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 Choose Black Stainless

If you’re looking for something bold and shiny for your kitchen, then black stainless is definitely a good way to go.  Black stainless has been available for a few years now from major appliance manufacturers like Kitchen Aid, LG, and Samsung.  Even other brands like Whirlpool and GE have their own version of black stainless. This newer trend is here to stay!

The question is, what is black stainless exactly?                     

Black stainless as it reads is a bit misleading since there is no such thing as black stainless. In most cases, they are created from stainless steel and then coated in black oxide. Black oxide not only darkens stainless steel, but it also offers a bit of added protection. Often black oxide is added to ferrous materials and steel to add protection against mild corrosives. This is why many black stainless

steel appliances offer smudge-proof coating as an included benefit. In addition, black oxide offers protection against mild abrasions. Older refrigerators were coated in paint, so it only a matter of time before they were covered in chips and scratches. Since these refrigerators aren’t painted, but are instead oxidized, there’s no chance of them chipping – unless of course you take a hammer to it!

So why choose black stainless?

In addition to the durability and smudge proof of black stainless, it looks really sleek in all kitchens no matter the color palette.  Since this is a newer color in the industry, it is only found on the newest models. These models will feature some of the latest technology: Door-in-Door, Easy Clean, fingerprint resistance, dual door range, and 4 &5 French door refrigerators just to name a few.

If you are looking to upgrade your kitchen, I would definitely suggest considering going with black stainless. The fact that black stainless pairs well with just about any kitchen color under the sun and overall durability are 2 good reasons to upgrade today.  These appliances will be around for a while and can be in your home for a very long time.

Come check out black stainless for yourself at one of our stores. You will be amazed at how it looks.

4 Smudge-Proof Finish Options

    So, it’s been a while since you’ve upgraded your appliances and you’re thinking that with the Holidays coming up that this might be the right time to do it.  In looking for appliances you will find that while stainless steel is certainly the most popular, and available finish, it may not be the right finish for your household.        

                 

    Stainless Steel, while very attractive, can be a challenge to keep looking great.  Black & White appliances are limited in availability…and may actually cost you more! 

Never fear, new finishes are here!

  There are several new finishes available in a variety of brands that can offer your kitchen a luxurious look, without the luxurious price. Here are 4 different finishes to look into:

 Frigidaire Gallery

  A very “Family Friendly” appliance.  Nice features at an affordable price, with a very popular smudge-proof stainless steel finish. For the families that cook!

Frigidaire Professional

 This line offers a smudge-proof finish, while offering a “Pro-Style” look. For the households that entertain.

LG Black Stainless

This new finish offers an “acid-treated” stainless which is then coated with a smudge-proof outer coating.  Very luxurious and family friendly.

GE Slate

GE offers 90% of their line of appliances in this rich new finish, perfect if you prefer more of a Satin Finish, not a High Gloss.

There are many more options to choose from, I have only listed a few.  Come see us today so that we can show you more options in Samsung and Kitchen Aid, we hope to see you soon!

To Steam or Not To Steam

In recent years steam technology in laundry has become the latest sensation. You may be wondering, what exactly does it do? The average consumer does not fully understand or even are aware what the benefits are. Some do not even know that it is an option. Here is an overview of what steam technology can do in washers and dryers:

Washers

• Earth-friendly attributes boosts cleaning power with steam and it requires less water to do the job.
• Steam washers utilize a combination of water and steam in a variety of cycles to for a better wash for your laundry.
• Steam boosts the temperature inside the washer drum, causing fibers to relax and more efficiently absorb water, releasing deep-down dirt and stains.
• Wrinkles are reduced by high-heat steam softening fabrics, which allows wrinkles, deeply embedded during spin cycles, to flatten out.
• High temperatures will also sanitize clothing by reducing allergens, such as dust mites and pet dander.

Dryers

• Steam dryers provide similar benefits to clothing steamers while the clothes remain in the machine
• Steam setting also removes some resistant odors that wash cycles may not remove also helping to kill bacteria that cause them.
• Based on that information a consumer can determine now whether or not steam has useful benefits for their situation and laundry needs.

Have we got you hooked onto why you should look into steam technology? Check out the LG
TurboWash Washer with Steam Technology now, but stop by and check out all the other washers and dryers that offer steam technology. 

Meet the fridge that allows you to see what’s inside, without opening a door!

The greatest new thing in refrigerators are seeing what is inside your fridge without even opening the door. This can save you energy and more. Here is our review of the LG InstaView Door-in-Door Refrigerator (LFXS30796D)

Here’s the facts:

•        Smudge and Fingerprint Resistant Finish
•          7 Large Shelves to help optimize your storage
•          3 Pullout Freezer Drawers
•          30 cu. Ft. Interior- Perfect for larger families
•      Energy Star Qualified
•      Cold Saver Pannel

Our Review:

Glass doors on refrigerators are nothing new, however, LG’s new take get’s it right. The beautiful mirrored glass is darkened, so it blends very well with the unique look of LG’s black stainless steel. However, give the mirrored glass a knock-knock and the powerful LED lights illuminate the interior of the fridge. See an item that you just can’t resist? Use the now-popular door-in-door function to grab that perfect snack without the hassle or use of opening the full refrigerator door.

LG’s giving their customers a new choice on how to ma

ke decisions and interact with your refrigerator. While this feature is cool, and could be very useful; you cannot ignore the function of the LFXS30 line of fridges. The 30 cu. ft. interior is vast; not ready to part from Monday’s leftovers? LG says no worries! Additionally, with LG’s LoDecibel Quiet Operation function this refrigerator is much quieter than anything you’ve experienced in the past: no more sleepless nights because the kids think there’s a monster in the kitchen.

Take a look for yourself. Come knock on the glass yourself at one of our 16 locations.

TOP LOAD VS. FRONT LOAD WASHER

So your washer has just run its last cycle in its long and prosperous life and now you are, for potentially the first time, shopping for a brand new one. You walk in to an appliance store and you see an overwhelming selection of washers to choose from. There are top load with the agitator, there are top load without the agitator in the middle, and finally there are front load washers. What is the major difference between the three? Well I’m here to answer exactly that.

Lets begin with top load washers with

agitators. This is your traditional washer set up and generally at lower price points. The first thing to mention is that very few top load washers are built in the old school manner where they will last 15 to 20 years. Most modern washers on the market going to last 8 to 10 years, regardless of set up. The reason they don’t last as long is because the savings on energy efficiency over the 8 to 10 years of its life is enough money to warrant purchasing a new set. The down side of this washer design is water efficiency while the benefit is you don’t have to bend down to put clothes in. A great example of a top load washer is the LG 5.7 Cu.Ft. Mega Capacity Top Load Turbowash Technology Washer.

The top load without the agitator in the middle is a curious study. The lack of the agitator in the middle to pull clothes through the water to clean them means that the manufacturers had to get creative with the way the tub rotates. The benefit of these is that your clothes can’t get tangled around the agitator or get frayed, plus the capacities tend to go higher on them as well. The downside on them is water efficiency.

Now we get to the front load washers. The number one complaint I’ve heard customers have is that they tend to develop a smell over time. The manufacturers have fixed that issue by using anti-microbial material on the interior of the washer. The other thing to keep in mind is that front loads require ventilation, so keeping the door cracked is necessary. Now front loads are the best at cleaning clothes and here is why, the tub will spin out much faster than the top loads plus the tub itself is stainless steel on the interior. Now while they are generally more pricey, the amount of water savings you will have on front load vs. top load will pay itself off in two to three years. Check out the LG 5.2 cu.ft. Mega Capacity with On-Door Control Panel & TurboWash.

So in general, front load washers will clean the best and are the more efficient. The downside is having to bend down to load and unload, but they do have pedestal or stacking options. 

Your Guide to Smart Home Devices- Part 3

This is the third installment of our 3-part series about smart home devices and appliances. Today we focus on appliances that are changing the meaning of the word “efficiency,” one technological breakthrough at a time. Check out parts 1 and 2 for more recommendations on the most brilliant smart home innovations of 2016!

Samsung Family Hub Refrigerator, starts at $5,599 - Samsung, leading pioneer of smart home appliance integration, has done it again with its beautifully-designed Family Hub refrigerator. Unlike previous iterations of Samsung smart fridges, this one is fully compatible with Alexa, Amazon’s voice assistant, and will work in conjunction with your smartphones and even stream TV! (Oh, yeah, and it does a great job of keeping food cold too.) Marvel at the 21.5-inch touchscreen that allows you to send and receive messages from your family and friends’ smartphones, share your calendars so your appointments are always handy for viewing, and display family photos (you can take snapshots of your kids’ artwork for a futuristic spin on the old refrigerator magnet!) Dazzle your friends with the efficiency of ordering groceries right from your fridge, courtesy of Alexa. If you have dreamed of talking to your refrigerator (oh, is that just me? Awkward.) this is the refrigerator for you. Of course, all this technology and innovation doesn’t come cheap- the Samsung Family Hub starts at $5,599 for the standard depth stainless steel model, and a counter-depth black stainless model will cost you in the neighborhood of $5,999. You can find one here for a better deal.

LG Smart ThinQ Washer and Dryer, from $1,599.99 each-Wouldn’t it be nice if you could check the status of your wash or dry cycle from your smartphone? With the LG Smart ThinQ washer and dryer combo, to the energy-efficient capabilities designed to optimize your usage of power, Smart ThinQ washers and dryers are a game-changer for the way we will do laundry in years to come. The gorgeous stainless steel construction and sleek design make this a washer/dryer combo you’ll want to show off, and the WaveForce washing technology and TrueStream drying technology help to make each load come out perfectly every time, with no hassle. Best of all, it was recently announced that the entire line of LG Smart ThinQ appliances will soon be adding Alexa (via a Smart ThinQ hub, sold separately), which means your washer and dryer will be able to seamlessly integrate with the rest of your smart home in the very near future. Here is one that we recommend.

GE WiFi Connect Free-Standing Convection Range, starts at $2,099- Turn your smartphone into a remote control for your stovetop and oven with a WiFi Connect range from GE! The appliance giant has gotten into the smart home arena in a big way with a line of free-standing ranges as well as cooktops and wall ovens that can be turned on, off, preheated and more via a smartphone app! Using an IFTTT (If This Then That) “recipe,” Alexa can even be used to trigger on/off verbal commands. Best of all, none of the cooking efficiency is sacrificed in the name of technology- the GE free-standing convection range boasts the largest integrated griddle on the market, as well as a gas convection oven that circulates heat for maximum cooking results every time. Check out all the details here. 

Looking for appliances to help you upgrade your smart home? Check out part 1 in the smart appliance series. Appliance Factory has a wide range of smart appliances at unbeatable prices. Check out one of our 16 locations today or visit our website. We look forward to helping you create your home of the future!