The Kitchen and Bath Industry Show (KBIS) was fabulous this year. There was so much to see! The International Builders Show (IBS) was going on at the same time so my husband and I divided and conquered. There is so much I want to share with you. This month I will show you what is new and exciting in washing machines and dishwashers. This may sound boring, but I can’t wait for mine to break down so I can get these new and greatly improved models.
Do you have a front loading washing machine? I do. This kind of machine seals so well (to keep the water from leaking out when running) that you have to leave the door cracked to let it dry out otherwise it starts smelling. GE has come up with a solution. The Ultra Fresh front load washer has a vent system that eliminates the excess moisture so you don’t have to leave the door open. It also uses Microban technology on its washer gasket, dispenser and pump. That is the Blue you see in the picture. The Microban will help prevent the odor causing bacteria from growing.
This is not the only thing I liked; it can hold up to 50 ounces of liquid detergent and will automatically dispense just the right amount based on the weight of the load and the material. The Ultra Fresh can also dry small loads of up to 2 pounds without using heat by pulling the circulating air from the vent system. Wow, I sure could use this with with my delicate loads. But if you need to put your clothes in the matching dryer guess what, the two are synced so the dryer will match to the setting used for the washer load so you don’t have to set the dry cycle.
Now let’s jump to dishwashers.
One of the areas that dishwasher manufactures are addressing is the ability for dishwashers to actually dry ALL the dishes. How many times have you unloaded the dishwasher to find wet plastic containers that need to be hand dried? Different companies are tackling this problem in different ways.
Bosch has incorporated a product called Zeolith. The description of how it works reminded me of the desiccants used in pill bottles to keep the pills fresh. In the Bosch PerfectDry dishwasher, the Zeolith absorbs the humidity in the air so that dry air runs through the dry cycle. The Zeolith then will dry out at the end of the cycle so it can be used again. It totally replenishes itself so never needs replacing. And of course this dishwasher lives up to the Bosch standard with a very quiet machine that has great cleaning ability.
The picture above is a top view of the door slightly open.
The picture above to the right is the Bosch in a different style.
Have you ever popped your dishwasher open to allow the steam out which helps with the drying? I do, but I don’t always catch it after the cycle is up when the dishes are still warm. Guess what, a couple of manufacturers have created machines that will pop the door open for you after the cycle has run! Miele and Samsung both make such a machine.
So much to tell so stay tuned or better yet Stay Informed by signing up to receive each Innovations information sheet each month as they come out. Look for the signup on the home page.