The Electrolux EFLS527UTT (available at Home Depot for $948.00) is a great washing machine that will accommodate itself to your preferences no matter how you do your laundry. Open up the detergent drawer and you’ll find a place for powdered detergent, liquid detergent, and even the growing trend of detergent pods (which many washers struggle to dissolve adequately).
In fact, the only washer we can recommend more highly is the Electrolux 627, the step-up model from this one.
Features
The 527 has several features that gives it a stain-removal edge over other washers.
Built-in Water Heater: Allows it to achieve temperatures that kill bacteria and help remove greasy stains.
StainTreat II: Certain types of stains like chocolate and blood require special care. The 527 has specialized wash programs just for these common stains.
Extended Refresh: If you leave your laundry in the machine for too long it gets all musty. Extended Refresh keeps the drum tumbling so you can get to your when you’re ready and not have to worry about your clothes developing an odor.
Performance
When it comes to stain removal, the 527 ranks well above average. The Heavy Duty cycle is a great example. On the Electrolux, this cycle takes an hour to complete and removes about six percent more stains than the Heavy Duty cycle on the similar Whirlpool WFW75HEFW. This comparison holds up across multiple cycles and brands. The only places where the 527 faltered in stain removal, it made up for with shorter cycle times.
What about that pod dispenser?
Detergent pods have grown in popularity in past few years due to their obvious convenience. The problem is that washers aren’t design to use them properly. Throw two into the drum and they don’t disperse properly. If you put them in the detergent drawer, they won’t dissolve. Electrolux has come up with a clever solution: a dedicated place for them so they both dissolve and the soap gets equally distributed amongst your clothes.
Other washers you should consider
When browsing online for washers like the 527, the washer you’re probably going to see popping up time and time again is the Electrolux 627, which is Electrolux’s top of the line and the step-up model from the 527.
We found three major distinctions between these two machines. The first is size, the 627 is slightly larger (0.1 cubic foot) than the 527— enough for an extra towel or two. Next, the 527 lacks the StainSoak feature that really puts the 627 over the top, in our opinion. StainSoak recirculates detergent to help get out really stubborn stains. Finally, the 627 has a 15-minute Fast wash, while the 527’s clocks in at 18-minutes.
If you’re not interested in a wee bit more capacity, slightly faster cycles, or extra stain removal power, the 527 retails for around $50-100 less.
Conclusion
The Electrolux EFLS527UTT is one of the best front-load washers on the market, matching great performance with a bunch of useful features, including the built-in water heater, pod dispenser, and all the cycle options. Yes, you can find more powerful washers, faster washers, and washers with more features, but there may be no need to.
