Coming Clean ~ Part II
Oct 15 '00
Laundry – Love It or Leave It!
Contrary to popular opinion, I never once beat my loincloth on a rock and rinsed it beside a stream while my mate hunted for Pterodactyls. I barely recall the old wringer style washing machine that gathered dust in our basement when I was a toddler. Twin white metal boxes, large enough for my sister to shove me into when I became too annoying, performed the daily duties of washing and drying our clothing and linens. Using ancestors of today’s highly advanced laundry pairs, my mother, our cleaning woman and sometimes even I managed to magically turn filth into flowery fresh fabric with those wonderfully solid appliances.
Growing up in the suburbs, I barely remember seeing washers and dryers manufactured by anyone but Kenmore®, Whirlpool® and Maytag®. Always situated in the dark, unfinished half of the basement, these reliable tools of trade offered two cycles and two water levels at most along with the three basic temperatures. Somehow, without benefit of touch pads, sensors and specialty fabric settings, we managed to don freshly laundered clothes and sleep on clean sheets.
Today, the options available within a widely varying price range might confuse the uninitiated. Technological advances in all electronic devices seem to take drastic leaps on a minute-by-minute basis. Laundry care keeps step with the latest innovations and for that we should rejoice.
Engineers and those involved in research managed to take a mundane task and turn it into an event. Through their diligence, our washables last longer while remaining newer in appearance. Worries of washing the life out of towels, tee shirts and our favorite jeans no longer burden us. Owning up-to-date laundry tools and using highly evolved detergents, fabric softeners and bleaches provide more than great looking results – they actually save us money.
Flowers for Algernon
Before heading out to the mall, department store or specialized appliance retailer, realize that new technology requires new skills. Not only do we want to own the latest and greatest, we need to intellectualize the process. (No, insanity does not run in my family.) Laundry care no longer requires only separation of whites and colors. Not only are the appliances high-tech today, the fabrics also fall under that category.
Reading the owners’ manual for the new and improved washer and dryer is imperative. Then, once that information is assimilated, start reading the fabric-care labels on your clothes. Specifics listed on washables include preferences regarding wash cycle, water temperature, force of the agitator, speed of the spin cycle, dryer temperature and possibly directions to hand wash or lay flat to dry.
A good starting point, before purchasing your laundry pair is your closet. Read those fabric care labels before hitting the store. Make a list of required cycles and purchase a machine that matches your needs. Those who sort clothes completely (by fabric care instructions) will require machines with more advanced features. People whose wardrobe consists of jeans and cotton work shirts can get away with a basic model.
Basics
Until recently, there were two types of washing machines, top loaders and front loaders. The top loader consisted of a drum with a center agitator. The front loader performed well without the large agitator but cost more. Now, the basic types are changing to work better with newly developed fabric blends. Almost all washers today bear the Energy Star ratings with the front-loading washing machines holding the highest honors for exceptional energy efficiency.
· Traditional Upright Tub Washing Machines, while less energy efficient, cost less than the higher line horizontal tub models. These vertical axis washers are commonly called “Top Loaders.” The initial purchase price on traditional upright tub washing machines is in most cases much less than the front-loading models. Retail prices range from a generic low of $199.00 up to $799.00 for a high-end top loader.
With traditional top-loading machines, you load your clothes around the agitator; add enough water to submerge the clothes and the agitator moves back and forth circulating the clothing and detergent until clean.
· Front-loading or Horizontal Axis Machines have a door in the front through which clothes are loaded. With the front loader, clothing does not need to be submerged in water and detergent. Most front-loading machines have larger capacities since there is no agitator taking up space. Prices range from $500.00 up for front-loading machines. Consider an average of two hundred dollars more than a top loader with comparable features.
Using a front-loading machine, simply place the clothing into the drum. Closing the door sets a seal. The drum fills with water as it rotates. Fins on the side of the drum lift the clothes and drop them back into the soapy water. The lifting and dropping action of the fins is as gentle as the top loader’s agitator. The biggest benefit to the consumer is the savings in water and detergent. Using less water means heating less water. Over the life of a front-loading machine, the washer pays for itself in energy savings and detergent.
· High Tech Agitation is the latest innovation. Described as “exotic agitation” by Whirlpool and Sears, the Kenmore® Elite Washer comes with “Calypso Wash Motion.” Developed as a collaborative effort, this is one of the rare top loading washing machines to earn the highest Energy Star rating. Presently, the price of this highly evolved washing machine is above one thousand dollars; comparable to high-line front loading models such as the Maytag® Neptune™.
The Elite™ has no agitator and washes clothes by spraying them from above while tossing and bumping them with a movable plate on the bottom of the drum. This new model uses half the water of traditional top loaders and claims a higher capacity than even the largest super-capacity top loader.
More Considerations:
· Fabric Care Selections: As mentioned above, the machine that fits your lifestyle is no mystery. Read fabric labels and choose a machine that meets or slightly exceeds your needs. Be sure to choose a machine that meets all your fabric requirements, not just clothing – think sheets, towels, table linens, etc…
· Water Temperature Controls: Basic needs are met with three water temperature settings: Hot, Warm and Cold. Mid-line machines now offer variable temperature controls allowing more flexibility and better care of fabrics. Top-line machines actually compensate for variables in the temperature of water coming from your home’s pipes. Sensors recognize that your cold water is too cold to allow a 50/50 mix of hot and cold water for the perfect warm temperature. Those sensors will compensate by allowing more hot water into the washtub achieving the exact temperature chosen for the laundry load.
· Water Level Settings: Again, basic needs are met with three water levels: Low, Medium and High. Newer washers permit custom levels by offering true variable controls allowing precise water level settings.
· Soak Cycles: This feature falls under “nice to have but unnecessary,” in my opinion. The only instance where the ability to soak and rinse serves a great purpose is in homes where greasy, dirty and badly stained clothing is the norm. For unusually soiled fabrics, I fill the washer with pretreated clothing, detergent, water and turn it off for whatever period I feel will do the trick. For those with a mechanic or personal football team in-house, the soak cycle just might be the answer to your prayers.
· Multiple Rinse Cycles: This is one feature to consider, especially if someone in your household has sensitive skin. The second rinse cycle utilizes more water and energy resources. The benefit is fewer residues of detergents left in clothing. If your family gets along well with the single rinse cycle, do not insist upon this feature. Most machines provide adequate rinsing without the additional cycle.
· Size Matters: One consideration that seems to rarely come into play until after the purchase is size. Top loaders and front loaders vary slightly in width and depth. Depending upon where the pair will rest, size may matter. Stackable sets are pricey and provide less capacity. Expect smaller loads and fewer features with the space saving footprint.
· Control Options: Depending upon the budget allocated for laundry appliances, the choices expand with the wallet. Dials and spring-loaded buttons adorn lower end models. Touch pads and high tech electronics control mid-line to high-style washers and dryers. In truth, any combination of touch pads, buttons, dials and knobs are found on mid-range appliances. This is purely a matter of taste and what the buyer finds comfortable or familiar. Touch pads and high-tech panels do carry a higher post-warranty repair or replacement cost; they also allow easy clean up with a damp cloth.
My Two Cents:
Doing laundry and purchasing a washing machine and dryer should not require a PhD. As with any purchase, I buy the best that I can afford with as many features as I require. Owning a machine with all the bells and whistles available on the market, today, could very well mean possessing an appliance with features that go unused. Looking at the cost of ownership means adding the purchase price to the cost of operation over the life of the appliance. Expect the new washer to last seven to ten years with proper care and regular maintenance. Sometimes that extra two or three hundred dollars averages out to less money spent over time with energy and laundry supply savings.
I find a wealth of information online, especially on Epinions. Read, research and be a conscientious consumer. If all else fails, buy Dry Clean Only garments and become a weekend nudist. Your neighbors will love you.
For information on How To Buy a Dryer read Coming Clean at:
http://www.epinions.com/./hmgd-review-13F0-BAA9017-39C38DEC-prod1
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pogomom
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About Me:
Web/puter person who, disguised as mild-mannered Pogomom, offers unsolicited opinions to all she encounters.
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