Laundry Rooms Are The New “Showpiece” For Homeowners (NAPSA)—One of the mostused, but under-thought rooms in the home is getting more attention these days. The utility room wasonce a drab, dingy place most commonly found in a basement or garage. Now homeowners are building creative spaces that capitalize on the latest laundry innovations and address the specific needsof the individual family. “The Clothing Doctor,” laundry expert and author of “The Ultimate Guide to Shopping and Caring for Clothing,” Steve Boorstein, says creating a functional utility room starts with the appliances. Investing in the right tools for the job will save you money and wear and tear on your wardrobe in the years ahead. “A washer/dryer may last you for up to 15 years,” Boorstein says. “You'll want to understand the benefits and features, which inelude soil and stain removal, load capacity, water efficiency and respect for the fabric’s original condition.” The Latest Washer Technology To that end, the largest manufacturer of front-load washers in the world, has a new front-load washer that offers American classic styling with increased capacity, installation options and higher spin speeds. “One of the things I like best about the new Frigidaire frontloading machine is the versatility for design and installation,” Boorstein says. “This unit works well as an under-the-counter built-in, or it comes with a match- ] | a | j The homefashionfront now fea- tures high-style, large-capacity front-load washers. ing dryer and a set of new pedestals for a free-standing look.” The front loaders have a capacity of 3.5 cubic feet, which is big enough for a king-size comforter, along with a door opening of 14.5 inches in diameter. The washers have an automatic dispenser with an 87 percent larger target area for easier pouring. The Advanced Rinsing Technology showers clothes with fresh, clean water in the final stages of the rinse cycle for whiter whites and less skin irritation. The new storage pedestal, with a 15 inch high storage drawer, boasts the industry’s largest storage capacity. It is the only pedestal on the market that can store large laundry detergent bottles (120 oz.) upright. Additionally, the pedestal features two dividers with a “flat-top” design that holds a laundry basket directly below the openingfor eas- ier loading and unloading. To help people better understand the benefits of front-load washers, Boorstein shares the following: * Economics.A front loader saves about $150 per year in energy and water savings. Because the front loader rotates in a tumble action on an “H-axis,” the water only needs to fill enough to coat the clothing in a “puddle” rather than filling a whole tub. * Cleaning Power.In a frontload machine, laundry detergent dissolves in about five gallons of water rather than the 20 gallons of water per load used in a toploading machine. The result is better success with soil and stain removal. * Capacity. The spacious interior of the front-load machine decreases the numberof loads and overall time spent doing the laundry. The maximized space now allows consumers to wash a wider range of household products, such as comforters, sleeping bags and throw rugs, which formerly had to be sent to the dry cleaners. * Gentleness. With the tumble action of a front-load washer, your clothes experience less abrasion than a traditional agitator, so the clothing fibers last longer and show less wear and tear. The value of one load of laundry in an average consumer homeis about $450—so it makes sense to make sure yourclothinglasts. For more information, visit www.frigidaire.com.
