Whirlpool brand, the global laundry leader and developer of the country's best-selling front- load pair, introduces the next level of technology and thought for laundry. The Whirlpool brand Aspen Green Duet® Steam pair offers a dual steam solution, and even more insight and efficiency in a crisp new green package.
(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20040202/DETU004LOGO ) Steaming with Seven Insights
There are seven insights driving what Whirlpool brand leadership refers to as the brand's most ambitious laundry offering to date. The following laundry list of insights will be addressed (by number) throughout the release.
1. Steam powerfully cleans nature's toughest stains
2. OxiClean® is the leading laundry stain remover brand; 52 percent of
its users add OxiClean® stain remover power directly to the wash*
3. Consumers desire additional, turnkey sanitization solutions
4. Steam gently removes odors and relaxes wrinkles
5. Busy consumers need an automatic system for supplying steam
6. Fifty-nine percent of consumers say water and energy savings are the
top two factors in the purchase of a washing machine**
7. Whirlpool's Global Consumer Design Group finds color trends in the home
are increasingly influenced by nature
"As an appliance innovator, Whirlpool brand is proud to introduce this new technology and help consumers use steam to get more done in the washer and dryer," said John Alexander, VP and GM Brand Management, Whirlpool Corporation. "When we launched the original Duet® pair, we changed the way people thought and felt about their laundry room. Given the affordable new technology and design of this pair, the potential is there to do it all over again."
Next Generation Cleaning (Insights 1, 2, 3 and 6)
The new Duet® Steam washer effortlessly removes stains from grass to grease, even sanitizing towels and sheets without the need for bleach. Furthermore, consumers believe in the power of OxiClean® stain fighter, which now ranks as the No. 1 stain remover brand on the market***. A special timed-release dispenser option - a first for Whirlpool brand - optimizes the delivery of OxiClean® stain fighters.
Addressing yet another consumer need, the Duet Steam washer continues the legacy of eco-efficiency. The brand's most energy efficient washer to date uses up to 73 percent less water and 77 percent less energy as compared to conventional top-loaders.
To showcase how the new pair efficiently tackles the dirtiest duds, Whirlpool brand is steam cleaning Mike Rowe, host and creator of Discovery Channel's "Dirty Jobs," as he commemorates his 150th dirty job.
"After 150 dirty jobs, I've begun to look at my clothes as disposable. For lack of a better solution, I often burn or bury them," said Rowe. "It'll be interesting to see if Whirlpool can actually get them clean."
The answer to Mike Rowe's question will soon be heard via audio file on Whirlpool.com.
Like Rowe, there are consumers who may require a more thorough cleaning. For that audience, the washer has a sanitization cycle designed to eliminate 99.9 percent of infectious bacteria.
Next Generation Drying (Insight 3 and 4)
The advent of the Duet® Steam pair continues the cadence of innovation that began with the steam-enabled Fabric Freshener in 2005. Like its predecessor, the pair eases the laundry burden with immersive steam - a combination of mist and heat in the dryer - naturally steaming away tough odors and wrinkles without chemicals. With its Quick Refresh and Wrinkle Shield cycles, the Duet® Steam dryer offers a short-cut to ironing and odor removal, ensuring clothing comes out refreshed and dry. With 75 percent of clothes being dry-cleaned to remove wrinkles and odors - not stains, steam technology can reduce dry cleaning and save consumers time and money.
In addition, consumers can now sanitize items such as stuffed animals, towels, bedding, and sleeping bags, an added benefit with the Sanitize cycle which is designed to eliminate 99.9 percent of infectious bacteria.
Next Generation Color (Insight 7)
In an industry bursting with color, Whirlpool brand's crisp Aspen green will be the first of a vibrant color palette rolled out over the laundry family. With 55 percent of laundry rooms on the first floor and 12 percent on the second floor****, laundry rooms continue to migrate out of the basement into the living areas of the home. Design trends continue to evolve and customization in homes including paints, fabrics, furniture, flooring and more calls for stylish and functional appliances that make a bold statement. Whirlpool color experts say a nature-inspired palette is exactly what consumers are looking for.
Next Generation Convenience (Insight 5)
And unlike other steam appliances that require manual filling, the dryer uses the washer's water line to spray a fine mist on clothes, and the pair's steam technology can be activated at the touch of a button. In addition, the washer is equipped with a six-point suspension system to reduce vibration and noise, allowing consumers to install the pair closer to the living space or on an upper floor.
The Duet® Steam pair will be available at national retailers this fall in Aspen green and white with an MSRP of $1499-1599 for the washer and $1199- 1299 for the dryer. Visit www.whirlpool.com for more information.
About Whirlpool Brand Laundry
With annual sales of approximately $18 billion and more than 73,000 employees, Whirlpool Corporation is the world's leading manufacturer and marketer of major home appliances. Recognizing the average American family does about seven loads of laundry each week, Whirlpool brand is committed to providing forward-thinking laundry appliances that match the lifestyles of all consumers. Brought to United States in 2001, the innovative Duet® Fabric Care system continues to be America's best-selling front load laundry pair, washing 16 pairs of jeans in a single load, and using 70 percent less water and energy than traditional top-loaders. Further continuing its commitment to innovation, the brand introduced the Duet® steam dryer; a first-of-its-kind laundry appliance that relaxes wrinkles and removes odors from fabrics in just minutes. No other laundry brand has fewer repairs, according to a leading consumer magazine; and no other brand sells more laundry products worldwide. For additional information regarding Whirlpool brand laundry please visit http://www.whirlpool.com/. Information about the company can be found at http://www.whirlpoolcorp.com/.
* Based on latest 52 week Nielsen data ending Sept. 2007.
** According to a survey conducted by Opinion Research Corporation which surveyed a random sample of 1021 American consumers on behalf of Whirlpool brand.
*** According to an OxiClean 2006 Attitude & Usage Study.
****According to Whirlpool brand's consumer laundry habits and practices 2004 research.
OxiClean is a registered trademark of Church & Dwight, Co., Inc.
First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact: angela_m_hersil@whirlpool.com
SOURCE: Whirlpool
CONTACT: Audrey Reed-Granger of Whirlpool Brand, +1-269-923-7557,
Whirlpool, +1-212-931-6165,