Washer / Dryers with "steam cleaning"

[swbsam]

The wife and I are thinking about buying one of those new "steam cycle" washing machines (probably a Samsung, since the LG ones seem to have leaks based on reviews), and wonder if anyone owns one.

There's a premium of a few hundred bucks that would be worthwhile if the energy efficiency promises and "dry clean at home" features actually work well - is this the case, or is the steam cycle used primarily for sanitizing washer-safe clothes?

I can imagine saving time and money by throwing silk ties and wool slacks in there in there, but I'm not finding a definitive answer online.

 

[mugs]

Do those washers require additional power (20 amps?) to produce the steam?

 

[Soapy Bones]

I'm kind of in the same boat as the OP. Looking at new front loaders and pretty sure I'm going to go with the Samsung but now trying to decide what series. I haven't found any credible information online about the steam either so I was hoping that someone had them and could comment. I know you have to provide a water hookup to the dryer which I imagine is just a Y fitting on the cold water inlet. Besides that I dont think it requires anything different to hook up ?

You could probably look at the owners manual online for the model you're looking for to be sure you had the right hookups available as far as electricity etc.

 

[Atrail]

Mom bought a LG one to help with allergens and sanitation when my G-Ma was bedridden, she likes it.

 

[MiniDoom]

they don't "steam clean" meaning you can't put a suit or wool coat in it and expect it to come out like a dry cleaner. it just steams your stuff to get winkles out. waste of $ imo.

 

[MrWizzard]

I have a LG. Never had it leak. I like the cycle but don't use it much.

 

[lokiju]

Can you stack these full size front loaders?

I was thinking I'd love to get a set when my current set dies but would be even nicer if I could stack them to free up a lot of floor space in my laundry room.

 

[MiniDoom]

Originally posted by: lokiju
Can you stack these full size front loaders?

I was thinking I'd love to get a set when my current set dies but would be even nicer if I could stack them to free up a lot of floor space in my laundry room.

yes.

 

[Steve]

I just include a bath towel with my permanent press loads, as long as the load isn't too large my stuff comes out fairly wrinkle-free.

 

[torpid]

From Consumer Reports ( http://www.consumerreports.org...hers-and-dryers-ov.htm ):

Steam settings on the rise. Three front-loaders, the Kenmore Elite HE5t Steam, Whirlpool Duet Steam, and LG Tromm SteamWasher, have steam modes that claim to boost cleaning, sanitize fabrics, and remove stains. Such settings did better at removing stains?the LG's, less so?but the models cleaned well even when we didn't use the steam.

We also tested the steam settings of Kenmore's and Whirlpool's matching dryers. Both use a water hookup and heat to get rid of wrinkles and odors, and they mostly did so with the shirts we tested. But the steam mode allows only up to four garments per load. Another wrinkle: At $1,100-plus, those dryers cost about twice as much as our Best Buys.

 

[chipy]

Originally posted by: Steve
I just include a bath towel with my permanent press loads, as long as the load isn't too large my stuff comes out fairly wrinkle-free.

how does this work? do you put in a dry bath towel or a wet one? is it the bath towel's weight or something else that helps your clothes come out wrinkle-free? thanks Steve.

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: torpid
From Consumer Reports ( http://www.consumerreports.org...hers-and-dryers-ov.htm ):

Steam settings on the rise. Three front-loaders, the Kenmore Elite HE5t Steam, Whirlpool Duet Steam, and LG Tromm SteamWasher, have steam modes that claim to boost cleaning, sanitize fabrics, and remove stains. Such settings did better at removing stains?the LG's, less so?but the models cleaned well even when we didn't use the steam.

We also tested the steam settings of Kenmore's and Whirlpool's matching dryers. Both use a water hookup and heat to get rid of wrinkles and odors, and they mostly did so with the shirts we tested. But the steam mode allows only up to four garments per load. Another wrinkle: At $1,100-plus, those dryers cost about twice as much as our Best Buys.

I don't think I'd want steam in my dryer, just because that's one more water house that can burst. Being a homeowner has made me terrified of water under pressure in pipes.

 

[swbsam]

Hmm, so steam doesn't seem to be worth all that much. My clothes come out wrinkle free from the dryer anyways, and a wet towel in the dryer with wrinkled clothes works wonders "refreshing" fabrics.

LG makes it appear that the steamer "freshens" dry clean only clothes, but that just seems to be marketing b.s.

Thanks guys

 

[Steve]

Originally posted by: chipy

Originally posted by: Steve
I just include a bath towel with my permanent press loads, as long as the load isn't too large my stuff comes out fairly wrinkle-free.

how does this work? do you put in a dry bath towel or a wet one? is it the bath towel's weight or something else that helps your clothes come out wrinkle-free? thanks Steve.

I include it in both the washer and dryer. I came up with it after learning a trick in army cadets - a wet (fresh out of the washer) towel thrown in a dryer with dry, wrinkled combats will de-wrinkle them.

Bear in mind I only do this with khakis/dickies, and polo/golf shirts - including a pair of jeans or anything 'heavier' in the load will kill the effect.

 

[chipy]

Originally posted by: Steve

Originally posted by: chipy

Originally posted by: Steve
I just include a bath towel with my permanent press loads, as long as the load isn't too large my stuff comes out fairly wrinkle-free.

how does this work? do you put in a dry bath towel or a wet one? is it the bath towel's weight or something else that helps your clothes come out wrinkle-free? thanks Steve.

I include it in both the washer and dryer. I came up with it after learning a trick in army cadets - a wet (fresh out of the washer) towel thrown in a dryer with dry, wrinkled combats will de-wrinkle them.

Bear in mind I only do this with khakis/dickies, and polo/golf shirts - including a pair of jeans or anything 'heavier' in the load will kill the effect.

awesome, thanks man!! i'll HAVE to try this.