How To Clean A Magic Chef Portable Ice Maker

Our Verdict

The Magic Chef MCSTCW30W4 offers a great spin speed and it's very cheap to run, but the lack of wheels makes this machine hard to move around which defeats the point a little.

For

Energy efficient
Good spin speed

Against

No wheels
Spin may cause clothes to tightly tangle

Top Ten Reviews Verdict

The Magic Chef MCSTCW30W4 offers a great spin speed and it's very cheap to run, but the lack of wheels makes this machine hard to move around which defeats the point a little.

Pros

+ Energy efficient
+ Good spin speed

Cons

- No wheels
- Spin may cause clothes to tightly tangle
-

The Magic Chef MCSTCW30W4 is a compact and portable washer that has a surprisingly large capacity. A serious contender for the best portable washers around, this Maytag model is a great choice for those living in apartments who don't want to take frequent trips to the laundromat or basement laundry room, and it can also be used in RVs with ease.

Magic Chef MCSTCW30W4: Essential info

Compact size
No wheels
Costs around $439
Made in the USA
Impeller washer
Stainless steel drum
Ideal for small loads
10 programs
Costs $8 per year to run
Good spin speed

The Magic Chef MCSTCW30W4 has a good variety of programs including a delicates cycle, plus an extra spin and rinse. It uses a traditional agitator to swish the clothes around in the water. Its neat style works well in any home and it can be paired with a matching dryer housed on a rack to provide a compact laundry solution.

The machine runs efficiently and uses minimal electricity. It is quiet to run, with even the spin being barely noticeable.

Magic Chef MCSTCW30W4: How big is it?

Length: 24.8 inches
Width: 23.7 inches
Height: 39.4 inches

The Magic Chef MCSTCW30W4 has a capacity of 3 cubic feet, which, though smaller than one of the best top load washers, will still wash a small family load; it would take a double comforter, though not king size bedding.

The good news is that this machine is portable so that you can push it into a closet when you're not using it so that it doesn't take up too much space.

Magic Chef MCSTCW30W4 portable washer — (Image credit: Home Depot)

Magic Chef MCSTCW30W4: How easy is it to install?

It's super easy to use the Magic Chef MCSTCW30W4 - simply place the drain hose in a sink and connect the water hose to your faucet. We'd recommend buying hose extensions and a quick-release faucet coupling for a swift connection each time you use the machine.

You won't need to hire a plumber to install this machine as it's designed to be very easy to set up yourself, however, bear in mind the weight of the machine when you first get it delivered.

Magic Chef MCSTCW30W4: What's good about it?

This neat machine is ideal if you have limited space in your apartment or vacation home. It's also ideal if you don't have an area where you can permanently install the water hoses for a washer, as you can use it with any sink.

The wash cycle is just 42 minutes, which is fast and efficient, and the spin cycle is surprisingly quiet – just make sure you place it on a firm, flat surface.

The window in the lid is reassuring, as you can keep an eye on the laundry as it progresses and if you want to add an item that you've forgotten, or add softener, you can press pause; this releases the lid lock. The load size setting adds the correct amount of water for your wash and there's a good range of programs depending on the size and soil level of your laundry. The electronic controls are simple to use and clear to see, there's an alert when the cycle has finished and the delay start feature turns the machine on when it's most convenient for you. Its quick connection kit means it can be used anywhere there's a sink and faucet.

Magic Chef MCSTCW30W4: What's not so good

Because the detergent is added from a dispenser above the washing, it's probably best to use a liquid rather than powder, to ensure it gets mixed into the load evenly. However, you'll need to take care not to add stain removers directly to the top of the load, which could result in some patchiness. The small load setting doesn't offer a double rinse and spin, so unless your items are only lightly soiled or very delicate, you're probably going to use the large load setting most times – this is not as water-efficient.

The Magic Chef MCSTCW30W4 does not have wheels, so it's difficult to use if you need to pull it in and out of a closet frequently – you can purchase a dolly to move it on, though it's quite heavy to lift it on and off. The water and drain hoses are pretty short, so you may want to invest in extensions.

This washer also has an agitator in the wash drum. While agitators are very common in top load washers, they're not the most efficient option and they can be harsh on your clothes. Agitators work by rubbing against your clothes but they require more water than a spinning drum that uses an impeller.

Magic Chef MCSTCW30W4: How efficient is it?

The washer, for its size, offers a good wash quality, with plenty of water added to ensure clothes are fully submerged, a good strong agitator action, and a fast spin speed of 800 RPM that will shorten drying time.

This Magic Chef washer is very affordable to power, costing approximately $8 a year to run. Though it uses little electricity, a top-loading washer uses more water than one of the best front load washers, which only use small amounts of water so you need to take that into account.

Magic Chef MCSTCW30W4: User reviews

Reviewers on Home Depot give this washer an average rating of 4.3 out of 5 stars and say that they are delighted with the washer's compact size and are pleasantly surprised at how much laundry it will hold. Some comment that the spin can leave clothes tangled tightly together, which can put the machine off balance, so they recommend re-distributing the clothes before a spin cycle.

The digital controls are easy to operate, it's very quiet and doesn't shake or vibrate, and the final rinse cycle is the only time it might be somewhat louder.

Home Depot customer review

Many users say that the hoses are shorter than they would like and suggest buying longer ones. Reviewers say that the spin cycle leaves the clothes pretty dry and that they only need 30 minutes or so in a dryer.

Should you buy the Magic Chef MCSTCW30W4?

The Magic Chef MCSTCW30W4 is a compact machine that is ideal for small homes where a traditional laundry room is not possible. It has an impressive spin speed for the capacity of the machine and holds a pretty large load considering its size. It is light on energy use, though it may use more water than a front-loading machine. All round, this is an ideal choice for apartment and mobile homeowners.

If this model isn't for you…

If this Magic Chef model isn't ticking your boxes, check out the GE GNW128PSMWW or grab a bargain with the Insignia NS-TWM16WH9 which offers great value for money. If you want even better spin speeds to make drying times as short as possible, the Danby DWM030WDB has an impressive spin speed of 900 RPM.

Sally J. Hall is an editor and journalist who has written for many newspapers, magazines and websites on a wide range of subjects within the medical, parenting, and consumer product markets; she is also the author of three books.