Our Best Buy for the Steam washer category, Kenmore's HE3t Steam Front-Load Washer 46742/46752 lacks a few of the bells and whistles of the Kenmore HE5t, but saves you almost $200 when compared to the top-of-the-line model. Even better, Sears regularly features this model on sale for less than $1200.

While this model does not sport a few top-of-the-line features, it does give you the much-touted benefits of the industry's most recent workhorse -- steam. Effective for removing oily stains, but only from fabrics that can handle the heat, this feature is also useful for sanitizing loads and keeping the washer tub clean.

The HE3t does lack the timed Oxy-release mode for all-fabric bleach and also has a lower maximum spin speed than the HE5t. In place of the Oxy-release dispenser, you'll need to add any all-fabric bleach yourself. Since this Oxy bleach can easily be added with the detergent, we see no reason to pay extra for the timed-release system.

What may make the most difference is the lower maximum spin speed of HE3t. The lower spin speed will leave more moisture in items washed in the heavy-duty setting. This extra moisture will increase the time needed to dry the clothes, somewhat reducing the energy efficiency benefits of a washer/dryer pair. These benefits, however, are lost only when using the washer in its heavy-duty mode. For clothing washed with more gentle speeds, there is no notable difference between spin speeds. In fact, a side effect of a lowered spin speed is a lesser tendency of items to become tangled. We seriously doubt that you'll miss any of added features of the HE5t if you opt for the less expensive HE3t -- unless you wash all your loads on heavy duty.

One of the industry's more energy efficient models, the Kenmore HE3t Steam Front-Load Washer 46742/46752 has an enormous 4.0-cubic-foot capacity and a sophisticated electronic control board. Like most of these newer models, the HE3t looks great, saves on water and energy, yet costs plenty up front and has a higher potential for repairs than a traditional machine.


Pros: Offers steam for removal of oily and grimy stains, large capacity, automated water levels, water and energy efficient
Cons: Cost is high, electronic controls are more prone to repair than simple dials

Warranty
1 year