Best compact washing machines

Top pick: BLACK+DECKER 2.0 cu.ft Portable Washer — the best balance of real capacity and convenience. It's a top-loading impeller machine with noise reduction, so it handles a proper load of clothes rather than a few shirts, and it's the one I'd buy for a small apartment or a laundry-less flat.

Who the others suit:

• COMFEE 0.9 cu.ft Full-Automatic — the best true "set and forget" compact: full-automatic cycles in a footprint barely wider than a chair, ideal for one person or a tight bathroom corner.
• Auertech 28 lb Twin Tub — for RVs and cabins: big loads, energy-rated, and you control the wash and spin separately.
• COSTWAY Twin Tub 20 lb — a middle ground when you want twin-tub flexibility without the bulk.
• ZENY 13 lb Twin Tub — a lighter, cheaper twin tub for occasional loads and small households.
• T02 Portable Washer — the smallest footprint of the lot, with a hot-wash option; best for singles, delicates and van life.
• Wonder Wash (manual) — no plumbing or power at all: hand-cranked, tiny, and great for camping or a backup.

Skip the 5.5 lb mini machines unless you only ever wash a couple of items at a time — they're toys next to the rest.