dryer

New Samsung dryer does steam, too

Doing the laundry doesn't have to be a chore. What once may have been put off until the lost possible moment can now be easily accomplished with a modern laundry pair. Washers seem to get all the glory (or at least the bulk of the attention), but the other part of the equation--the dryer--is often overlooked as an afterthought. However, it is the combination of the two that forms a complete solution to the daily need for clean clothes.

What is a washer without a dryer? Designed to pair with the Samsung WF520 5-cubic-foot VRT Plus PowerFoam Steam Washer, … Read more

Devices you already own can be greener

Many companies are investing in the green market by creating energy efficient appliances, but those new devices tend to be pricey. Besides, why replace something that still works? Tenrehte Technologies, a start-up located in Rochester, NY and Austin, TX, would like to help people reduce the power consumption of products they already own.

PICOwatt, Tenrehte's first product, allows consumers to turn off any appliance with just a few clicks. Appliances plugged into the device are controlled by the consumer via Wi-Fi. Energy usage, timers, and power are all controlled with a smartphone or computer. For example, instead of using … Read more

Can Bheestie Bag save your soaked device?

Your friends call you a klutz, Mom calls you careless, and you beat yourself up every time you drop your phone in the toilet or step on your MP3 player. We can't help you with your overall clumsiness, but there may be a solution for your soaked devices.

The Bheestie Bag is a small, lightweight pouch that draws moisture out of personal electronics using small, liquid-absorbing beads. After the device has been soaked or spilled upon, take the battery out, dry the device, and place it in the bag for 24 to 72 hours. The beads absorb water in … Read more

Whirlpool fabric freshener takes the ire out of ironing

I know I talk about laundry a lot, but let's face it: I do a lot of laundry. Probably close to 20 loads a week. So it's on my mind pretty much all the time. (Why, yes, I am a terribly fascinating person!)

My children don't help to reduce the amount of laundry in the house--in fact, they add to it by leaving clean clothes crumpled in a heap on the floor. By the time I get to the pile, it's a wrinkled mess. So, to the machine it goes, even though it would ideally be … Read more

Stop washers from walking

Most washers vibrate, but some take it a step farther: in the course of running a load, your washer may make it halfway across the room. This sort of vibrating can be frustrating and it isn't particularly good for your appliances. Shake Away Plus Pads from Kellett Enterprises can reduce vibrations and keep your washer in one place. The neoprene pads are placed under the feet of your appliance and will last as long as the expected lifespan of most washers currently on the market. They work successfully with a long list of brands, including Whirlpool, Maytag, LG, GE, … Read more

An all-in-one laundry solution

So, sometimes I admit things out loud that I'm sure makes other people hate me--such as when my cleaning lady does the laundry, she uses too much soap. It makes me crazy. I know, I know, the heart bleeds, right? But at the end of the day (at least Tuesdays), half a box of laundry detergent is gone with only two or three loads of clean clothes to show for it.

Purex has developed a new concept in laundry room management: Complete 3-in-1 laundry sheets with a load's worth of detergent, softener, and static protection all in one … Read more

BreezeDry: Air-dry your laundry, indoors

When young we learn at an astonishing rate. Soon after we learn about Mother's Day, we learn about Father's Day. The next logical thought in the process is to ask when "Kid's Day" is. The answer I always got was short, simple, and true: "Every day is Kid's Day." The recent Earth Day makes me think of this answer, and the realization that truly every day is Earth Day.

Here's a concept I really like: a self-enclosed drying cabinet for clothes right out of the wash. The BreezeDry ambient drying cabinet … Read more

Save energy with energy-efficient laundry drying

I'm here in the ever-sunny land of Israel, and one of the sights you constantly see here is laundry blowing in the breeze. Everyone line dries their laundry here, and many families don't even own a dryer. I'm not just talking about my mother-in-law, who thinks of a dryer as a newfangled invention that no one needs. One of my closest friends, a mother of five children, line dries all of her family's clothes--every single piece.

Here in Israel, the weather cooperates. But when I get back home to Houston, the humidity will make line drying … Read more

The 404 284: Where Heavy & Flo thank Mr. Roboto for his pencil

Heavy & Flo return to the show. It's supposed to be a monthly thing, but our schedule is a little erratic. Just be thankful we're not pregnant. They're up to their usual high-jinks because Daddy Bakalar is out of town to keep us in check.

The Oscars were on last night, so Heavy & Flo think it's an appropriate time to make fun of Japanese men, who can barely speak English. OK, Mr. Yu and Mr. Tang seem to think that it's pretty damn funny, too, when he thanks his pencil. Flo recounts her story … Read more