Yes, the washing machine gets reviewed under ‘technology’ – I consider anything that runs on electricity to be technology (it’s too hard for a Luddite to break them down into ‘electronics’ and ‘appliances’). Some time ago, the old washing machine developed a worrisome squeak and didn’t seem to be working as well. The Techno Mage insisted it was my fault… Luddites have a tendency to mistake one machine’s capabilities for another (who knew that “HE” meant “high efficiency” and that only certain types of detergent can go into certain types of machines… couldn’t someone just bring me a washboard and a cake of Fels Naptha?). After half-flooding the laundry room with soap suds and suffering a week-plus of metallic shrieking, a new washing machine was in order.
Samsung’s big gray washer (or WF218ANB 4.0 cu. ft. Front Load Washer, as it is officially called) sits on some kind of pedastal, which means folk of normal height don’t have to crouch to unload the machine – though it does mean short people have to stand on tip-toe to put the soap in. Small price to pay for the fantastic array of washing choices; this big gray washer (I am not calling it WF218ANB 4.0) has easy-dial settings for normal, delicate, hand-wash, wool (yes, wool… too bad I don’t have any wool I want to try shrinking), whites, deep steam, sanitize, rinse only, and spin only. From there, users can opt to further specialize their laundering experience by changing temperature of the wash and rinse cycles, rate of spin, adding extra rinse, or extra wash. Best of all, the big gray washer doesn’t howl, buzz, or create any other alarming and horrible noise when it’s done washing. It plays a song. That’s right, readers, it plays a little song. And a pleasant one at that. Call me crazy (go on, live it up), but the little song really brightens up the chores.
As a front-loading machine, it can accomodate enormous loads, but it weighs each load, so if you’re washing a small amount it won’t waste water. It’s myriad choices in setting allow for everything from the heaviest and filthiest of clothes to fragile and frilly garments. It also has a fantastic feature called “silver care” by which silver ions (don’t ask me, my understanding stops just short of silverware) are introduced into the wash water. The silver ions act as an anti-microbial agent, sanitizing clothing that might otherwise be difficult to clean deeply (not everything can withstand the high temperatures or chlorine normally required to get clothing entirely clean). And because I like simple bonuses – the storage drawer underneath the washing drum is pretty spiffy too.
Tags: laundry, Samsung, silver ions, washing machine