Multiple spin speeds and final spins as fast as 1,300 rpm remove the maximum amount of water, which reduces drying times. “The dryer causes a lot of damage to fabrics, so if you can wash in the right temperature and reduce the drying time, you can take better care of your fabrics,” says Cynthia Fanning, GE Appliances’ marketing manager for clothes care.
Dryers offer multiple programs that set the appropriate air temperature and time for delicate fabrics like wool and silk, as well as fabrics such as cotton. Some models incorporate moisture and temperature sensors that adjust drying time to prevent damage to clothes from overdrying and heating.
Functional features all trend toward making the chore of doing the laundry easier and releasing the user from having to know exactly what water temperature, spin cycle, and dryer heat temperature is best for each type of fabric, according to Michael Bohn, director of brand marketing for Siemens.
“Most people like controls that are pretty intuitive, so they don’t have to hunt around to figure out what they’re doing,” adds Randy Karn, director of product management, laundry category for Maytag. However, because some consumers prefer to control every aspect of their clothing care, most washers and dryers allow cycles to be set manually as well as automatically.
Clothing-care-conscious consumers require more options for caring for their fabrics at home. Delicate clothing that could be damaged in a tumbling dryer can instead hang or lay flat to dry in air-drying cabinets that circulate air around items to dry them. Clothes that are not really dirty, but not quite clean can also be refreshed in several appliances designed to remove odors and wrinkles.
With all these advances in clothing care, it’s not surprising that home buyers demand laundries that are conveniently located, well-provisioned, stylish work rooms.
Courtesy Sears, Roebuck & Co Sears, Roebuck & Co Designed to wash up to 23 towels in a single load, extract water by spinning at up to 1,300 RPMs, and to use 69 percent less water and 64 percent less energy than a conventional washer, the Kenmore HE4t washing machine also makes a style statement in three bold new colors. The washer is available in colors drawn from the automobile and apparel industries: neutral metallic Champagne, grey-blue Pacific Blue, and brick-orange Sedona. 800.349.4358. www.sears.com/kenmore.
Courtesy Bosch Appliances Bosch Appliances With 15 wash programs including a sanitize cycle, the Nexxt washer features paddles that lift clothing gently while raining down water on the load. Suds sensors detect detergent residue in fabric and ensure complete rinsing. The Logixx control system adjusts the wash drum’s rpms according to fabric type selected while also adjusting the wash cycle time based on size, water pressure, and other load conditions. 800.921.9622. www.boschappliances.com.
Courtesy Miele Miele The Touchtronic washer features a stainless steel wash drum that has 80 percent fewer water extraction holes and a network of water channels that create a thin water layer to cushion clothes as they spin, the maker says. The super-capacity Touchtronic W1215 model comes in stainless steel and allows the user to choose from several preset programs. 800.843.7231. www.miele.com.
Courtesy Maytag Maytag With removable mesh shelves, hooks, a WrinkleRelease rod, and ShapeSaver hangers in its upper compartment, the Neptune Drying Center pairs a traditional tumble dryer with a drying cabinet. The drying cabinet speeds up the drying process while reducing shrinkage, removes odors to refresh clothes, adds fragrance by circulating air through the dryer sheet caddy, and eliminates wrinkles with its swaying WrinkleRelease Rod and steam cycle. 800.688.9900. www.maytag.com.
Whirlpool
Courtesy Whirlpool The DryAire drying cabinet features two fold-down shelves for flat-drying items, a top wire shelf from which up to eight garments can be hung, and three door racks for accessories and small items. Five cycles—air only, super delicate, delicate, normal, and heavy duty—circulate varying temperatures of air through the cabinet without overheating items, the maker claims. 800.253.3977. www.insideadvantage.com Siemens Home Appliances
Courtesy Siemens Home Appliances The ultraSense plus washer boasts 15 wash cycles, all monitored by the system’s technology to care for a wide range of fabrics. Asymmetric paddles and an inclined drum create a three-dimensional tumble action, providing optimum water saturation and gentler handling of clothing, says the maker. The washer operates at only 60 decibels. 888.474.3636. www.siemens-home.com.
