The average American woman spends seven to nine hours a week doing laundry. That's a full day's work sorting dirty white T-shirts from dirty red ones, pairing up countless odd socks and folding, folding, folding. The piles will never go away completely, but you can make it easier to deal with them by using the latest washing, drying and stain-fighting technologies.
Choose a high-tech washer and dryer
Upgrading your machine? Keep an eye out for the latest washers and dryers, which get clothes cleaner and cut utility bills.
If you can afford to replace your washer, consider a front-loading, high-efficiency model. Some are quite expensive (more
than $1,000), but their smart features are beginning to show up in better-priced models that start at around $680. Today's
dryers are also more efficient, so your clothes will last longer.
Review new washers
Front-loading washers have no center agitator, so they:
* fit larger loads (as many as 24 towels at a time)
* wash clothes with less wear and tear and remove stains better;
* are much more energy efficient―you'll use less electricity and water―for savings of up to $110 a year (look for machines
with Energy Star labeling to be sure the one you pick will help you reduce costs in the long run);
* fit under a counter or can stack for better use of space;
* have faster spin cycles that extract more moisture, so drying takes less time; and
* offer a variety of options for different cycles (such as a preset cycle for blue jeans).
Look at new dryers
Dryers are now quieter and larger, which means that they:
* work faster, so you can dry a full load in the same amount of time it takes to wash one; and
* have sensors to determine the dryness of items, so you don't dry clothes for too long, shrinking and weakening fibers.
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