These Aren"t Your Mama"s Washer & Dryer
Samsung Activewash™
Every January manufacturers unveil their latest tech toys at the International Consumer Electronics Show (CES). And, while washers and dryers may not command the biggest headlines like a new smartphone or tablet, there's plenty of innovation to share. You can't put these babies in your pocket but where would you be without a washer and dryer (Hint: Smelly).
Laundry appliance manufacturers are offering some of the most sweeping changes to washers since the influx of front-load washers to the United States in the early 2000s.
Samsung did their research and found that for most of us, pretreating stains is time-consuming but a necessary step in achieving clean laundry. They also discovered that most homes don't have a sink in the laundry room. We must pretreat or soak stained clothes in the bathroom sink or a bucket and drip our way to the washer.
So, problem solved. In Spring 2015 Samsung will introduce their latest top load washer, Samsung Activewash™, with a simple yet innovative feature - a built-in sink with water jet and gentle scrubbing surface. The sink provides a separate space to pre-treat tough stains, like heavily soiled sports uniforms or to handwash items like lingerie or sweaters. Once finished, the stained items and water can easily be poured into the machine or the delicate items removed for air drying and the water drained away.
The activewash™ washer also accelerates the wash process with its SuperSpeed technology, a first for a Samsung top load washer. An average load of laundry can be completed in as little as 36 minutes.
The washer will be offered in white (5.2 cu. ft. and 4.8 cu. ft.) and platinum (5.2 cu. ft.).
LG TWIN Wash™
Since it seems we are trying to always do two things at once, LG is offering the TWIN Wash™ system. It is the first front-loading washer that allows users to wash two loads of laundry at the same time. The main washer is a full-capacity front loader and the second is a mini washer underneath in a hide-away pedestal. The mini washer is sized for delicate items that require special attention, unique wash settings or those last minute, "Mom, I have to wear this today" loads.
The TWIN Wash System is powered by the mini washer (Models WD100C* / WD200C*), When not in use, the mini washer serves as the pedestal for the main washer and can be combined with any of LG’s front-loading washers.
You'll also see features on 2015 LG appliances like faster wash cycles, smart connectivity options, better ergonomic designs for loading and unloading and more energy efficient dryers that will enhance the laundry process.
Whirlpool is combining laundry with all of our smart technology to help consumers take better care of their clothes and even help other families. The Whirlpool® Smart Top Load Washer and Dryer incorporates a mobile app that allows users in the United States to make a donation to Habitat for Humanity with each load of laundry.
Technology also comes into play with the intuitive touch display that simply asks "what to wash" and "how to wash," to an enhanced diagnostics tool built to help correct common user errors with easy how-to guides.
Because the appliances work with Nest, remote settings laundry can get done even while you are away from home. Custom downloadable cycles can be downloaded in 2015 to meet your family's specific laundry needs.
Xeros
Looking ahead, there are even more big changes coming to home laundry in 2016. For several years Xeros, a British company, has provided institutional laundries with a front-loading washing machine that cleans clothes and linens using a combination of patented polymer beads, a proprietary detergent and relatively little water. The company hopes to have a consumer-sized model ready for the 2016 market.
Commercially, Xeros machines have shown reductions in water consumption of up to 80 percent, 50 percent reductions in energy (100 percent if using cold water) and 50 percent reductions in detergent usage. Once the polymer beads have completed their usage cycle, they can be recycled for use in other industries. Xeros anticipates that consumer washers will need to replace the beads about every six years and plans to offer recycling services to home users.
Electrolux/GE
In September 2014, Electrolux agreed to purchase GE Appliances (GE and Hotpoint brands) for 3.3 billion dollars. With the purchase, the Sweden-based company will extensively expand beyond its core market in Europe and expand growth in North America where it manufactures Electrolux and Frigidaire appliances.
Electrolux was the second-largest manufacturer of appliances behind Whirlpool. This purchase will bring each company to approximately the same size. It will be interesting to watch what happens next.
Every January manufacturers unveil their latest tech toys at the International Consumer Electronics Show (CES). And, while washers and dryers may not command the biggest headlines like a new smartphone or tablet, there's plenty of innovation to share. You can't put these babies in your pocket but where would you be without a washer and dryer (Hint: Smelly).
Laundry appliance manufacturers are offering some of the most sweeping changes to washers since the influx of front-load washers to the United States in the early 2000s.
Samsung did their research and found that for most of us, pretreating stains is time-consuming but a necessary step in achieving clean laundry. They also discovered that most homes don't have a sink in the laundry room. We must pretreat or soak stained clothes in the bathroom sink or a bucket and drip our way to the washer.
So, problem solved. In Spring 2015 Samsung will introduce their latest top load washer, Samsung Activewash™, with a simple yet innovative feature - a built-in sink with water jet and gentle scrubbing surface. The sink provides a separate space to pre-treat tough stains, like heavily soiled sports uniforms or to handwash items like lingerie or sweaters. Once finished, the stained items and water can easily be poured into the machine or the delicate items removed for air drying and the water drained away.
The activewash™ washer also accelerates the wash process with its SuperSpeed technology, a first for a Samsung top load washer. An average load of laundry can be completed in as little as 36 minutes.
The washer will be offered in white (5.2 cu. ft. and 4.8 cu. ft.) and platinum (5.2 cu. ft.).
LG TWIN Wash™
Since it seems we are trying to always do two things at once, LG is offering the TWIN Wash™ system. It is the first front-loading washer that allows users to wash two loads of laundry at the same time. The main washer is a full-capacity front loader and the second is a mini washer underneath in a hide-away pedestal. The mini washer is sized for delicate items that require special attention, unique wash settings or those last minute, "Mom, I have to wear this today" loads.
The TWIN Wash System is powered by the mini washer (Models WD100C* / WD200C*), When not in use, the mini washer serves as the pedestal for the main washer and can be combined with any of LG’s front-loading washers.
You'll also see features on 2015 LG appliances like faster wash cycles, smart connectivity options, better ergonomic designs for loading and unloading and more energy efficient dryers that will enhance the laundry process.
Whirlpool is combining laundry with all of our smart technology to help consumers take better care of their clothes and even help other families. The Whirlpool® Smart Top Load Washer and Dryer incorporates a mobile app that allows users in the United States to make a donation to Habitat for Humanity with each load of laundry.
Technology also comes into play with the intuitive touch display that simply asks "what to wash" and "how to wash," to an enhanced diagnostics tool built to help correct common user errors with easy how-to guides.
Because the appliances work with Nest, remote settings laundry can get done even while you are away from home. Custom downloadable cycles can be downloaded in 2015 to meet your family's specific laundry needs.
Xeros
Looking ahead, there are even more big changes coming to home laundry in 2016. For several years Xeros, a British company, has provided institutional laundries with a front-loading washing machine that cleans clothes and linens using a combination of patented polymer beads, a proprietary detergent and relatively little water. The company hopes to have a consumer-sized model ready for the 2016 market.
Commercially, Xeros machines have shown reductions in water consumption of up to 80 percent, 50 percent reductions in energy (100 percent if using cold water) and 50 percent reductions in detergent usage. Once the polymer beads have completed their usage cycle, they can be recycled for use in other industries. Xeros anticipates that consumer washers will need to replace the beads about every six years and plans to offer recycling services to home users.
Electrolux/GE
In September 2014, Electrolux agreed to purchase GE Appliances (GE and Hotpoint brands) for 3.3 billion dollars. With the purchase, the Sweden-based company will extensively expand beyond its core market in Europe and expand growth in North America where it manufactures Electrolux and Frigidaire appliances.
Electrolux was the second-largest manufacturer of appliances behind Whirlpool. This purchase will bring each company to approximately the same size. It will be interesting to watch what happens next.
