New FriMore 3.5 CuFt Washer

[launderess]

Sears has the 3.5 CuFt Kenmore (built by Electrolux)washers and matching dryers on online.

Looks like Sears has gone with a totally new design and features many of which are taken from Electrolux built washers and dryers sold in Europe. Frigidaire's version is due to come out soon, and GE's (their own, no longer built by Electrolux) will arrive by summer.

There are four versions of these units, in keeping with Sear's policy of having two of basically the same unit (one of which is almost always on sale). The link shows the "Better" line, the "Best" which is not up yet has more features like "No Iron" (cold water shower to prevent creasing), and different controls.

What is interesting is that these units hold as much as the "HE" series from Sears, just with a smaller footprint. Many over on THS think the new models will eat into the "HE" series sales as they hold about the same, cost less and are smaller.

L.

http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/productcompare.do?BV_SessionID=@@@@2092074713.1105425567@@@@&BV_EngineID=ccggadddighimedcehgcemgdffmdfko.0&vertical=SEARS&subcatname=Front+Load+Washers&pageName=%2fsearch%2fresults%2fsearchresults.jsp&sortorder=d&targetPage=

View attachment 1-11-2005-00-50-46--Launderess.jpg

 

[jasonl]

No colors

I was hoping to see some black/chrome or any of the new colors that Kenmore is pushing on the HEs.

There's always avocado paint >

 

[frigilux]

Thanks for the heads-up on the new Frigmore FL's, Launderess. I'll have to wait for the Frigidaire model, as the nearest Sears outlet is 65 miles away. They look sharp! I wonder if the ART rinsing system saves water? I've noticed the water efficiency of the Frigmores is considerably lower than the Hettie/Duet models.

Gee, and I remember Consumer Reports giving the first Frigmores excellent ratings straight across the board when they were first introduced back in '96. CR's most recent report showed them looking a bit dated compared to the super-specs of the Hettie/Duets, Bosch's and LG models.

 

[davenp]

I hope Laundress is happy with herself...
NOW I have to make an urgent call to Sears to order a set of these.

They just look.... So neat!

>>drooling<<

Dave

 

[launderess]

Hands Dave a Bib

You want "Cookie Monster" or "Tazmanian Devil"? *LOL*

Before you contact your local Sears, you might wish to wait for the "Best" models due out in Feb.

Here is the washer:

View attachment 1-11-2005-13-20-33--Launderess.jpg

 

[launderess]

Dryer

Here is the "Best" dryer

View attachment 1-11-2005-13-21-26--Launderess.jpg

 

[launderess]

Features of The New Uber - Kenmores

Here is a list of features for the new models.

The brochure she gave me has four 3.5 cf models - here are the "Step Up" features:

"Better" -- High Efficiency Washers 44052 & 44152:

Capacity: 3.5
Controls: Electronic
Cycles: 12 including Wool and Touch Up
Motor Speed: 3
Spin Speed: 5
Max. Spin Speed: 1000 RPM
Auto Dispenser: Larger Easy Fill Compartments
Advanced Rinse Technology
46% Larger Door Opening
5 Spin Speeds
Heavy Soil Setting
Add a Garment Indicator
Cycle Status Lights
Control Lock Out Option
Delay Start Option (4/8/12 hrs on 44052, 4/8/14 hrs on 44152)

"Best" -- #'s 44082 & 44092 (all of the above, plus the following):

Cycles: 16, including Towels and Jeans
Max. Spin Speed: 1100
Eco Cycle (15 Gallons use per cycle vs. 40 in conventional Washers)
Automatic Temperature Control
5 Temperature Selections
Improved Door Design with Silver Metallic Accents
Easy Iron Option
Soil Settings (Heavy/Normal/Light)
LED Count Down Display
Expanded Delay Start Options (1 - 12 hr on 44082, 1 - 16 hr on 44092

 

[davenp]

Why oh why can't we have a heater on these?

Is it so hard to do? A heater can't cost that much more to add!

Metallic Accents do sound nice though

I "guess" I can tough it out another month. I must say though, I like the looks of these MUCH better than the HE4t's.

Thanks for updating Laundress!!!

Dave

 

[launderess]

No Heater, Sorry.

Think the prevailing wisdom is that with a washer close enough to the source of hot water, one would not "need" an internal heater. 120V washer heat water so slowly it can make for some long cycle times, which seems to go agianst what Americans want in a front loader; the ability to do large amounts of laundry quickly. If one does want a heater, there is always the "HE" series.

FriGiLux

The new Frigidaire version of these units is model #FTF2140E. There is nothing on Frigidaire's website yet, but the washer is listed on Energy Star's site.

Almost was settled on the MaySungs, now will have to wait until all the new Kenmores are in so can take me a good long look.

One added bonus of the Kenmore units, is they are built by Electrolux in their United States plant. More Americans working and putting meat on the table always gets my vote.

Launderess

 

[davenp]

We have a whole house hot water recirculator that is running at 140*.... but I still like the idea of having a machine which can "nuke" the clothes if I take a notion.

I always have the Danby though, for those urges.
I REALLY like these machines. Much better than the bitty Whirlpools, or even the Maysungs (as far as new machines).

Wonder if Sears will take advance orders...

Dave

 

[Designgeek]

Yeah the Danby DWM-5500, I was going to mention this. I hope the heck these are still available by the end of 2005...

Good rationale for a heater: colds, flus, emerging diseases, bioterror attacks, the next major killer-flu pandemic, and any time someone in the house comes down with a stomach bug or even simple diarrhea. Also kills ticks, fleas, and lice, if you have pets who run around outdoors, pick up such things, and transfer them to their indoor pet-beds. Follow up with high-temp drying. Won't kill mad-cow prions though, for that you have to burn stuff to a crispy cinder.

 

[golittlesport]

not to knock heaters in washers or "boil wash" technology, but a full scoop of Tide w/Bleach kills bacteria and most germs too...or you can always use Clorox (I personally hate using bleach.)

 

[Boschowner]

"I always have the Danby though, for those urges"

DaveNP: Dont you own the HE4T for those urges?

 

[kenmore1978]

Tide with Bleach

All those detergents that advertise "with bleach" use oxygen bleach, which doesn't really kill things like chlorine bleach does, and doesn't work wel in cold water) And, of course, the drawback with chlorine bleach is that it can't be used on colors. There ARE laundry disinfectants on the market that can be added and aren't temperature sensitive or damaging to clothes.

I only use bleach when I'm trying to get my dingey whites clean and bright.

 

[Designgeek]

No sooner do I mention "when someone comes down with a stomach bug..." when one of my coworkers does exactly that. Fortunately I don't have to wash *his* clothes

Bleach: Agreed, I don't want to do *that* to my colored clothes. When a close friend was living here & his cat brought some fleas home, we nuked everything at high temps in the dryer. That seemed to work pretty well, along with plenty of vacuuming. And we independently invented the "night-light & glue-board" flea trap as well (went to the hardware store to fetch parts to build one, and discovered they were already being made & sold).

I do use bleach for sanitizing surfaces, e.g in the kitchen and bathroom. Used at close to full strength, I'm told it kills "everything," so, unlike with conventional "antibacterial" products, it doesn't encourage the growth of resistant bugs.

 

[golittlesport]

I was reading the label of Tide w/ Bleach which says a full scoop kills 99% of all bacteria.

 

[launderess]

Tide With Bleach

Read the fine print on the box and you will see that particular version of Tide is effective against a small list of bacteria. The most commonly found bacteria found on laundry, E Coli is NOT listed, and it is all over everyone's wash.

Normal laundering methods; hot water, mechanical action, change of water temsp (hot to cold), and chemicals contained within modern laundry detergents do a pretty good job of killing bacteria. If you want to take things furhter, there is always chlorine bleach (still the most effective and wide spectrum disenfectant available widely), or very hot wash temps for an extended period of time.

Launderess

 

[Designgeek]

160 degrees Fahrenheit for longer than five minutes, will also kill everything, 100%, whether in the washer or the dryer. As will ultraviolet from sunlight (presumably also those long-wave UV bulbs in some of the older equipment).

As far as I know, "99%" only means that a procedure leaves 1% of the bacteria to survive and grow stronger, i.e. resistant strains, which are a potential public health hazard of enormous proportion (see also MRSA and other antibiotic resistant bacterial strains). This is why I avoid like plague (ha) all those "antibacterial" products. Using them *occasionally* isn't so much a problem, but repeat exposures over a period of time that coincides with the doubling-times of the bacterial populations, could be a serious risk.

Laundry covered with e.coli: Oh what a lovely picture you've just painted in my mind's eye, since e.coli is after all (how can we say this delicately?) fecal bacteria.

Which leads to some serious questions, for which I'm going to start a new topic, that will be marked with a "don't read this if you're squeamish" warning in the first post.

 

[launderess]

160F and Laundry

5 minutes is not long enough to kill *everything* not even most forms of E coli. IIRC the "standard" most health departments use is 160F-165F or above for 20 minutes.

Yeast, also commonly found on undergarments will not be destroyed at the above temps, and requires 180F and above.

Happily many detergents contain chemicals that will disenfect at 140-160 F for at least 20 minutes.

Now, if one is using chlorine bleach, then 5 minutes at 140 or above is fine. However bleach is weakened by the presence of too much organic matter. This is why commercial laundries add bleach after to a wash bath after "flushing" or usually as a separate cycle.

L.