Home Appliance Efficiency Hits and Misses

In 1937, when being green had more to do with envy than the environment, a group of engineers at Bendix Home Appliances invented the first automatic front loading washing machine. Unlike the top loading basin and wringer washers of the time, the new Bendix used significantly less water and utilized a high speed water-extracting spin cycle.

The success of the new concept washer vaulted Bendix Home Appliances to the top of the appliance heap; peaking in 1950 when Bendix commanded an industry-leading $12 million in sales. However, the success of the Bendix washer was short-lived.

Soon other appliance manufacturers introduced cheaper top loading machines that were less efficient and offered a lower price tag. With modern aqueducts bringing copious amounts of water to the west and powerful new clothes dryers available in most new homes, water use and drying time no longer significantly impacted consumer purchasing decisions.

The United States paid a price environmentally when it abandoned front loading washers in the 1960s. While European appliance manufactures worked to improve the efficiency of horizontal washers, the U.S. residential washing machine market became dominated by top loading machines for over three decades.

New ENERGY STAR clothes washer initiatives in the 1990s finally brought change the appliance industry. Through partnerships with manufacturers and financial incentives for research and development, ENERGY STAR, was able to persuade major appliance makers to redesign, retool and ultimately manufacture a new generation of front loading machines. However, not all ENERGY STAR initiatives have been so successful.

From the beginning, ENERGY STAR allowed appliance manufactures to self test, report and regulate, with predictably poor results. For example, separate efficiency standards for different refrigerator configurations have enabled manufactures to produce side-by-side models that are a significantly less efficient than similar-sized bottom-mount freezer models. Additionally, large 36” inch professional-style refrigerators have been given the ENERGY STAR seal of approval even though they consume an average of 600 KWh of electricity annually.

Cheating has also been a problem. In September 2008, a test by Consumer Reports Magazine found that LG’s French door refrigerator energy usage was 100% higher than what was listed on the government-mandated DOE yellow sticker adhered to the product. LG subsequently apologized for the mishap, paid a fine to the DOE and reimbursed consumers who purchased the product. And although the fridge was not ENERGY STAR rated, it nevertheless demonstrates that some manufactures can’t be trusted to test and publish accurate efficiency data.

Separately, Consumers Reports found that energy efficiency data reported on many refrigerators did not include the use of through-door ice and water dispensers. Assuming that most consumers use this feature, Consumer Reports did efficiency testing with through-door system in operation. The tests showed that the refrigerator models used hundreds more kilowatts of electricity annually than was reported on the yellow energy sticker. Consumer Reports concluded, “if the refrigerators are used as intended, the owners won't save as much electricity as they were led to believe when they purchased the appliance.”

Moving forward:

With the exception of clothes washing machines, ENERGY STAR has failed to systematically change efficiency standards within the appliance industry. ENERGY STAR’s decision to hand efficiency standard development and testing over to manufactures is akin to asking high school students to assign their own homework and grade their own final exams. The results have been predictably below expectations.

If greater efficiency is to be achieved, ENERGY STAR must set its own high standards and challenge appliance manufactures to rise above the bar. In addition, oversight must be done by third party laboratories that don’t have a vested interest in fudging results to meet a desired standard. There are numerous testing facilities that are equipped to test appliances including safely certification firms such as UL and ETL.

New advancements exist that can greatly reduce energy consumption, including advanced insulation for refrigerators and ovens, and more efficient heating elements for cooking appliances and clothes dryers. The technology exists but only ENERGY STAR has the power to push it to market.

The Top 10 Laundry Advertisements of All Time

Their catch phrases are as recognizable as the brands they tout; all - tempa – Cheer, the lonely Maytag repairman and the unmistakable laugh of the Snuggle fabric softener bear. The creators of these ads were given the task of taking everyday laundry products and making them memorable. Here are some of the best laundry advertisements of all time.

10. Calgon – Ancient Chinese Secret: This memorable 1970s ad shows how an ancient Chinese secret (otherwise known as Calgon) gets laundry exceptionally clean.

9. Ariston Aqualtis - While Ariston is not a big name in North America, this ad that ran in Europe and Asia is one of the most inventive washing machine ads ever produced.

8. Bounce Fabric Softener – Using a classic 1980s hit song, this ad will surely bring back memories.

7. Cheer-– Set to the song Sweet Lovin Man, this ad is one of most memorable commercials of the 1990s.

6. Clorox – This Clorox bleach commercial traces the history of laundry from the time of the wringer washer to today’s high tech front loaders.

5. Thor – It’s safe to say that few people living today will remember this advertisement. This Thor ad is the first known laundry machine ad in existence. It originally ran in 1909.

4. Bendix- This Bendix ad ushered in the new era of automatic front loading washers

3. Maytag – A list of the best laundry ads wouldn’t be complete without Ol’ Lonely, the Maytag repairman.

2. Snuggle – The iconic Snuggle fabric softener bear is featured in this 1984 classic.

1. Tide – A classic 1971 Tide ad temps a shopper with an offer that, as it turns out, she can refuse.

Sleep Tight - - Washing Away the Bedbug Outbreak

Once famous only in nursery rhyme lore, the little bloodsucking insects known as bedbugs are making a comeback in many North American cities. Even the finest five star New York City hotels have seen outbreaks this summer and according to recent scientific studies, the U.S. bedbug population has increased 500 percent in just the past three years.

Although called bedbugs, the tiny six-legged insect can infest more than just bedroom sheets. Bedbugs are commonly found in clothing, upholstery, linens and even carpeting. And while not known to transmit disease, the thought of mixing company with bedbugs is enough to creep out even the most hardened entomologist.

Bedbugs, a common household pest for centuries, were all but eliminated in the 1950s due to the widespread use of the insect-killing chemical DDT. But when DDT was outlawed in the 1972 due to its toxicity to wildlife, the bugs began their comeback by developing resistance to less effective DDT replacements. The most recent outbreak of the itchy welt-inducing insect is the worst in over fifty years.

Thankfully, most bedbug infestations can still be eliminated without the use of harsh chemicals. Hot water above 113 degrees Fahrenheit kills bedbugs on contact and is the best and safest way to eliminate the pests on sheets and clothing. Carpet and upholstery infestation still requires a professional pest control service.

Although more energy efficient, cold water wash cycles lack the punch needed to kill most bacteria and insects that can live on towels and bedding. Sheets and bathroom towels should always be washed in hot water, while clothing can be washed in warm/cold unless bedbugs or other infestation is suspected. School-aged children's clothing is always more susceptible to lice, fleas and other bugs, as kids tend to share close quarters and are more likely to come in contact with sand and dirt.

Modern washing machines and washer dryer combos have a hot water setting for most cycles and laundry can be soaked in hot water if extra protection is desired. Additionally, water heater temperature controls can be turned up to exceed the bug-killing 113 degree threshold. If you live with young children, turning up your water heater can be a scalding hazard, so be sure to check to see that the temperature setting not scalding hot.

While the bedbug outbreak is creepy and unsettling, itchy bedbug bites typically disappear within a few days without incident. And with a little hot water prevention, you will sleep tight and…..well, you know the rest.

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Sport Utility Dryers (SUDs), and Washers Too

They’re the Hummers of the laundry machine world. The 16 beach towels, 18 blue jeans, 55 hand towels and 274 underpants washing and drying behemoths. They’re the new breed of laundry machines dubbed the Sport Utility Dryers (SUDs) – and washers too.

The new laundry machine arms race that created SUDs began about a decade ago. Spurred by new government efficiency standards, appliance manufactures abandoned decades old top loading washers and began to produce more efficient front-loading laundry appliances. But unlike front loading machines available in Europe and Asia, the new North American version of the front loader was bigger and seemingly growing larger each model year.

The 2010 and new 2011 washer and dryers are the biggest of the bunch, with dimensions and load sizes that dwarf those manufactured just a few years ago. But with all the girth of these new models, SUDs are rarely used to their capacity.

In fact, a typical SUD washes and dries less than 50% of their total capacity per load. So although these massive laundry machines are ENERGY STAR rated when utilized at maximum capacity, most of the water and electrical savings are wasted on smaller loads.

But there’s more than just capacity to these monsters of the laundry room. If size doesn’t provide the bragging rights you’re looking for, speed will surely have your friends green with envy. In the quest for fastest load time, some laundry sets, such as the new Electrolux super capacity washer and dryer, boast total load times of a mere 36 minutes. That’s 36 minutes split between a turbo charged wash cycle and a dry cycle with enough scorching heat to shrink an extra large cotton wife beater into an infant’s onesie.

Like the expanding size of the automobile in the last decade, SUDs are bound to reach their limit in the near future. With the crash of the housing market and the price of utilities pushing skyward, consumers are downsizing their lives and looking for more efficient ways to conserve space and energy.

Unless you’re into having the biggest laundry appliance on the block, there are other washers and dryers that take up less room, are gentler on clothing and actually get clothing clean and dry without excessive heat and pounding.

New compact washers and ventless dryers now offer the convenience of a complete laundry set, without the hassle of a dryer vent. For small homes and lofts, all-in-one washer dryer combos provide even further installation options that include under-counter in a kitchen or in an extra closet. Ventless dryers also offer the big energy savings advantage of being up 60% more efficient than their vented counterparts.

So if you don’t come from a family the size of the Brady Bunch, your best bet is to forgo the SUD and take a closer look at the more practical and energy efficient options available on the market today.

Tips for Avoiding the 10 Most Common Laundry Problems

Note: The following post was originally distributed in the form of a press release. I have re-posted it here on Thor's blog site as well.

1.Detergent Overuse

As highlighted in a recent Wall Street Journal article, Americans continue to overuse laundry detergent. Detergent overuse not only shortens of the life of clothing, it can damage or even ruin a perfectly fine washing machine.

High levels of detergent can get trapped in fabric, making clothing appear dingy and faded. Inside your laundry machine, detergent residue gums up the inner workings of your washer, including the door gasket and drain system. In a washer dryer combo, suds from too much soap can accumulate in the condensing chamber, causing longer dry times.

The reason for detergent overuse is twofold. High efficiency washers of today use significantly less water (and therefore need less detergent) than the top loaders of an earlier era. While Americans are still getting used to new front load machines, they continue to measure detergent based on top load washers. Making matters worse, modern detergents are much more concentrated, which means that a little goes a long way.

Today, accurately measuring out laundry detergent is more important than ever. Be sure to read the detergent box to determine the correct amount of soap for your load size and water temperature.

2. Overloading

Even with the expanded capacity of modern washers and dryers, overloading continues to be a common problem. Unlike old tub-style top load washers which use an agitator to stir clothing clean, new front load machines clean by tumbling laundry. In order for front load washers to work properly, there must be room for the laundry to tumble. These washers should be loaded to about 3/4 of full capacity to allow the clothing to fall away from the drum during the wash cycle. An overfilled washer will result in poor cleaning results and wrinkled laundry.

3. Forgetting to Empty the Lint Filter

Forgetting to empty the lint screen not only creates longer dry times, it can be a potential fire hazard. When emptied after each cycle, lint filters eliminate the collection of gooey lint in vent line ducting. However, screens that are not cleaned regularly can cause potentially hazardous lint accumulation within the dryer housing.

A perfect kindling for a fire, lint that comes in contact with a dryer’s heating element has the potential to ignite. While newer dryers are designed to be less susceptible to fires, no dry system is completely immune from years of lint built up.

Take the time to empty the lint screen after each cycle and be sure to inspect old dryers for lint accumulation behind the filter and where the vent line exits the back of the machine.

4. Forgetting to Remove Packing Bolts

Front load washers use packing bolts to secure the machine’s suspension system during transportation. If the packing bolts are not removed before the washer is operated, the suspension system will not function and the machine will jump and vibrate. Be sure to refer to your user manual for directions on how to remove backing bolts. Also, remember to replace packing bolts if your washer is moved to a new location.

5. Not Using Fabric Softener

When most of us think of fabric softener, we think of soft fluffy towels or that snuggly little teddy bear. And while fabric softener can make your towels fluffy and your sweater soft, it also plays an important role in front load washer operation.

As mentioned earlier, front load washers tumble clothing during the wash cycle. In addition, they extract water by spinning laundry between rinses. The high speed spin of a front load washer can cause clothing to stick to the side of the drum, preventing them from tumbling freely during the rinse cycle. A small dose of fabric softener will help laundry fall away from the drum and ensure that clothing is rinsed properly.

If you are averse to using a scented fabric softener, there are many mild and unscented softeners on the market today.

6. Mixing Fabrics and Colors

As life gets more hectic, we’re all more apt to cut corners when it comes to laundry. This often results in tossing every color and fabric type in the washer and selecting a warm water wash. Mixing colors and fabrics can not only discolor clothing (e.g. the pink sock that used to be white), it can break down delicate fabrics.

Be sure to read the washing instructions on each garment and take a few extra minutes to sort laundry into white, colors and delicates. Not only will your clothes last longer, you won’t have to be seen with that embarrassing pink sock.

7. Shrinkage

For those who remember the classic Seinfeld episode dealing with the subject, shrinkage of the laundry variety can be a more permanent nuisance.

In a push for record breaking dry times, many appliance manufactures have turbo charged dry cycles with scorching heat and too often poor results. Excessive heat can ruin delicate clothing and significantly shrink cotton fabric. Hang drying garments in the spring and summer is a good way to save energy and avoid cotton shrinkage – and a quick five minute fluff in the dryer will release any wrinkles that may have developed while hang drying. In the cooler months, selecting a more moderate dry cycle will extend the life of clothing and keep shrinkage to a minimum.

8. Out of Balance Loads

Unless you live adjacent to a pile driving project, the sound of an out of balance washer is hard to mistake. While most modern washers have an automatic shut-off trigger that eliminates damage to the machine, the few seconds of earth shattering pounding is not something that can (or should) be ignored.

While reshuffling clothing will usually do the trick, larger blankets and bedding can be hard to balance, particularly if they’re too bulky to fit comfortably in your washing machine. The best way to avoid out of balance loads is to use an extra large washer at your neighborhood laundromat or have those bulky items professionally laundered.

9. Pens and Other Pocket Hazards

Long hailed as a nerdy fashion accessory, the pocket protector just might be the best defense against this next laundry mistake. That’s because one unsuspecting ballpoint pen left in a pocket can ruin an entire load of clothing.

If a single ink stain is tough to remove, image dozens on ink streaks scattered over an entire load of shirts and pants. The best way to avoid this disaster (other than the pocket protector idea) is to take the extra time to check each pocket for pens, gum, rocks or any other unfriendly item that may cause harm to your clothing or washer and dryer.

10. Leaky Hoses

A leaky or bursting washer hose can cause major water damage in a matter of minutes. Like any material, the rubber used in laundry hoses breaks down after years of use, particularly under high pressure. Thankfully there are a number of products on the market that can eliminate leaks before they become disasters.

The FloodStop system eliminates leaks at their source by combining a floor level moisture sensor with an automatic water shut-off value. In the event that water finds the floor-level sensor, FloodStop immediately shuts off the water by closing valves at the end of the hot and cold water spouts. In addition, an 87 db alarm sounds to alert the resident of the problem.

There are also many aftermarket multi-layered hoses that offer additional flood protection. One word of caution about aftermarket hoses; many European washing machines have custom hoses with a metric sized connection for the washer and a standard sized connection for the water input. In this case, you may need to stick with the stock hoses or search for a more customized hose option that blends metric and standard sizing.

Get a Load of This 100-Year-Old Washer

Happy Birthday Thor Washing Machine! Before the LCD-enhanced washer dryer combos of today, Thor created the first commercially available washing machine. AOL News highlights Thor's 100th birthday.

Get a Load of This 100-Year-Old Washer

Five Most Common Misconceptions about Ventless Drying

Although condensing dryer technology has been popular in Europe and Asia for many years, the ventless laundry concept here in North America has struggled to gain widespread appeal.

Americans were first introduced to ventless drying in the 1980s when European-made washer dryer combos began to appear on boats and recreational vehicles. These early ventless combos used an internal condensing system in which a narrow condensing chamber was attached to the outer washer drum. Due to their narrow dimensions and location adjacent to the warm drum, internal condensers were prone to lint and soap residue buildup, which over time resulted extended dry times.

Luckily, most new combination machines now use an external condenser, which is separated from the dryer drum and therefore offers much faster drying. In addition to washer dryer combinations, new stand-alone 220 volt ventless dryers use an entirely different heat-exchange system which works as a dehumidifier to dry clothing significantly faster. These new ventless dryers now offer dry times that rival standard vented dryers.

Despite these advances in condensing dryer technology, the following misconceptions still remain:

1. Condensing dryers take forever to dry

Early ventless dry systems from the 1980s took a long time to dry; in some cases over 2 ½ hours. Although newer condensing systems dry significantly faster, ventless dryers are still burdened with the reputation of slow dry times.

Modern washer dryer combo systems now dry clothing in about 90 minutes and the new stand-alone condensing dryers usually take 45 – 60 minutes for a full load. Combo machines typically operate on 110 volt power and utilize a small drum, which translates into slightly longer dry time compared to stand-alone 220 volt ventless or vented dryers.

2. Ventless dryers release moisture back into the surrounding room

Condensing dryers use a closed-loop system that removes dampness from the air using a dehumidifying process which does not release heat, lint or moisture into the surrounding room. Stand-alone ventless dryers release a small amount of dry air back into a room as a result of a heat-exchange system which uses air to cool an internal radiator.

3. All Condensing dryers are tiny

Ventless dryers now come in all sizes, from the smallest combo machine to a large stand-alone condensing system. Early combos typically found in boats and RVs were quite small compared to the expansive washers and dryers sold today. But technological advances have allowed ventless dryers to grow larger with time.

4. Ventless systems use more energy

Actually, the opposite is true - condensing systems use 50% - 70% less energy than standard vented dryers. Unlike vented dryers that continuously expel and reheat air, ventless closed-loop systems remove moisture and re-circulate warm dry air back into the dryer drum. The result is less stress on the dryer heating element and a more efficient way to dry clothing.

Another added benefit of condensing dryers relates to heating and air conditioning. In most parts of the world, a residence is heated in the winter by a furnace and cooled in the summer by an air conditioner. Vented dryers remove an average 200 cubic feet per minute of air from a surrounding room. That means that a HVAC system needs to work harder and use significantly more energy during vented dryer operation.

5. Ventless dryers don’t conform to building codes

The majority of ventless dryers on the market are UL or ETL approved, enabling them to meet building codes throughout the country. In addition to being approved under the International Building Code, many ventless models meet strict municipal codes that go above and beyond the ICB building requirements.