iPhone 3GS from AT&T. Free ShippingI know I talk about laundry a lot, but let's face it: I do a lot of laundry. Probably close to 20 loads a week. So it's on my mind pretty much all the time. (Why, yes, I am a terribly fascinating person!) My children don't help to reduce the amount of laundry in the house--in fact, they add to it by leaving clean clothes crumpled in a heap on the floor. By the time I get to the pile, it's a wrinkled mess. So, to the machine it goes, even though it would ideally be freshened and put away properly. And my husband? Well, he seems to think that dress shirts should live on doorknobs and towel hooks. And then, in a panic, he takes all his dress shirts to the dry cleaners and pays extra for rush service. Good times. The Whirlpool Fabric Freshener provides a potential solution. It looks like an oversize garment bag with a cord attached. Plug it in, add the proper amount of water, and press a button. The freshener removes odors, relaxes wrinkles, and dries delicates--in about half an hour. No more last-minute dry cleaning runs, and no need to run a wash just to freshen clothes that spent too much time on the closet floor. I've seen products that do this before, but they're generally much less portable and much more expensive. This one could ostensibly be packed to take with you on a business trip--and it costs just over $200. If you're spending $10 a week at the dry cleaners just to avoid pressing your shirts, you could rack up some serious savings.
Most washers vibrate, but some take it a step farther: in the course of running a load, your washer may make it halfway across the room. This sort of vibrating can be frustrating and it isn't particularly good for your appliances. Shake Away Plus Pads from Kellett Enterprises can reduce vibrations and keep your washer in one place. The neoprene pads are placed under the feet of your appliance and will last as long as the expected lifespan of most washers currently on the market. They work successfully with a long list of brands, including Whirlpool, Maytag, LG, GE, and more.
High efficiency washers have especially been noted to show signs of vibrational issues because they rotate at an average of double the speed of a conventional top load washing machine. Shake Away Plus Pads were developed with high efficiency washers in mind: they work with front load, top load, combos, stackables, and even washers sitting on pedestals. They also work with dryers. In each case, vibrations are dispersed evenly through the pad and mechanical energy is converted to heat energy. Each pad is a 2.5 inch square and is 1 inch thick. A set of four pads cost about $29.95.
So, sometimes I admit things out loud that I'm sure makes other people hate me--such as when my cleaning lady does the laundry, she uses too much soap. It makes me crazy. I know, I know, the heart bleeds, right? But at the end of the day (at least Tuesdays), half a box of laundry detergent is gone with only two or three loads of clean clothes to show for it.
Purex has developed a new concept in laundry room management: Complete 3-in-1 laundry sheets with a load's worth of detergent, softener, and static protection all in one sheet.
The sheets are ridiculously simple to use. Drop it into the washer to release the detergent during the wash cycle. Then move it over to the dryer along with your clothes. The heat from the dryer activates the fabric softener, which doubles as a static remover. Toss the sheet after the load is dry, and you're done.
The first time you buy the sheets you'll need to get a starter kit--it includes a refillable dispenser you can use to store your sheets and keep them safe. Afterward, pick up the refill packs and just keep refilling the dispenser.
According to Purex, it developed the new product with an eye to sustainability. I'm hearing the argument on less packaging -- it cuts packaging by almost 50 percent. But the company also says that if everyone in the U.S. switched to the laundry sheets, "41 Olympic-sized pools worth of water would be saved each single refill purchase versus purchasing a standard 50oz bottle of liquid detergent!" I'm having trouble following the argument--are they saying liquid detergent is mostly water? Because I can't figure out how using these sheets would use less water in your machine.
Also, according to Purex, using the sheets reduces CO2 emissions from transportation by 67 percent. That may be true, but you're still using your dryer if you're using these sheets, rather than hanging your clothes on the line. Which is perhaps a realistic approach--as much as I love the idea of line-drying, I haven't yet made that leap, and I can't see it happening as long as I still have children of bed-wetting age.
Purex is offering a money-back guarantee on the sheets, so you can try them out risk-free--just keep your original receipt and apply for the rebate by December 31.
When young we learn at an astonishing rate. Soon after we learn about Mother's Day, we learn about Father's Day. The next logical thought in the process is to ask when "Kid's Day" is. The answer I always got was short, simple, and true: "Every day is Kid's Day." The recent Earth Day makes me think of this answer, and the realization that truly every day is Earth Day.
Perfect for storing wet items.
(Credit: BreezeDry)Here's a concept I really like: a self-enclosed drying cabinet for clothes right out of the wash. The BreezeDry ambient drying cabinet is a built-in fixture designed to remove the need for an energy-hungry traditional clothes dryer. Pulling in air from the outside, the cabinet circulates the air to dry a full load of laundry. Completely enclosed, laundry can be safely stored away as it dries. The whole process only takes a couple of hours.
Lots of products are called "green" nowadays, but few are able to transform daily chores to the extent the BreezeDry accomplishes. Operating at a fraction of the energy usage of a conventional dryer (yes, it does still use electricity), the BreezeDry looks to change the way we think about the common task of doing laundry. With the recent trend of green appliances, it's nice to see one that takes the next step and embraces the approach that every day is a good day to consider the environment.
(Via Appliancist)
I'm here in the ever-sunny land of Israel, and one of the sights you constantly see here is laundry blowing in the breeze. Everyone line dries their laundry here, and many families don't even own a dryer. I'm not just talking about my mother-in-law, who thinks of a dryer as a newfangled invention that no one needs. One of my closest friends, a mother of five children, line dries all of her family's clothes--every single piece.
Here in Israel, the weather cooperates. But when I get back home to Houston, the humidity will make line drying a much less convenient option. And it's while I was looking up "line drying in humid climate," I came across the Spin Dryer, an alternative to a conventional clothes dryer.
The Spin Dryer's ultrafast cycle--3,200 revolutions per minute--is about at least 2 to 3 times faster than the spin cycle on most washing machines and it extracts more water than the spin cycle on your machine does. There's no heating element, so your clothes come out slightly damp, but that's after a 2 or 3 minute cycle. Your clothes would take more than half an hour in a regular dryer to get that dry.
When the Spin Dryer finishes, hang your clothes for a little bit, or toss them in a regular dryer for about 5 minutes to get them fully dry. I think even in Houston, I could hang some whites after a spin to let the sun bleach them nicely. No matter where you live, the $130-Spin Dryer can help you save on energy costs and consumption, and ease the wear and tear on your clothes at the same time.
Yesterday, I mentioned a space-saving stackable washer and dryer unit. But what if even that takes up too much room in your living quarters? Are you doomed to drying your clothes in the bathroom or out the window? Are you going to be deprived of fluffy towels and soft shirts? Not if LG has anything to say about it.
LG's new Washer/Dryer combo is an all-in-one machine that takes your laundry from dirty to dry in a single unit. That's right, you can put in a load of laundry and come home to clean, dry clothes.
To install the washer, you'll need a water hookup and a standard electrical outlet. No outside venting is necessary, because the dryer cycles use a ventless condensing system. Clothes are dried from within the drum; the water that's extracted from the clothes drains through the drum and out the water pump. The process takes a little longer than conventional drying, but the trade-off may be worth it for many apartment dwellers who don't have vent access.
The unit runs on standard electricity; no gas line is needed.
The front load unit has a 2.44 cubic foot capacity and automatically adjusts the water level and wash time to get your clothes clean. During the drying cycle, the sensor dry system takes over and measures the moisture in the drum to adjust the drying time and temperature.
Set the machine to wash only, dry only, or wash to dry to suit your needs, and delay the start up to 19 hours to make your laundry fit your schedule. Choose from nine wash programs and five rinse temperatures, including a sanitary cycle.
The Energy Star unit comes in titanium or white finishes and retails for about $1,600.
A friend of mine is currently adding a second story to her house to accommodate her growing family. The construction is extensive enough that she, her husband, and their three children had to move out of the house into a rented apartment while the work is being done. She told me she didn't care about how many rooms the apartment had or how small the kitchen was--she just needed to have a washer and dryer in the apartment. Of course, her full-size machines take up quite a bit of space in her temporary digs--like, a living room's worth of space.
But really, why should anyone living in a smaller space have to give up the conveniences and options of a full-size washer and dryer? A smaller cell phone doesn't come with fewer number keys, does it? And condo and apartment dwellers deserve better.
Haier agrees, and they've come up with a stackable washer and dryer unit that doesn't force consumers to compromise. The washer features 12 different fabric care wash cycles, plus an auto select wash/rinse temperature. It's a front loader that lets you configure soak, extra rinse, four spin speeds, and spin only options.
At just 24-inches across, the washer can slip into a small closet. Sure, it can't handle the biggest loads in its 1.8-cubic foot tub, but it could certainly stand up to the daily load created by a family of five.
The ultra-quiet electric dryer offers a 3.5-cubic-foot stainless steel drum with dual temperature settings, a dry time selector and temperature sensor drying. Stack the units to save space, or stand them side by side if you can spare the room.
The washer's model number is HBF1055TVE; the dryer's is HDY6-1. The total price for the entire unit is set at $1,099, making this option not only space-conscious, but also budget friendly.
It's possible you've seen all the washers and dryers my colleagues have posted about recently and not one of them has cried out to you and made you feel you must rush out to buy it.
Maybe you thought to yourself, "Those are all fine, but I need a washer that can tell me when it's finished, even if I'm in a different part of the house." Maybe you just can't decide if you want to stack your machines or store them side by side. Or maybe you wanted a system that would ease your allergies during hay fever season and the rest of the year.
Maybe you need to take a look at the new LG SteamWasher and matching dryer. In sleek stainless steel, the washer and dryer can be stacked--or not. The upfront control panel features a trilingual (English/French/Spanish) LCD display--for that je ne sais quoi we all want in the laundry room. (Or, you know, so that the nanny from Luxembourg can do the laundry while the kids are napping.)
The Allergiene cycle promises to reduce dust mites, household pet dander, and other allergens, so you can breathe easy. And the SteamFresh cycle can take your wrinkled work clothes and make them fancy, fresh, and fabulous in just 20 minutes.
The LG Steam laundry line also is compatible with the award-winning LG Remote Monitoring System. This little piece of hardware tracks the laundry's progress and saves you from running up and down the stairs all day to see if the clothes are ready. Plug the remote monitor into any electrical outlet--it connects with the washer and dryer via Power Line Communication (PLC) technology, and the large LCD screen keeps you informed at a glance.
(I know some of you are rolling your eyes and wondering if I have never heard of the buzzer indicator on a washer or dryer. I have, but I wonder if you have ever spent three hours getting a colicky infant to sleep, only to have him awakened by the stupid buzzer. Who's rolling her eyes now?)
This full-size dryer from Maytag handles full loads with a large 7-cubic-foot capacity drum. Physically larger than similar models, the Bravos MED6300TQ has a width of 29 inches by a depth of just more than 30 inches. The height is almost 4 feet, measuring 42 inches, but considering similar smaller models offer height extenders or pedestals for their dryers to sit on, this might actually be an ideal height.
Maytag - Bravos 7.0 Cu. Ft. SuperSize Capacity Plus Electric Dryer - White
(Credit: Maytag via Best Buy)The control panel is situated toward the back of the machine, creating a nice durable porcelain-on-steel worktop to set a laundry basket upon. Anybody who has hairy pets running around the place will tell you that this is no small feature. The analog controls offer the ability to easily dial in the desired setting. Included are seven drying cycles and five temperature settings.
The GentleBreeze drying system with IntelliDry sensor measures moisture in the steel drum and automatically adjusts time and temperature to protect fabrics. The DuraCushion powdercoat interior helps to reduce snagging, further protecting your garments. The Smooth Balance suspension system, along with the QuietSeries 400 Sound Package, both help to reduce vibration and noise.
Over at Consumer Reports (subscription required), they don't have a review of this particular model, but a similar version (whose main difference appears to be a viewing window for you--or your pets--to watch spinning clothes) does rate high with satisfied customers. Most see the different settings as the main benefit along with the large capacity. The fact that the dryer is not stackable may deter some, but with others noting the benefit of being able to rest laundry off of the floor.
This Kenmore dryer stands at 36 inches tall and has a base with a depth of just under 29 inches and a width of 27 inches. The painted exterior features a chromium frost door ring and handle. The front mounted dial with tap touch controls permit the unit to be stacked with a compatible washer. Further enhancing its space management features an optional pedestal is available. Matching work surfaces and storage towers are available allowing for a high degree of customization in any laundry room.
Behind the see-through glass door, the drum has a large capacity of 6.7 cubic feet and has a painted steel surface. An interior light is mounted inside, making it easy to see. Important as this is where the lint trap is located.
Both the Auto Moisture Sensing and the Auto Dry Level selection measure the moisture and temperature, automatically shutting off the dryer when the load is done. All together there are six drying temperatures that work in tandem with the six standard cycles, and five special cycles such as presets for jeans or large items. Wrinkle reduction is provided in the form of Wrinkle Guard 90. Noise reduction is provided by the QuietPak 4 sound insulation.
User reviews at Consumer Reports (subscription required) places the Kenmore HE2 line solidly in the middle of the pack with some noting the price as too high. However, Consumer Reports testers awarded 73 out of a high score of 85, with a report card of very good or excellent for main features.
