washer

Doing laundry is one of life's little chores that usually isn't much fun. However, since the benefits outweigh the negatives, we usually carry on and get the job done. While washing clothes is somewhat akin to watching paint dry, washing clothes well is at least a bit more exciting. When advanced features are combined with a large capacity drum, doing the laundry can be downright fun. (Well, not really, it is still laundry after all.)

The Samsung WF431 Washer might not win any awards for being the life of the party, but it will help you get to … Read more

People who hate housework will soon have two more robots to handle the chores.

iRobot this week will unveil the Scooba 230 floor washer and the next-generation Roomba 700 series of vacuums.

iRobot already has a line of Scooba floor washers, but the company is touting the Scooba 230 as a leaner cleaner. At 3.5 inches high and 6.5 inches wide, the 230 is geared to squeeze into tight places, such as underneath furniture and around bathroom fixtures. The 230 holds enough cleaning fluid to take care of 150 square feet of space in one session, iRobot said.… Read more

You know the drill: the washing machine makes a funny sound, or refuses to spin your clothes. You call a repairman. When he shows up--3 days later, natch--buried under Mt. Washmore is the machine. The tech spends approximately 0.37 second assessing the situation, then tells you your load is out of balance. He rearranges your towels, and charges you $195 for the privilege.

What if you could just get your washer to tell the technician exactly what the problem is? That's the goal behind the new Kenmore Connect technology. Not sure if your machine is supposed to do … Read more

Internet privacy is a major concern these days, and we're definitely interested in any tools that make it easier to keep private information private. Unfortunately, 1-abc.net Surf Trail Washer is not an Internet privacy tool that we would recommend.

The program starts off promisingly enough, with what at first glance appears to be a pretty intuitive interface. There are three buttons: Start Automatic Washer, Start Manual Washer, and Options. We started with the Manual Washer to see what would happen. The program, which is compatible with both Firefox and Internet Explorer (we were using the former), scanned our … Read more

Procrastination is quite often a harmless endeavor. Chores get stacked up, but usually they end up just getting rearranged in priority for a later date without any ill benefit. However, there is one task that the longer it gets put off, the larger it grows: the laundry. Every day (hopefully), newly soiled clothes are added to the pile, and before you know it, what used to be a molehill is the size of a mountain. When faced with a trip to the Laundromat at this point, one can almost be forgiven for purchasing an entire new wardrobe. For home laundry, … Read more

I'm always jealous when I see that a friend's laundry room has a sink in addition to a washer and dryer. But getting a sink into the laundry room that doesn't already have the necessary plumbing is an expensive hassle. Which is why this retro-style washing machine with an integrated sink from Smeg is so brilliant. Also, it's pink, and super cute.

With an 11-pound capacity, this machine is smaller than we're used to seeing here in the States, but it's a standard size in Europe.

And by the way, don't let the '… Read more

Some years ago, I awoke to find a very large puddle of water on the floor around my laundry machines--never a good sign. It was made much worse by the fact that the floors in that area were newly installed laminate. Not fun.

You can avoid my tale of tragedy and woe if you get a washer from Bosch with its new AquaStop Leak Protection System. In the event of a leak in the machine or the hoses, AquaStop kicks in to stop the water. It automatically shuts off the unit and pumps out all the water in the machine … Read more

For those of us who pay per load to do the laundry, the simplest way to save money is to scour the neighborhood for the cheapest machines. But those who have washers and dryers in their homes have to find creative ways to save on spending, whether it means stretching a pair of jeans for an extra day or two, air drying towels and sheets, or investing in a green washing machine. The Zanussi washing machine will not only wash your clothes and look stylish, but it will also save you money.

If you're wondering how it saves money, … Read more

Maytag's Performance washers and dryers are known for the long list of standard features, but they're getting one more: a Fresh Hold Option. The new technology prevents clothes from smelling like mildew, even if they sit in the washer a little while between the end of the wash cycle and moving over to the dryer.

The new feature is based on dynamic venting: the washer uses a fan, combined with a tumble cycle, to eliminate moisture that would normally still be in the washer after the clothes were cleaned. It doesn't dry clothes, but it significantly reduces … Read more