With cash for clunkers for appliances on the horizon, appliance retailers are looking for Black Friday boost

The recession has slammed the appliance industry. Year-over-year shipments of major appliances, for example, were down 17 percent in September, according to the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers.

The $300 million State Energy Efficient Appliance Rebate Program is being ballyhooed as one way to unleash pent-up demand for refrigerators, dishwashers, washing machines, heating and cooling systems, and other major appliances. And though the U.S. Department of Energy will have finalized funding plans for the cash for clunkers for appliances program on November 30, the rebate programs in many states won't take place until 2010.

So appliance retailers are looking to Black Friday to boost their bottom line and kick-start sales throughout the 2009 holiday season. Here's a sneak peek at what some of them have in store:

Best Buy
Good through November 28, Best Buy's Black Friday specials cover large and small appliances, including the Dyson DC17 Animal vacuum for $350. The upright vacuum, which normally retails for as much as $550, was excellent on bare floors and very good on carpet in our tests. At 21 pounds, it’s among the harder vacuums to handle among those we've tested. If you need a new vacuum, check out our free buyer's guide to vacuums.

Home Depot
Home Depot is keeping mum about its holiday sales, but like many retailers and manufacturers this big-box chain encourages you to sign up for e-mail alerts about special promotions.

Lowe's
Black Friday discounts on kitchen and laundry appliances will run through November 30 at Lowe's stores nationwide. One highlight: Save around $400 on a matching Whirlpool Cabrio WTW6340WW high-efficiency washing machine (similar to the tested WTW6300WW washer) and WED6200S[W] electric dryer. Both units did a very good job overall in our tests. If you're in the market for a new laundry gear, check out our free buyer's guides to washing machines and dryers.

Sears
Sears' 15 percent off all appliances deal covers a wide variety of appliances and brands. The offer expires at 9 p.m. on November 27. Our appliances hub has links to our buyer's guides for kitchen and laundry appliances.

While the big-box stores dominate the marketplace, you might want to consider shopping at independent retailers. As covered in our survey-based feature on the best places to buy appliances, independent stores beat out big-box retailers thanks to superior service, easier checkout, and more-knowledgeable staff.

Inside Consumer Reports Tests Labs: New front-loading washing machines from Whirlpool and Maytag

Reviews of the Whirlpool Duet Steam WFW9750W[W] and Duet Sport WFW9150W[W] and Maytag Performance Series MHWE950W[W]

What's the biggest laundry-related gripe Americans have? The musty smell that befouls clothes left to sit in the washing machine after washing is the top "unmet consumer concern in the laundry room," according to a Whirlpool Corporation survey.

To address the odor problem, Whirlpool has equipped some of its front-loaders with low-energy fans to circulate air and also programmed the machines to tumble periodically. As part of the testing for our continuously updated ratings of front-loading and top-loading washing machines (available to subscribers), we recently reviewed three washing machines* with these odor-fighting features.

Note that none of the loads we washed in any machine had an odor, either when the cycle ended or even after the load sat for hours. Further, there were no odors evident for these tested models regardless of whether the odor-fighting feature was turned on or off, so we cannot report on the claimed odor-preventing ability of these machines. Whirlpool is careful to indicate that these features do not remove an odor but can help prevent one from forming. Our experts suggest that some odors could be from residual soil and bacteria in the clothing or the machine that under the right temperature and moisture conditions are able to propagate.

The Whirlpool Duet Steam WFW9750W[W], $1,300 (shown), has what the manufacturer calls FanFresh, which is designed to prevent odors by circulating air with a fan and tumbling wet laundry every 15 minutes for up to 10 hours. This front-loader did an excellent job overall in our tests. It proved very good at our washing, gentleness, vibration, and water-extraction tests. The WFW9750W[W] also aced our energy- and water-efficiency tests, has a large, 21-pound capacity and was relatively quiet over its 65-minute normal cycle. Its NightQuiet option reduces noise by using a lower spin speed, though this mode also slightly reduces the amount of water extracted from loads.

The Whirlpool Duet Sport WFW9150W[W], $700, has an option, called TumbleFresh, that circulates clothes every 15 minutes for up to six hours. This front-loader, with a sizable, 18-pound capacity, performed very good overall. It aced our gentleness, energy- and water-efficiency tests and was very good at extracting water and in the vibration tests but was only mediocre in our washing tests. It also proved relatively noisy over its 55-minute normal cycle.

The Maytag Performance Series MHWE950W[W], $1,300, is made by Whirlpool and is basically the same machine as the Whirlpool Duet Steam WFW9750W[W], with a similar 21-pound capacity. Its Fresh Hold option tumbles wet laundry every 15 minutes for up to 10 hours and uses a fan to circulate air. The MHWE950W[W] was top-notch overall and excelled in our tests for energy and water efficiency and extracting water. It earned very good scores for washing, gentleness, and vibration. This model operates relatively quietly over its 65-minute normal cycle; its "quiet" option slows the spin speed to dampen noise, though this mode slightly reduces the water extracted from clothes.—Kimberly Janeway | e-mail | Twitter | Forums | Facebook

Essential reading: If you need new laundry equipment, check out our free buyer's guide to washers and buying advice for dryers. If you're in the market for new appliances, stay up on the news related to the $300 million State Energy Efficient Appliance Rebate Program, also known as cash for clunkers for appliances.

*We purchased these appliances from the manufacturer before they were available in stores; we will confirm the test results below on versions that we buy at retail.

Want to start a debate? Bring up the subject of drying laundry on clotheslines

Health-care reform is an important and hotly debated national issue these days. While certainly not as pressing as health care, the subject of hanging laundry out to dry is something many people seem just as passionate about.

Consider the comments to our June 2009 post "Are Clotheslines Making a Comeback? 'Right-to-Dry Movement' Promotes Their Use" and those in response to The New York Times' recent engaging online debate "Rethinking Laundry in the 21st Century."

Right-to-dry-ers tout clotheslines and the like as tried-and-true energy savers that leave laundry smelling great. Some folks are skeptical about the practice, wondering whether line drying will leave their clothes feeling crunchy and questioning the added time it might take to dry their laundry. Those opposed to clotheslines feel they muck up their neighborhoods.

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, the average American household uses about 11,000 kilowatt hours of electricity annually, with the typical electric clothes dryer consuming about 900 kWh—around what the average washing machine uses and slightly less than a typical refrigerator does.

If you're not ready to dry your laundry on a clothesline or on racks, follow these steps to cut back on dryer-related energy use:
• Use an automatic cycle for drying. This cycle will call on the dryer's moisture sensor, which automatically turns off the machine when the laundry is done. The sensor will work even if you select the less or more dry option.
• Remove the lint from the filter after every load. Built-up lint can reduce air circulation and make your dryer run longer. What's more, lint can clog the dryer vent, where it poses a significant fire hazard.
• Dry lightweight laundry in one load and heavier items, like towels and jeans, in another.—Kimberly Janeway | e-mail | Twitter | Forums | Facebook

Essential information: Give us your thoughts on clotheslines and line drying by posting a comment below. And if you're in the market for new laundry or other appliances, read about the U.S. Department of Energy's $300 million State Energy Efficient Appliance Rebate Program, otherwise known as cash for clunkers for appliances.

Inside Consumer Reports Test Labs: Latest washing-machine reviews

Tests of the Frigidaire Affinity FAFW3511K[W] and LG SteamWasher WM2801H[W]A front-loaders and GE Profile WPRE8150K[WT] and Speed Queen AWN542 top-loaders

Four washers, four price tags, and a mountain of laundry. Our experts washed 265 pounds of laundry to find out just how well the Frigidaire Affinity FAFW3511K[W], LG SteamWasher WM2801H[W]A, GE Profile WPRE8150K[WT] HE, Speed Queen AWN542 perform. Once again, they found that spending more doesn't guarantee you'll get a better washer. Here are the details:

At $700, the Frigidaire Affinity FAFW3511K[W] is one of the lower-priced front-loaders in our continuously updated ratings of front-loading and top-loading washing machines (available to subscribers). But unlike most front-loaders we test, which are very good or excellent at washing, this Frigidaire was mediocre. It does have a short cycle time, 50 minutes compared with 65 to 105 minutes for other front-loaders.

This washer scored a very good overall, as it aced our energy- and water-efficiency tests, excelled in extracting water, and notched a very good score for gentleness. The stainless-steel tub holds 17 pounds of laundry, earning it an excellent in capacity. While the FAFW3511K[W] earned a very good in our vibration tests, you might not want this machine adjacent to main living areas, as it's relatively noisy.

LG touts that its $1,200 LG SteamWasher WM2801H[W]A front-loader (shown) offers "ultra capacity." Indeed, the stainless-steel tub on this front-loader holds 21 pounds, giving it an excellent score for capacity. Overall, it's a very good washer, performing very good in our washing and vibration tests and excelling in our extraction and energy- and water-efficiency tests. Cycle time is 100 minutes, and while that longer cycle time could lead to frayed fabrics, this LG scored very good in gentleness. It is a relatively noisy appliance, however. Features include a steam function designed to refresh garments and reduce wrinkles.

You won't find an agitator in the $650 GE Profile WPRE8150K[WT] high-efficiency top-loader, which allows this washer to hold 16 pounds of laundry, more than most conventional top-loaders. The WPRE8150K[WT] was very good overall and provides very good washing. Typical of HE washers, it uses less water over its 50-minute cycle because it fills only partly. It aced our water-efficiency tests but was mediocre in our tests for gentleness, noise, energy efficiency, and extraction. Features include a stainless-steel tub, a sensor that determines how much water is needed, and second-rinse and extended-spin cycles.

Conventional top-loaders, in which a tall center post like an agitator swirls the laundry, are the least expensive type of washing machine but tend to perform less impressively as a group. The Speed Queen AWN542 costs $800, more than twice the price of some conventional top-loaders, and was just good overall, ranking near the bottom of our ratings. The AWN542 was mediocre in washing, energy and water efficiency, extraction, and noise, though it did excel in our vibration test. Its stainless-steel tub holds 12 pounds of laundry, earning it only a fair in capacity.—Kimberly Janeway | e-mail | Twitter | Forums | Facebook

Essential reading: Check out or free buyer’s guides to washers and dryers and find the best laundry detergent to use. If you're in the market for new, more-efficient appliances, read our FAQ on the $300 million State Energy Efficient Appliance Rebate Program, aka cash for clunkers for appliances.

Inside Consumer Reports Test Labs: Frigidaire FTW3014K[W] top-loader doesn't top our charts

Conventional top-loading washing machines are less expensive than high-efficiency top-loaders and front-loaders, but they typically use more water and tend to be relatively noisy. These same drawbacks beset the Frigidaire FTW3014K[W] top-loading washing machine, $550, which we recently tested for our continuously updated ratings of top-loaders and front-loaders (available to subscribers).

The FTW3014K[W] was only good overall, delivering mediocre cleaning, water extraction, and energy and water efficiency. This machine, which has a center-post agitator, scored a good in gentleness tests and, despite the addition of what the manufacturer calls "Sound Silencer Plus" technology, was noisy. While claimed capacity is 3 cubic feet, the plastic wash basket on the FTW3014K[W] held only a 12-pound load, on the low end for top-loaders. Cycle time was 50 minutes.

The FTW3014K[W] did excel in our vibration tests and offers PowerPlus Clean, a convenient feature that automatically advances a load from the soak or prewash cycle to the wash and extra rinse cycles. This option means you can start a load and not have to manually advance the machine from soak or prewash, which you might use when you're tackling heavily stained loads.

Conventional top-loaders perform the least impressively of all washer types, but as the ratings show, you can find a model that delivers very good or excellent washing performance for the same price as the Frigidaire. Or spend $100 more for the Frigidaire Gallery GLTF2940F(S), an impressive CR Best Buy front-loader.—Kimberly Janeway | e-mail | Twitter | Forums | Facebook

Essential information: Check out our free buyer's guides to washers and dryers and review of the best laundry detergents. And read our recent looks at the LG WM2010C[W] and the Estate ETW4400W, Whirlpool Cabrio WTW6500W, and Whirlpool Duet Sport WFW8400T washing machines.

Inside Consumer Reports Test Labs: The LG WM2010C[W] front-loading washer is a real mover and shaker

Because front-loading washing machines spin so rapidly—up to 1,200 revolutions per minute—and their drums rotate on a horizontal axis, the vibration and noise these machines produce can be a nuisance for users, especially when a front-loader is used near main living areas or on a second floor in a home.

Our testers have seen plenty of front-loaders that produce a lot of vibration and noise, though no front-loader has ever actually moved from its spot during our vibration testing. Until now. In a recent vibration test on a wood floor, the $550 LG WM2010C[W] front-loader turned on an angle and moved forward about three inches when it had an 8-pound evenly distributed load. And when we repeated the test with a 1-pound unbalanced load, the LG again slid forward several inches.

LG offers a solution with the “SpinSense” function, which the manufacturer says “can be used to help reduce or eliminate vibrations, especially on wood floor installations.” When our testers turned on the SpinSense mode, the WM2010C[W] didn’t vibrate and stayed put. The trade-off is that the machine extracted about 20 percent less water from the load. In practical terms, that means more time and energy are required to dry a load.

On the performance front, this LG front-loader delivered only good cleaning, unusual for front-loading machines, which typically get a very good or excellent score in our tests. The WM2010C[W] does offers excellent capacity, with a claimed capacity of 3.5-cubic-foot in its stainless-steel wash basket. It was gentle on laundry and excelled in energy- and water efficiency, though, again, if you use the SpinSense function you’ll use more energy drying. Cycle time is 90 minutes, and the model is stackable and includes a child lock.

While this LG is inexpensive for a front-loader—many cost $1,000 and up—other models, including the Frigidaire Gallery GLTF2940F, $650, deliver better washing performance without the vibration concerns. See our continuously updated ratings (available to subscribers) for more details on this and dozens of other washers.—Kimberly Janeway | e-mail | Twitter | Forums | Facebook

Essential information: Check out our free buyer’s guides to washing machines and dryers, our latest report on laundry detergents, and our advice for placing laundry rooms near living spaces.

By the Numbers: Washing machine capacities grow, but efficiency rises

9 percent

Amount the capacity of the average washing machine sold today has grown since 2000, according to the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers. Despite that larger capacity, today’s average washer consumes 64 percent less energy than those sold nine years ago. Consider the Energy Star-qualified GE WBVH5300K[WW], covered recently in this Inside Consumer Reports Test Labs post. This $700 front-loader aced our energy- and water-efficiency tests and cleaned capably and quickly (cycle time was a brisk 69 minutes). e-mail | Twitter | Forums | Facebook

Essential information: Use our free buyer's guide to washing machines and buyer's guide to dryers for expert advice on buying these laundry appliances. Get your clothes cleaner with the best performers from our latest report on laundry detergents. And read these tips for setting up a laundry room near living space.

Inside Consumer Reports Test Labs: New washer reviews—Estate ETW4400W, Whirlpool Cabrio WTW6500W, Whirlpool Duet Sport WFW8400T

Our latest ongoing tests of washing machines included three very different washers yet they had two things in common: All are made by Whirlpool and, more notable, they were tough on our test loads. See our newly updated ratings (available to subscribers) for more details on these and dozens of other top- and front-loading models and use our free buyer's guide to washing machines for more expert advice.

Check out our July 24 post on three other recently tested washers. And look for more Inside Consumer Reports Tests Labs posts on washers, dishwashers, and vacuums in the coming weeks as we continue to test models on a rolling basis, providing you with information on the latest innovations and the newest models to hit showrooms.

The Estate ETW4400W[Q] top-loader, $330 (right in the photo), merited the lowest gentleness score of these machines—a poor—causing fabrics to fray. The Estate's overall washing performance was very good—impressive considering that most conventional top-loaders we see tend to be mediocre at washing. Cycle time was 48 minutes, comparable to other top-loaders with agitators. And while this machine offers very good capacity—it has a claimed capacity of 3.2 cubic feet in its porcelain wash basket—it was only good in our energy- and water-efficiency tests.

We also tested the Whirlpool Cabrio WTW6500W[W], $750 (left in the photo), a high-efficiency top-loader with Energy Star qualification. It lacks a center-post agitator and its cycle time of 62 minutes isn't unusually long but still managed to cause some wear and tear on the loads we cleaned, scoring only a fair in gentleness. This Whirlpool aced the water-efficiency tests but was just good in the energy-efficiency tests. It has a claimed 5.0-cubic-foot stainless-steel wash basket and provides 14 different automatic cycles.

Front-loaders typically offer superior cleaning performance and efficiency at a price of $750 and up. The Energy Star-qualified Whirlpool Duet Sport WFW8400T[W] delivers top washing performance and water efficiency; at $750, it costs somewhat  less than many other front-loaders. Its claimed 3.7-cubic-foot stainless-steel wash basket holds an impressive 18 pounds of laundry, and its 102-minute cycle time is longer than most, which probably accounted for its fair gentleness score.—Kimberly Janeway | e-mail | Twitter | Forums | Facebook

Essential information: If you're replacing your dryer along with your washer, check out our free buyer's guide to dryers. And get your clothes cleaner by using the best performers from our latest report on laundry detergents.

Manufacturers look to settle the issue of vibrating washers

The Beach Boys famously sang about good vibrations, but when it comes to washing machines, there's nothing good about vibrations. Not only do washers that vibrate too much make a racket but they can also cause structural damage in your home. Sound unlikely? Check out the discussion about washing machines and vibration in our laundry appliances forum.

Vibration is a bigger issue with front-loaders than it is with top-loaders, since front-loading machines spin more rapidly than top-loading models. Also, their drums rotate on a horizontal axis, meaning vibrating energy is transferred perpendicular to the floor (up and down); with a top-loader, the drum spins on a vertical axis, so the vibrations are moving along the plane of the floor contained within the washer.

Information on vibration appears in the troubleshooting guides from most manufacturer. Their standard advice is to check that the washer's leveling feet are in firm contact with the floor and to ensure proper load size and distribution. (One way to do this is to add a few towels to balance the load.)

Minimizing vibration has become a selling point for manufacturers. Samsung touts its patented Vibration Reduction Technology, Whirlpool plays up a six-point suspension system, and at this year's Kitchen/Bath Industry Show & Conference, LG featured the WM3001HWA Ultra-Capacity SteamWasher front-loader running through a full cycle while perched atop four wineglasses (shown).

Our engineers have developed a way to test vibration. It involves placing each washer on a simulated floor hooked up to a triaxial accelerometer. This sophisticated sensor measures three properties of vibration—acceleration, amplitude, and velocity—as the washer cycles through two eight-pound loads.

While every top-loader scored an excellent for vibration in our last test, results varied widely for front-loaders. Several models, including the Samsung WF448AA and the Whirlpool Duet Steam WFW9600T, scored a very good, making them suitable for laundry rooms in main living areas, in particular second floors. But others, like the Maytag 5000 Series, earned only a fair, so they should be installed on a concrete slab, say in the basement or garage. Check out the vibration scores in our ratings of washing machines (available to subscribers).

An after market for antivibration products has sprung up. One of the latest is VibeAway, an antivibration pad made from recycled-tire rubber ($24.50 for a set of four). Recesses in the top of the pads keep the washer's feet from slipping, claims manufacturer B Green Innovations, Inc. (Watch a video of a vibrating washer on the VibeAway Web site.) Good Vibrations and Shake Away Vibration Isolation Pads promise similar results.

We haven't tested any antivibration pads, but some posters to our appliances forums have given them positive reviews.—Daniel DiClerico | e-mail | Twitter | Forums | Facebook

Essential information: Read our latest report on washers and dryers (available to subscribers).

By the Numbers: Haier buys 20 percent stake in Fisher & Paykel. Is this the appliance world's version of Fiat buying Chrysler?

$50 million

Approximate amount Chinese appliance maker Haier is paying for a 20 percent stake in Fisher & Paykel, a New Zealand appliance manufacturer. The deal shoud help both countries grow beyond their home markets, according to this recent article in The Wall Street Journal.

Haier has been looking to expand its holdings but was outbid by Whirlpool for Maytag in 2004 and last year dropped a bid for General Electric's appliances unit. (Find out who makes which appliances in "Appliance Sleuthing.")

The stake in Fisher & Paykel "will allow Haier to share the marketing and research-and-development resources of Fisher & Paykel in the high-end whiteware market," according to a Haier statement.

Could the investment turn out to be a mixed blessing? Like the Chrysler-Fiat deal, it involves a company (Fisher & Paykel = Chrysler) whose product performance in our tests and reliability are often less than stellar and one (Haier = Fiat) whose appliances are generally aimed at the lower end of the market. Some Haier products do well in our tests, including the ESAD4066 air conditioner, part of our July 2009 report on air conditioning (report and ratings available to subscribers).

Fisher & Paykel, along with Amana, has been among the more repair-prone brands of top-loading washing machines; brand-reliability data, based on responses to the Consumer Reports Annual Product Reliability Survey, conducted by the Consumer Reports National Research Center are available to subscribers. (The Fisher & Paykel Intuitive IWL16 top-loading washing machine is shown.) And the New Zealand company has been the the most repair-prone brand of dishwashers, according to our survey.—Gian Trotta | e-mail | Twitter | Forums | Facebook

Essential information: Flame or acclaim your appliances on our recently redesigned appliances forums.