If you’re in the market for a washing machine, Consumer Reports says now could be a good time to purchase a new one.  A year ago, some washers’ cleaning abilities had slipped as manufacturers struggled to comply with new energy standards. With the latest washers, however, there’s a lot to like.

Consumer Reports ran multiple trials on washing machines, including a tough stain test for washing capability.  Testers got swatches of cloth that were uniformly stained with various substances and tested how well the washers removed those stains.

Consumer Reports also tested the machines to see how gentle they are on clothes.  Testers washed cloths with precisely cut holes.  After washing, testers counted the number of loose threads.  The higher number of threads, the rougher the machine was on the clothing.

Consumer Reports found that most front-loading washers are gentler on your clothes and use less energy and water.  While they generally cost more than $1,000, Consumer Reports found a Frigidaire washer that retails for $650 and named it a Best Buy.  It's the Frigidaire GLTF2940F.  Another plus is it doesn’t have as long a wash cycle as many other front-loaders.  It takes just more than an hour.  Most front-loaders are much longer.

Top-loaders are usually less expensive and they have shorter cycle times but they haven’t been cleaning as well as front-loaders.  This time, testers found several inexpensive top-loaders that cleaned almost as well.  Consumer Reports named the GE WJRE5500G top-loader a Best Buy.  It retails for $480.

Both of the Best Buy washers have high capacity, meaning fewer loads to do.