them through the dryer.
 

Available on select Whirlpool^® Front Load Washers, the FanFresh^® Option uses a built-in fan and periodic tumbling to keep your just-washed clothes fresh until they're ready for the dryer, using less energy than you would re-washing your clothes.³

An antimicrobial rubber door seal can help maintain a fresh, clean environment in your front load machine. Select Whirlpool^® Washers have Antimicrobial Protection on the rubber door seal, which helps keep your washer fresh by preventing the growth of odor-causing bacteria and mold. The rubber seal, or gasket, on a front load washer should be cleaned regularly to help reduce mold, mildew and residue buildup. Wiping it down with a dry cloth after each cycle is a good way to stay on top of routine maintenance. 

A self-clean cycle on your washer can help keep the tub clean. Certain models will remind you when to run this cycle.
 

During a self-clean or “clean washer” cycle, the washer runs without clothing and uses higher water levels along with a washer cleaner or liquid chlorine bleach to help thoroughly clean the inside of the appliance.

Running this cycle regularly can help maintain washer freshness and help prevent odors from developing over time, which supports overall washer maintenance.
 

You can also add affresh^® Cleaner Tablets⁵ to your washer during the self-cleaning cycle for a more thorough clean and to help prevent buildup and residue.

Some tough stains need to be pretreated, which is why a dedicated pretreat station can help make laundry day more efficient. With a pretreat station, you can soak, wash and pretreat stains as you load clothes into your washer. Some washers with a pretreat station include a built-in faucet and pretreat brush that allow you to take care of your laundry all in one spot.

Select Whirlpool^® Washers include a Pretreat Station where you can soak, scrub and wash all in one spot with a built-in faucet and pretreat brush for quick, easy access to tools that help you get it all done at once. In addition, the Automatic Presoak Option allows you to set your washer to soak for 15, 30, 60 or 120 minutes, then the washer will add water and detergent for soaking.

All-in-one washing machines combine both the washer and dryer into one single appliance. You can select from either wash cycles, dry cycles or both. These units can help save time by eliminating the need to transfer loads from the washer to the dryer and are ideal for homes where space is limited.

Whether you need to only run a wash cycle, just dry a few items or wash and dry a whole load, the Whirlpool^® All In One Washer Dryer combo gives you the flexibility to do your laundry the way you want. 

Certified by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to meet energy efficiency specifications, ENERGY STAR^® certified washers can help you save on both energy and water bills by using 20% less energy and about 30% less water than regular washers.

Select Whirlpool^® Washers offer features designed to help you save energy, like this front load washer equipped with the Cold Wash Cycle. This cycle adjusts wash actions and time, combined with gentle temperatures to help protect fabrics and save up to 90% of energy.⁵ 

Smart dryers function similarly to smart washers, allowing you to control your appliances through an app and manage laundry day from your phone. Depending on the model, this can include starting or stopping cycles remotely, selecting or adjusting settings and receiving notifications when a load is finished. Some models also offer custom cycles for specific fabrics, voice command features and more.

Sensors are built into select dryers to measure moisture and temperature levels and automatically stop the cycle once your load is dry. Sensors track moisture during the cycle and adjust drying time to help prevent overdrying and reduce unnecessary wear on fabrics.
 

Select Whirlpool^® Dryers are equipped with AccuDry^™ Sensor Drying Technology, with two sensors to measure moisture and temperature levels to help prevent overdrying your clothes and automatically stop the cycle when the load is dry.

Many dryers are now equipped with steam dry features, which use hot air and steam inside the dryer. During the cycle, a small amount of water may be introduced and heated to create steam that can help release wrinkles.

Select Whirlpool^® Dryers have the Steam Dry Option to help smooth out wrinkles, reduce static and keep clothes smelling fresh. Steam options often work great with fabrics prone to wrinkling, or when you aren’t available to unload clothing right away.

Dryers come with a variety of different settings to suit your needs. For example, some dryers have energy efficient cycles that use lower heat and longer drying times to help save power or quick dry cycles for when you’re in a rush. There is also a wide assortment of settings for delicates, bulkier loads or items that need to be air dried.

Wrinkles can form if your clothes sit in the dryer for a long period of time after finishing a cycle. When fabrics remain in one position, they can begin to cool and set in place, which may lead to creasing.

The Wrinkle Shield^™ Option, found on select models like this one from Whirlpool brand, helps keep wrinkles from setting into your clean, dry clothes with intermittent tumbling after the dryer cycle ends. By periodically moving clothes after the cycle ends, this feature helps keep items from settling, so they stay smoother until you’re ready to unload. There is also a Wrinkle Shield^™ Plus Option with Steam on select Whirlpool^® models that uses tumbling and steam for improved wrinkle-fighting performance.