Whirlpool® Vantage™ Washer and Dryer Change the Face of Laundry

Pair Marries Innovation, Eco and Style to Bring Laundry Out of the Sea of White

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May 20, 2010, 08:00 ET

BENTON HARBOR, Mich., May 20 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Sleek lines, eco-sensors, automotive styling, LCD screens and USB ports are not features typically found on a washer and dryer – until now. Whirlpool brand introduces its latest fabric care evolution with the Vantage™ laundry pair, which is stylish enough to walk the runway yet smart enough to tackle the toughest laundry conundrum.

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The new Vantage™ top-load washer and dryer meld high-end design and high-tech features to offer a LCD touch screen interface and the industry's first USB port, which will give consumers access to future upgrades and evolved laundry cycles. Leading the industry, the new laundry pair boasts advances courtesy of electronic and automotive technologies as well as new innovations to monitor and optimize resource efficiency, resulting in superior fabric care.

"From start to finish, top to bottom, we looked at every aspect of the washer and dryer to identify ways we could improve upon the laundry experience," said Brandon Buckingham, senior Whirlpool brand manager, North American Region Laundry. "Whirlpool brand is redefining innovation to mean more than just technology – we've combined the best of the consumer electronics industry with automotive design concepts and eco-friendly features to create a truly cutting-edge laundry pair."

With an intuitive LCD touch screen and built-in Cycle-Logic™ intelligence, consumers can not only select cycles, but also can create their own – from Mom's laundry cycle to Joey's cycle to school uniform cycle, and everything in between. The Vantage™ pair also comes with 33 special cycles of its own including athletic wear, baby items, stuffed animals, jeans, bath mats, shower curtains, shoes and swimwear. And no mustard or grass stain is too tough – the washer features a new Stain Assist laundry feature based on the company's Institute of Fabric Science experts' extensive fabric care knowledge to tackle tough laundry soils.

In addition, style and eco-efficiency can now be found all in the same package with the high-efficiency laundry pair. The Vantage™ washer uses an impeller with a low water wash system to save water and energy. In fact, the washer uses 76 percent less water and 75 percent less energy, and can save more than $1,300 on utility bills over its lifetime*. Additionally, the Vantage dryer features an eco setting, which reduces energy consumption through efficient heat management. The industry-first EcoMonitor feature in the washer and dryer not only measures the amount of savings per load, it also monitors the savings history, so consumers will be able to track their savings over time.

While it's usually the inside that counts, Whirlpool brand looked to the automotive industry to ensure the design of the pair stacked up. The Vantage™ washer and dryer feature sleek styling with chrome accents that look more like a luxury car than a laundry machine. The washer door also features hydraulic hinges to assist when opening the lid – much like that of the trunk of a car. In fact, the dryer door actually sounds like a car door when it closes.

The Whirlpool® Vantage™ pair will be available in cosmetallic this June at retailers nationwide. For more, visit www.whirlpool.com/vantage.

About Whirlpool Brand

Whirlpool Corporation (NYSE: WHR) is the world's leading manufacturer and marketer of major home appliances, with annual sales of approximately $17 billion in 2009, 67,000 employees, and 67 manufacturing and technology research centers around the world. Whirlpool brand recognizes that consumers lead busy, active lives and continues to create solutions that help consumers optimize productivity and efficiency in the home. In addition to designing appliance solutions based on consumer insight, Whirlpool brand is dedicated to creating ENERGY STAR® qualified appliances like the new Duet® washer which uses 74 percent less water and 80 percent less energy than a traditional top load washer manufactured before 2004. When used with the washer, the new Duet® Resource Saver® dryer improves dryer energy usage by 40 percent as compared to traditional top-load laundry pairs, average size load. Whirlpool is one of Habitat for Humanity's largest corporate partners, donating a refrigerator and range to every new Habitat for Humanity home built in North America. For more information on Whirlpool brand, please visit www.whirlpool.com. Additional information about the company can be found at www.whirlpoolcorp.com.

SOURCE Whirlpool Corporation