Why Use a Steam Dryer?

Steam Laundry…What is it and why do we need it?  Steam is a feature that comes with a lot of dryers these days. In fact, it is getting more and more difficult to find a new laundry pair that does not have this option.   The most common question I get asked on any given day  when presenting laundry is, “What does the steam actually do?”  Well, there are two major benefits Steam offers.

What steam does in the dryer  There are two main cycles available in steam dryers today.  One of the most common uses I find is the Wrinkle Release feature.  It is a great benefit to families on a hectic schedule.  Most families have two people working full-time and have little extra time to take out the iron and ironing board to start making sure their work clothes look and feel their best.  Wrinkle Release does that job for you.  It’s simple to use, just pick a couple of items of clothing you’d like to wear, throw them in the dryer on Wrinkle Release and presto!... in 20 minutes, those clothes are wrinkle-free. 

Buying a new electric stove

Is your Oven Spotlight worthy?

If not perhaps you need to take a look at our spotlight item this week.

May we suggest starting with this new innovated line of kitchen appliances by KitchenAid.
State of the art, sleek, and very attractive addition to any cooking area, gourmet or otherwise.

Refrigerator Style Comparisons

One of the great dilemmas people face when buying a new refrigerator is - 

which style should you buy?

There are many options available to you, but before selecting a refrigerator that has the look you like, you have to make sure it’s going to fit in your kitchen.

The space you have to work with will often limit your style considerations. So, it is important to know what the height, width and depth of the space you have available for your new refrigerator is before you start shopping. Once you have determined your size requirements, it’s time to look at some of your choices.

There are many sizes and styles available to choose from, so to save you some time, I've narrowed it down to the four most popular models:

The French Door

The French Door is the fastest growing style we sell at Barber and Haskill. It has become very popular and can now be found in multiple sizes. Instead of having a traditional single door, this model has two doors – each half the size of a regular fridge door – with one side opening to the left and the other to the right. The freezer is located at the bottom, below the two French doors.

Here are a few benefits to keep in mind about the French Door model.

2 Great Options in Stack-able Laundry

Stackable Laundry

Reasons to consider a main floor stack-able laundry set:

   

There has been a great deal of demand over the past few years for stack-able laundry.  

• Space is most valuable on the main floor
• larger capacity in stack-able than in the past
• technology permits quieter and more efficient than before

European vs. American Dishwashers

Dishwashers in general have come a long way since the first mechanical dishwasher that was reported being made in 1850. Early dishwashers featured a hand crank and sprayed water onto the dishes to get them clean. Hand cranking proved to be a very unreliable and a slow process. Over the year’s dishwasher have made leaps and bounds in reliability and feature content.

One common question that I find customers inquiring about is the differences between European style dishwashers and American. In this post, I will describe the difference between both styles and hopefully, better help you determine what works best for you.

Manual Defrost vs. Frost Free Freezers

Fall is here and thanks to the farmers and hunters in the Barber and Haskill area, that means freezer season.

I often get asked about Manual Defrost vs. Frost free Freezers.   So hopefully if you give me two minutes I will try to give you a run down as I see it between these two different technologies. 

Frost Free 

Up front and over time, the frost-free models will cost you a little more.  They are approximately 10-20% more expensive to buy.  And use approximately $20 more a year to operate (depending on the size).   What I and many others love about them is there is very little cleaning to do and no planning needed.  

How does it work? 

Aqualift versus Self Clean

Aqualift vs Self Clean

by: +Tom Barber

We get so many customers concerned with the safety of self cleaning ovens. We had to inform you on the newest innovation from the Whirlpool Corporation

Faster oven self-cleaning with low temperatures and no stinky odor is the pitch behind the Aqualift technology found in many of the Whirlpool, Maytag, KitchenAid and JennAir ovens we are currently selling. Why you may ask, what was wrong with traditional self cleaning?

The normal oven self-cleaning cycle takes two and half to four hours plus cool down, it heats your oven up to 800 degrees F, and can create lots of smoke and smell. The fumes are potentially harmful to birds and small animals see this warning from a self cleaning range manual. “The health of some birds is extremely sensitive to the fumes given off during the Self-Cleaning cycle. Exposure to the fumes may result in death to certain birds. Always move birds to another closed and well-ventilated room.” However after all of this the cycle is usually very effective leaving just a small amount of ash left in the bottom of the oven that can easily be wiped out. No elbow grease needed.

Frigidaires Orbit Clean Dishwasher

Introducing Frigidaires new Orbit Clean Dishwasher

by: +Jennifer O'Keefe.

On the Outside

This dishwasher features a stainless steel interior as well as exterior. It also comes with Frigidaire's unique OrbitClean circular spray arm, as well as settings to change both wash pressure and temperature.

Void of branding or logos, FGID2474QF's stainless steel front is designed to fit any kitchen.  With no nooks or crannies and Frigidaire's smudge proof finish, you will not have to worry about keeping it looking clean.  The only downfall of the "smudge free" stainless, which is predominant on all Frigidaire Gallery products, is matching it with other brands.  The finish is a bit darker and doesn't have the same shine as other manufacturer’s stainless finishes.  The smooth front means no external display but Frigidaire instead gives us a nifty green light that shines on the floor letting you know when the cycle is complete.

Agitation versus High Efficiency Impeller Top Loading Washers

Top Loading Washers-A tale of Two Washers.
by: +Karen McFarlane

 Although most of the washers, we are selling today have a front loading design that was essentially brought over from Europe.  With them comes a great story about water and energy savings as well as being gentler on the clothes.  Recently customers are faced with a dilemma as many manufacturers are making top loading washers with a very similar story.
So let’s have a look at the top loading washers with an agitator (what we are used to) versus ones with an impellor (new high-efficiency washers)
The theory behind an automatic washing machine is to emulate the motion of hand washing. The agitators and impellers are devices designed by man to replicate or improve that motion.  A washer with an agitator aggressively rotates within the tub. Much of the cleaning process happens when the agitator makes contact with the clothes much like when using a traditional wash board.  Because of this a machine with an agitator is not the best option when washing delicate clothes, because the aggressive action of the agitator can be hard on fabrics.  Having said that on the up side your clothes will definitely be clean and stain-free.

Is Your Kitchen Too Hot to Handle

Incredibly fast and safer way to cook.

Safe

Safe

Safe

Safe for all the aspiring chef's in your family.

Measure Twice and Move Once

Make Sure You have the Right Fit the First Time.

  

First Task 

To measure twice and move once.

• Find out the measurements of the space available for your new fridge.
• You will want to know the height/ width/ depth of the space, don't forget to take into account room for the door to open.Write these measurements down and keep them handy when you go shopping. 
• It is also important to leave a little "wiggle" room for the air to properly circulate.