Benefits of Steam Clean Dryers & 3 Different Cycles

Steam dryers have some great benefits and should be considered when looking at new machines. Normal dryers use heat to dry clothes and allow the moisture to evaporate out of the clothes.  With the steam option, water is sprinkled into the dryer throughout the cycle in the form of steam. The steam can help reduce wrinkles and remove static  by softening the fabrics . Another great benefit is that steam clean can sanitize fabrics reducing orders and bacteria. There are a couple of different types of steam cleaning and steam can be used in different ways on your fabrics.

Where Does the Steam Come From?

The steam options on dryers either hook up easily to your existing plumbing. For most brands, all you need to do is buy a steam kit and install it. The steam kits usually include a tee connector, a short braided water line, and a longer braided water line.  The steam kit just hooks into the cold water faucet that your washer uses.  Some brands have a water reservoir that you refill before each load. 

3 Types of Steam Cycles

The different manufacturers will call their cycles something different, but these are roughly the different types of steam cycles. Some newer models might even have additional cycles and options.

1. Steam Dewrinkle: This cycle introduces moisture back into the dryer if clothes are wrinkled coming out of the dryer. This is really nice feature to use if you forgot to get the clothes out of the dryer after the cycle is done. You just turn your dryer back on and select this cycle and the steam will get rid of the wrinkles.

2. Steam Refresh: This cycle refreshes clothes. This cycle is used if you wear some clothing for short period of time and you don’t want do a full wash and dry cycle on it before your next use. Just stick it in the dryer and do a quick steam refresh and you are good to go.

3. Steam Sanitize: This cycle is designed to sanitize what can’t be washed. It can be used to sanitize items like pillows, toys, shoes, stuffed animals, and more.

Steam dryers adds more flexibility and options to your laundry needs. There's no need to worry about getting your fabrics freshened up before an important moment in your life with steam drying options.

How to Trick your Washer into Filling with more Water

Kieth is here today to show you an awesome hack with you washer. Some people talk to us about wanting to have more water in the drum when they do a load of laundry. If you have a top load washer, this is a great hack for you.

Before we dive into this hack, lets first talk about the amount of water that your washer uses. Some might think that the washer is not using enough water, but in reality, it probably is using just enough water especially with the new Energy Star High Efficient washers. There are only a few reasons why you would want to add more water to your load. If your cotton fabrics come out dirty or nearly dry straight out of the washer, or if you are washing a big comforter. These are indications that your machine needs more water.



Before you do a load follow these steps to have more water in your washer:
1. Load your washer with the clothes that you want to clean.
2. Pick any cycle and have the drum fill up with water.
3. Drain the water out and leave your clothes in the washer.
4. Turn off the machine and turn it back on.
5. Select the cycle that you would like to run and let the washer complete the cycle.

By following these steps, you have tripped the amount of weight of the clothes by making them wet. The agitator at the bottom scenes the weight and will fill up the washer with water depending on the weight of the clothes.

This hack only works for top load washers and cannot be done with a front load washer. Front load washers have a limit on how much water it can hold and if it goes more than a certain amount it could leak and cause other issues.

Always use the recommended amount of detergent every time.

Other tips that you can do before you add more water to your washer:

• Have smaller piles of clothes in a cycle to allow more room for the clothes to move around and get clean.
• Use a more aggressive cleaning cycle like heavy-soil or heavy duty cycles.
• Try using the steam settings if you have them.
• Pick a better laundry detergent, but use the recommended amount.
• Pre-treat tougher stains before putting the clothes in the washer.

High Efficiency Front Load VS Regular Top Load Washer

Keith is here to show you the difference between the new technology of the high efficiency front load washers and the older technology top load washers.

New HE Front Load Washers

With the new front load washers, one of the first things that you will notice is that there is a HE symbol where the soap dispenser. The HE symbol stands for high-efficiency. This tells you that the machine does have the new technology and that you need a certain type of soap with the HE logo. You will use less soap and use soap that is less dense. 

Front load washers use less water, your clothes will come out more dry after a cycle, and will ultimately save you money. Each cycle with a top load washer will use between 3-5 gallons of water. There are usually 2-3 cycles per load making the total amount of water used to about 10-15 gallons. People tend to use the extra rinse cycle as a way to really wash out all the soap in the load. This is good for people who tend to use too much soap. 

One question that we hear a lot is, will this amount of soap really clean my clothes? The answer is YES! Using less water means that it requires less soap and that you should stick to the manufacturer's maximum amount of soap.

 One other great benefit of using the high-efficiency washer is that it uses less electricity. The drum does spin faster, but with the newer technology, the appliance unit will use less electricity.

Old Top Load Washers

These washers have been around for 40- 50 years with really no new technology. These are the same washers that you grandma has used for years.

The big tub can hold from 10 to 30 gallons of water in each cycle filling it to the top. Each load takes about 2-3 cycles similar to the new technology. But when adding up all of those cycles, you are using about 60-90 gallons of water per load. That is a huge difference! With more water requires more soap to evenly distribute it out. This is why you use more soap.

Because of how much water you are using, requires more soap, more electricity, and costs you more money with this option in the long run. The convenient thing about the old top load washers is that the cost to buy them is going to be more affordable.

The Comparison

After comparing the new top load washers with the old front load washers, you can see a big difference between the two.. These differences are more clear when thinking about how much laundry you do, especially with a family. If you are looking at having to use less soap, less water, less electricity and want to save money in the long run, it is worth the upgrade to the new high-efficiency front load washes. 

What are your thoughts? Leave them in the comments section or contact our store.

Laundry Pedestal Options and More Innovative Technologies

Today, I would like to introduce the latest accessory innovations with the LG Side-Kick Laundry Pedestals and Samsung Flex Wash. But before we go into details, let's first start with the basics and explain what a pedestal is in the first place.

Traditional Pedestals

With front load washers, it can sometimes be daunting for people to bend down to place and remove laundry. Pedestals were made to make things a little bit easier.  A pedestal goes underneath the washer and dryers. It raises the appliances off of the floor of about 12-16 inches. This makes it easier to place and remove clothing inside the washer and dryer.  This will put less strain on your back by not having to bend down as much without a pedestal.

The other convenient thing about pedestals is that  it is a great storage area to make your laundry room not seem cluttered with it being in a drawer and almost blended into the look of your washer and dryer. You can keep your detergent, fabric softener, bleach, dryer sheets, and other supplies in here. 

Just remember that not all pedestals are the same and that you will need to make sure that you get ones that is the right size, shape, and color as your appliances.

You can find traditional pedestals in every brand of appliance. Find one for your laundry set here. or you can call one of our stores to make sure that you get the exact one that works with your washer and dryer. 

LG Side-Kick Pedestals

   This innovative washer mounts neatly beneath your LG front-load washer is a great alternative to the traditional pedestals. This pedestal option enables you to wash two separate loads of laundry at the same time.  This unique washer is specifically meant to handle your smaller, more delicate items in a smaller load.  You can now do a giant load of towels, and a smaller load of hand-wash items at the same time.

    This new idea can be a real time, water, and energy saver for you and your family when it comes to laundry day or when you need to do an emergency small load.

Take a look at theis LG SideKick Pedestal: WD200CW

Samsung Flex Wash

Samsung makes Flex Wash which is similar but is actually a 2-in-1 machine instead of a separate machine in a pedestal form. The Flex Wash has the small washer on the top of a front-load washer at a 1.0 Cu. Ft Capacity and can do faster cycles than a traditional washer and has the option of steam wash and dryer options.

Check out this Samsung model: WV60M9900AV.

See these options yourself at Appliance Factory & Mattress Kingdom. We can help you find the perfect pedestal option for you. We can take it  one step further by showing you the LG Side-Kick and Samsung Flex Wash options to optimize your washing and drying experience. Ask our team questions that you may have bout laundry and we can show you the best laundry innovations that are available and find one that fits your needs.

Give your laundry day a kick, with the new LG Sid- Kick laundry pedestal or become a little more flexible with Samsung Flex Wash. The choice is yours, but we can help you through the decision.

Why Buy a Top-load HE Washing Machine

Let’s start with the question what does HE mean? HE stands for high-efficiency in washers. In order for a washing machine to be considered high-efficient, it must follow meet certain criteria and guidelines in regards to how much water, electricity, and detergent it uses. Look for the HE symbol on the machine indicating that it uses less energy, water, and detergent.

HE washers can be found on front-load and top-load washers. Both HE washer styles are efficient with the clothes cleaning performance. Here is a look at why you should consider a top-load HE washing machine rather than a traditional top-load or front-load washing machines.

Better Cleaning, Less Water

Most HE top-loaders are better at cleaning, gentler on fabrics, quieter, and use less water than traditional agitator washing machines.

Lower Cost

Front-loaders, which is a newer technology and more popular, are usually your most expensive option. HE top loading machines give you the benefit of significant water savings as opposed to a standard efficiency top loader, at a fraction of the cost of front load HE units.

Larger Capacity

HE top-loaders do not have agitators which increases the capacity of the unit. You can do less loads of laundry by having more clothes in one load. An agitator top-load washer varies in sizes from 3.2 Cu. Ft. to 4.5 Cu. Ft capacity. A HE top-load washer ranges in sizes from 4.5 Cu. Ft. to about 6.2 Cu. Ft. capacity. Their extended wash cycles allow the machine to provide clean clothing with minimal water use.

No Vibration Problem

Top load HE units spin faster than standard efficiency top loaders leaving your clothes dryer with less time. Their final spin speed is significantly slower than a front-load unit, which decreases the possibility of vibration.

No Mold Issue

Unlike a front-load unit, the door does not have an air tight seal. By leaving the top open, and using an approved washer cleaner once a month, you can virtually eliminate the possibility of mold or mildew better than a front-load washer

ENERGY STAR Qualified

Because HE washers and dryers meet strict energy and water guidelines the machines are considered to be ENERGY STAR Certified. This can save you more money and energy throughout the life of your appliance.

HE washers and dryers are more common now, which makes them a little more affordable compared to when they first came out. They are still more expensive up-front than traditional agitator washers. With the many benefits of HE washers, it will save you energy, water, and time in the long run making it worth the upgrade.

What to Know About Buying Stack-able Washer & Dryer

There are so many different types of washers and dryers. One of the best features about front load washers is that you can stack the dryer on top. This is very convenient when you have little space for your laundry pair as it takes less floor room.



In this video, Richard goes into detail about the different types of washers and dryers that are stackable. Watch out for the depth of the units and how they stack on top of each other. Some washers and dryers actually slope backward at the top. This makes the weight of the unit move to the back. This option does require more depth in the back. Make sure that you have enough room for this features. If you do not have enough room in the back, make sure to get a laundry pair that has a flat front.

Wash Two loads at once with this Washer!

Joe is here to show you the amazing features of a new innovative washing machine. With this Dual Flex Washer from Samsung, you can do two loads at once. Using this washer will save you time, energy, and give you the flexibility.



Here are a few great features of this washer:

• Flexwash- Wash two different loads at the same time.
• Faster Cycles- You can do a load in 30 minutes.
• Steam Wash- This features allows you to remove stains easier.
• Quiet Wash- With the VRT Plus technology, it reduces the vibration of the drum.
• Total Capacity- More space means that you can wash more at one time and do less loads over time.
• Connected- You can start your wash from your phone, monitor the cycle, and have a timer go off when it's complete.
• Energy Star Raited- This is an eco-friendly and energy-efficient machine.

Love the look of this washer? Click here to see more or stop by one of our stores to see it for yourself in person.

Kiss Ironing Goodbye with These 5 Great Laundry Tips

Hate to iron clothes? You’re not alone! Pressing blouses, shirts and slacks can be a very tedious, time-consuming process, but you don’t want to be a wrinkled mess at work and it can cost a fortune to have the dry cleaners handle it! What to do? Luckily, we have some tips that can take the wrinkles out of clothes without the assistance of an iron, so you can look great without having to spend a lot of time dealing with them. Now you can enjoy wrinkle-free clothes without the hassle of ironing- everybody wins!

Set a Timer

It can be tempting to load clothes into the dryer, walk away, and forget about it until it’s time to fold. But this method can make clothing even more wrinkled, especially if you’re doing a large load. Set a timer for 20 minutes. When it goes off, pull out all the items you normally would need to iron, and lay them flat to continue drying, or hang them on a drying rack in your laundry room. They’ll be naturally wrinkle-free when you’re done! If you have a connected appliance, you can sink your dryer time to your phone and either stop it at any time or have the alarm go off when your clothes are ready. 

Use Dryer Sheets

Besides the added bonus of making your laundry smell fantastic, dryer sheets can make clothes come out of the dryer less wrinkled by softening the fabric. Nothing could be easier than throwing a dryer sheet into the laundry, and it is a good first step to an ironing-free lifestyle. Try Downy April Fresh dryer sheets for a nice, light scent that is not overpowering.

Release the Wrinkles!

After your clothing has dried, spray it with a wrinkle releaser and hang it in the closet. A wrinkle releaser does just what it says on the label- releases wrinkles by making the fabric hang straight. We like Downy Wrinkle Release in April Fresh, so the scent can match your dryer sheets!

Know When to Fold ‘Em

Leaving your laundry in the basket unfolded after it’s been taken out of the dryer is a great way to get many wrinkles on all your clothes. By folding the laundry the second it comes out of the dryer, you can smooth any wrinkles that would have needed to be ironed out. Bonus: you get to touch nice, warm clothes fresh out of the dryer!

Hang Up

No matter how careful you are with your clothing when you take it out of the dryer, it can all be for nothing if you don’t hang things up as soon as your laundry is done. Let gravity work for you by hanging your items on a hanger to naturally release the wrinkles. This will make your garment look great for a very small amount of work!

Got any more ironing tips (namely, ones that allow you to opt out of ironing)? Let us know in the comments section.

3 Back-To-School Organization Tips

It’s hard to believe, but summer vacation is nearly at an end. It’s just a matter of time before the little ones are off to school again for a brand new year! If you’re still catching your breath from the hectic morning rush to get the kids to the bus stop, now may be a good time to tweak your routine so you and the kids can stay a little more organized this school year. For smooth sailing from Day One to Day DONE, here are some of our favorite back-to-school organizational tips. Enjoy!

1. Lay Out a Week’s Worth of Clothes- Save time and a whole lot of drama by skipping the morning “nothing to wear” crisis and planning ahead! Every Sunday, when all the laundry has been done, put together an outfit for each day of the school week, and group them together in your child’s closet. Getting dressed will now be as easy as pulling clothes out of the corresponding day’s drawer or hanger! If your children are older, invite them to help choose their outfits so they have some input.

2. Establish a Good Night Schedule- In order to do their best at school and stay healthy, your kids need at least 10 hours of sleep per night. Check out this handy bedtime chart from Wilson Elementary School to determine an appropriate bedtime for your kids, based on their ages and what time they need to wake up:

3. Keep Everything in One Place- Designate a countertop, small table or desk in your home as the Information Center for all things school-related. This includes your kids’ school calendars, after-school activity schedules, homework, school supplies and permission slips. This all-in-one solution will help you avoid a last-minute dash around the house looking for your child’s homework!

If you have any more organization tips for starting the school year right, we’d love to hear from you- post your comments in the section below!

Ewww- What’s that Closet Smell?

It’s happened to all of us- on the first warm day of spring, we go to put on that fun summery sundress or pair of linen pants, only to discover that musty, “closet-y” smell emanating from us shortly thereafter. Even if you launder your clothes before hanging them back in your closet at the end of a season, the smell still seems to invade. Over time, remedies such as mothballs and cedar chips have come into existence, but neither is really appealing if you don’t want to smell like chemicals or a hamster cage all day. What are we to do?

Fortunately there is a solution. Follow these steps to keep your clothes smelling springtime fresh, even when you haven’t worn them since last spring:

           Give your Closet a Good Cleaning- First things first, right? To stop the stinky-closet-smell cycle, you must first clean out the closet itself. Purge any items you haven’t worn in one year, and space out hangers for your remaining clothes so they have room to breathe in there. Launder all the clothes you have elected to keep, so you can be sure they start out fresh. If your closet is carpeted, vacuum the floor and get in corners with the crevice tool to remove any dust. If your closet still has that old library sort of smell to it, you may even consider painting to give it that “new” smell.

      Shoo out the Shoes- How many of us really wear all the shoes we currently have in the closet? Since shoes often can be the cause of a musty closet smell, whittling down your shoe collection to only the ones you actually wear can help cut down on odor-causing factors. Once you’ve given the boot (HAHA) to the shoes you don’t wear, wipe down the ones you do wear and sprinkle the insides with baking soda or baby powder. Fresh shoes=fresh closet!

      Absorb the Odor…Naturally- I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to walk around all day smelling like an air freshener dangling from the rearview mirror of a taxi. This is why I elect not to use air fresheners in my closet. Absorbing odor, rather than simply masking it, is a key component of the war on closet stank. Try a natural odor-absorbing agent like coffee grounds, white vinegar, or our good friend baking soda, in a small container with holes punched in the lid. Tuck the container in your closet and you’re all set!

You can take the clothes out of the closet, and you certainly CAN take the closet out of the clothes! Once you’re done making your closet odor-free, you’ll notice a big difference in the way your clothes smell, which can really make a difference in the way you feel!

Keeping Up With Your Front Load Washer

Several family homes have upgraded to the front load washing machine. They stack, they’re energy efficient, they save you time and money – mostly money! But what about the upkeep to make these beautiful machines last longer? You’re probably saying, “Wait, upkeep?? People do that?” YES! Maintenance is very important to help keep your machine running smoothly and almost more importantly, keep your machine and clothes from exuding a nasty, moldy stench.

Today, most energy efficient washers have a self-cleaning setting – much like your oven. This cycle helps to take care of and even prevent mold and mildew build up from all those loads of laundry. But there are other cost efficient, easy ways to keep your machine clean and if you’ve passed that point and it’s already starting to stink, there are solutions for that as well.

Below are some links that we have found to help the average laundry-set-owner keep their washing machine clean and fresh. Whether it’s a daily ritual when you’re doing the laundry or a here-and-there cleaning, these tips will help you prevent and take care of this unfortunate situation.

 

Tips and tricks to do for every load:

http://www.prettyhandygirl.com/how-to-keep-your-he-front-load-washer-clean-and-smelling-fresh/

Daily + Once-in-a-while cleaning techniques:

http://www.treehugger.com/cleaning-organizing/8-tips-maintaining-front-load-washing-machines.html

Deep cleaning your cleaning machine:

http://www.ehow.com/how_8160246_clean-high-efficiency-washing-machines.html

Bleach and vinegar – but not all at once!

http://blog.diynetwork.com/maderemade/2013/04/30/get-your-laundry-back-on-track/