Imagine this: you’re deep in the wilderness, the campfire is crackling, and you realize your favorite shirt is covered in mud. Doing laundry on the road can feel like a huge chore, right? Finding a washing machine that fits your RV and handles the unique demands of travel is tough. You worry about size, power use, and whether it will even fit through the door!
Many RV owners face this exact headache. They want clean clothes without sacrificing precious storage space or draining their batteries dry. Choosing the wrong machine means wasted money and more time spent dealing with laundry instead of enjoying the adventure.
This post cuts through the confusion. We break down what you really need to look for in an RV washing machine. You will learn about compact designs, water efficiency, and the best features for life on four wheels. Get ready to discover the perfect laundry solution for your mobile home!
Top Rv Washing Machine Recommendations
- 15.4 LBS. OF LAUNDRY PER LOAD—Wash up to 15.4 lbs. of laundry per load with this superior BLACK+DECKER best portable washer. Our portable clothes washer (21.6” x 22.2” x 37.4”) has 6 cycle selections—Normal, Heavy, Delicate, Quick, Bulky, and Spin Only. Even suitable for baby clothes, diapers, and lingerie.
- IMPRESSIVE FUNCTIONALITY—With your new washer machine (79.4 lbs.) you have 3 water level choices for small, medium, and large loads as well as Hot, Warm, and Cold temperature settings. You can even select Delay Start up to 24 hours.
- STAINLESS STEEL TUB— This 2.0 cu. ft. portable washing machine features a durable, rust and corrosion-resistant stainless steel tub with top loading transparent quiet close lid. See your clothes cleaned in real time with our outstanding impeller washer!
- ADDITIONAL FEATURES—There’s a lot going on with our amazing washing machine, including auto unbalance detection to ensure your laundry is being cleaned at peak performance as well as auto shutoff safety features and child lock protection.
- DESIGNED FOR MOBILITY— This fantastic portable clothes washer machine can be transported from room to room thanks to two rollers, two side handles, and adjustable leveling legs. Also included with our compact washer is a quick connect adaptor, water supply hose, and drain hose.
- Reinforced internal circuitry and components - perfect for RV travel
- Reduce Wrinkles wash feature and bi-directional dryer rotation combine to reduce both fabric creasing and wear on fabrics
- Reduce Wrinkles wash feature reduces both fabric creasing and wear on fabrics
- Digital display with multiple washing options
- cULus approved for safe use in RVs
- [Compact Efficient Laundry] This washer and spinner combo features a separate spin basket,handling up to 5.5 lbs of laundry per load.Ideal for everyday items like T-shirts, towels,and underwear,it delivers fast,efficient performance in a portable design—perfect for small spaces.
- [Powerful Reliable Performance] The robust motor of this semi-automatic washer ensures thorough cleaning with a strong washing cycle.Its dependable performance easily tackles daily laundry needs,offering both power and consistency in a compact unit.
- [Simple Convenient Operation] This washer machine is equipped with dual control knobs,a 15-minute washing timer and a 6-minute spin-drying timer.The operation is simple and intuitive.The included drainage hose simplifies the drainage process, making the laundry task quick,convenient and worry-free from start to finish.
- [Portable Space-Saving Design] Measuring just 13" x 13" x 18.5"(L x W x H) and weighing only 9 lbs,this mini laundry washer is highly portable.Its compact size makes it suitable for apartments,dorms,RVs,and camping,providing a flexible laundry solution wherever you go.
- [User-Friendly Practical Details] Designed with practical details,the washing machine includes a see-through lid for monitoring, a safety cover to secure clothes during spin cycles,and non-slip foot pads for stability.These features enhance safety,convenience,and overall user experience.
- CHOOSE YOUR CYCLE—Our phenomenal BLACK+DECKER washing machine has 16 cycles you can choose: My Cycle, Quick Wash, Delicates, Wool, Baby Wear, Sanitary, Cold Wash, Tub Clean, Normal/Cotton, Permanent Press, Heavy Duty, Bulky/Large, Sports Wear, Spin Only, Drain Only and Rinse & Spin.
- IMPRESSIVE CAPACITY—With an interior stainless steel tub that is 2.7 cu. ft., this front loader washing machine (23.4” x 23.1” x 33.5”) is your solution to fresh laundry week after week. Simply load clothing, select your cycle and let this compact washer (160.9 lbs.) do all the work for you.
- ADDITIONAL CYCLE FEATURES—Additional highlights of this fantastic clothes washer is auto unbalance detection, a 1300 RPM max spin speed, easy-to-read LED control panel along with Add a Garment & Extra Rinse selections.
- SAFETY FIRST—With a Child Lock and Door Lock safety features, you can rest assured you are using a washing machine that values the well-being of others. The transparent front loading lid allows you to see your laundry cleaned in real time, spin by spin.
- QUALITY GUARANTEED—This phenomenal front load washer offers the highest quality.
- [Large Capacity Twin tub Washer] Auertech portable mini washer has two separate tubs, washing tub and spin tub, allowing you to wash and dry clothes at the same time. The compact and lightweight design makes it easy to fit in bathrooms or closets. Perfect for dorms, apartments, RVs, etc. Note: There is water in the washing machine because it is tested before packaging, we do not sell used products!
- [Powerful Performance] Equipped with a 1300 rpm powerful motor, clothes can be washed quickly and efficiently. Washer capacity: 18lbs, Spin capacity: 10lbs. Recommended maximum water line: 13.5 inches. The transparent window allows you to see the process of washing or spinning. Our mini washer machine can achieve low consumption and save water, while free your hands.
- [Equip with Drain Pump & Adjustable Inlet Hose] This portable washing machine equipped with a drainage pump. You can choose freely drain water to a higher position or a convenient place randomly. You never need to worry about the drainage problem.
- [Separate Time Control & Lint Filter]Users can control washing time, washing mode and spinning time through the three control switches on the panel. There is two water inlets on the panel for connecting the hose to easily add water. With the simple control panel, this mini washer is easy to operate and you can get clean clothes in three steps.
- [Product Usage Tips] 1. Don't overload. Overload may cause the motor to turn on overheating protection. 2. Balance the spinner to prevent it from losing balance, hitting the inner walls, stopping work. 3. If the machine doesn’t drain, check that the water hose is not clogged or bent, which may prevent the spinner from working properly. 4. Make sure the drain height is less than 45 inches.
- Multiple Wash Cycles: Wash your laundry at home with this Black and Decker portable washer. Our portable clothes washer has 5 cycle selections: Heavy, Gentle, Normal, Rapid, and Soak.
- Cold Water Wash Only: This portable washing machine offers 3 water level choices for small, medium, and large loads up to 6.6 lbs. capacity for cold water only temperature settings.
- Stainless Steel Tub: Our 0.9 cu. ft. portable laundry machine features a durable, rust and corrosion-resistant stainless steel wash tub with top loading transparent quiet-close lid to view contents.
- Safety Features: Our small washing machine features auto unbalance detection to ensure laundry is cleaned at peak performance, as well as auto shutoff safety features and child lock protection.
- Portable Convenience: Connect and disconnect this apartment washing machine with ease and transport from kitchen or bathroom to storage closet on two roller wheels with side handles when its needed.
- WASH UP TO 11 LBS.—Wash up to 11 lbs. of laundry at a time with this superior BLACK+DECKER best portable washer. Our portable clothes washer (21.3” x 21.7” x 36.6”) has 6 cycle selections—Normal, Heavy, Delicate, Quick, Bulky, and Spin Only. Even suitable for baby clothes, diapers, and lingerie..ENERGY-EFFICIENT OPERATION: Built-in lint-filter that does not need to be replaced, just clean it about once a month designed for high-efficiency detergents and cold water use only..Operation mode : Automatic.
- IMPRESSIVE FUNCTIONALITY—With your new washer machine (70.5 lbs.) you have 3 water level choices for small, medium, and large loads as well as Hot, Warm, and Cold temperature settings. You can even select Delay Start up to 24 hours.
- STAINLESS STEEL TUB— This 1.7 cu. ft. portable washing machine features a durable, rust and corrosion-resistant stainless steel tub with top loading transparent quiet close lid. See your clothes cleaned in real time with our outstanding impeller washer!
- ADDITIONAL FEATURES—There’s a lot going on with our amazing washing machine, including auto unbalance detection to ensure your laundry is being cleaned at peak performance.as well as auto shutoff safety features and child lock protection.
- DESIGNED FOR MOBILITY— This fantastic portable clothes washer machine can easily be transported from room to room thanks to two rollers, two side handles, and adjustable leveling legs. Also included with our compact washer is a connector adaptor, water supply hose, and drain hose.
- The full-automatic washing machine equipped with Heavy, Soft, Normal, Rapid, and Soak 5 programs and 3 water levels, you are allowed to quickly start the machine the way you like. You are also welcomed to customize your washing program by selecting load size, adding addiwash time, rinse time, and spin time.
- This top load compact washing machine with the only 18.1inch in width, 17.7inch in-depth, and 31.5inch in height, this portable washer is able to be stored easily. You can store it in your cabinet, RV, dorm, or even bathtub! Even better, it comes with wheels and carries handles for easy movement. It is a perfect choice for small households with limited space and minimal laundry loads.
- With the transparent lid design, this washing machine allows you to see and monitor the water and washing conditions. Featuring a durable rust-resistant steel inner tub, lint filter, water inlet and drain pump which allows you to easily drain out dirty water. Also, this portable laundry washing machine has an LED display that shows the time left to finish.
- This compact design washing machine has DOE (Department of Energy) certificate that clearly shows how much energy would be consumed on national average conditions. Saving as much as 87.5% energy consumption comparing to similar models. It equips with a powerful and durable motor, up to 840 RPM spin speed but quiet when running.
- Unbalance could be a very serious issue for washing machines. It could cause washing machine to "dance on the floow", or even worse, to unleash itself from the water inlet, leaking everywhere. Equipped with Auto Unbalance Detection (AUD) , however, it's able to automatically fix the unbalance issue through allowing more water to come in. It will also alert the user if the problem can't be fixed, ensuring a safe and pleasant experience.
Your Guide to Choosing the Best RV Washing Machine
Traveling in an RV is fun. You see new places. You need clean clothes on your trip. An RV washing machine makes this easy. This guide helps you pick the right one.
Key Features to Look For
When you shop, look for these important parts. They make your machine work well.
- Size and Capacity: RVs have small spaces. Check the machine’s size. A small unit fits better. Think about how much laundry you do. Small families need less space than big ones.
- Weight: RVs have weight limits. Lighter machines save space for other things.
- Spin Speed (RPM): A higher RPM spins water out better. Clothes dry faster outside or in a dryer. Look for at least 1000 RPM.
- Water Use: RVs carry limited water. Machines that use less water are great. Front-loaders usually use less water than top-loaders.
- Power Needs: Check if the machine uses 120V (standard home power) or 12V (RV battery power). 120V usually needs an inverter or shore power.
Important Materials
The machine’s parts matter for how long it lasts.
Most good RV washers use stainless steel drums. This metal resists rust. Rust happens because of water and soap. Plastic parts are lighter. They can sometimes break easier than metal. Look for strong outer casings, often made of durable plastic or thin metal.
Factors That Improve or Reduce Quality
Good features make a machine better. Bad features cause problems.
Quality Boosters:
- Quiet Operation: You live close to your washer. A quiet machine is a big plus. Look for machines with good vibration dampening.
- Automatic Sensors: Smart machines sense the load size. They add just the right amount of water. This saves water and power.
- Vented vs. Ventless Drying: Some RV washers also dry clothes. Ventless dryers are easier to install. They often take longer to dry clothes, though.
Quality Reducers:
- Cheap Pumps: The water pump moves water in and out. A weak pump breaks quickly.
- Complex Electronics: Too many digital parts can fail when you move a lot. Simple controls often last longer on the road.
User Experience and Use Cases
How you use your RV affects your choice.
If you stay in one spot for weeks, a larger capacity machine works. You wash less often. If you move every few days, you need a fast cycle. You do not want long wash times.
Many RVers use compact, combination washer/dryers. This saves space. You load clothes, and they wash and dry in one unit. This is very convenient. If you have space, a separate washer and a small vented dryer might dry clothes faster.
Remember installation. Some units sit under a counter. Others need a small closet space. Measure your spot carefully before you buy anything.
10 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) About RV Washing Machines
Q: Do I need special plumbing for an RV washer?
A: Most RV washers connect to your RV’s existing water inlet and drain hose, just like your sink. Check the manual for specific hookup needs.
Q: Can I use my regular laundry detergent?
A: No. You must use High Efficiency (HE) detergent. Regular soap makes too many suds. Too many suds can damage your machine or overflow in a small RV space.
Q: Are RV washers heavy?
A: They are lighter than home washers. But they still add weight. Always check the machine’s weight against your RV’s cargo capacity.
Q: How long does a wash cycle take?
A: A standard wash and spin cycle usually runs 45 to 75 minutes. Combo units can take two to four hours for a full wash and dry cycle.
Q: Can I run the washer when driving?
A: Never. Vibrations while driving can damage the internal parts. Only run the machine when your RV is parked and level.
Q: What if I only have 12V power?
A: Many small, portable washers run on 12V battery power. Larger, permanent units usually need 120V AC power, which means plugging into shore power or using a large inverter.
Q: Do I need a vented dryer in my RV?
A: Ventless combo units are popular. They recycle the hot air. Vented dryers use less energy to dry but require an external vent installed on the RV wall.
Q: What is the smallest size available?
A: You can find very small, portable “camping washers” that are only a few gallons in size. Built-in units are usually around 2.0 to 2.5 cubic feet.
Q: How do I prevent leaks in my RV?
A: Always secure the hoses tightly. After use, disconnect the water inlet hoses if the machine will sit unused for a long time. Check connections often.
Q: Are these machines noisy?
A: Newer models are much quieter. Look for machines specifically marketed for RV or marine use. They usually have better noise insulation than cheap portable models.