With more than 100 years of building dependable washing machines, Maytag brand now adds the power of steam and new compact appliances to its laundry lineup.

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Maytag® Bravos™ introduces steam to the top-loading laundry category. Maytag® brand brings the power of steam to the much-loved top-loading laundry category for the first time. The new Maytag® Bravos™ top-loading, high-efficiency laundry pair introduces steam in the dryer to relax wrinkles, remove odors and refresh clothing and household fabrics.

The Bravos steam dryer offers a variety of steam cycles, including the 15- minute "Rapid Refresh" setting, to quickly rejuvenate a single item or outfit. The Bravos dryer conveniently connects to the laundry-room waterline, so there's no reservoir to fill, just on-demand steam cycles with the push of a button. Inside the dryer, a small nozzle distributes a fine mist of water throughout the heated dryer as clothes tumble. The heated air combines with mist to form steam to help relax wrinkles and remove odors from dry clothes. The Maytag Bravos washer recently earned Tier II certification from the Consortium for Energy Efficiency (CEE).

"It's a new way of thinking about laundry," said Blane Buckingham, director of Maytag brand marketing. "Many items of clothing that have only been worn once may not need a complete wash-and-dry cycle or a trip to the drycleaners. The Maytag Bravos steam dryer quickly refreshes these items so they can be worn again, saving time and money." Maytag Bravos dryers have a suggested retail price of $849 for the electric models and $909 for gas models. Washers have a suggested retail price of $999.

New Maytag® EPIC z™ compact, high-efficiency laundry pair offers installation virtually anywhere and dependable cleaning with commercial-grade components. "The EPIC z front-load washer and dryer can be stacked, placed side-by-side, tucked under a countertop or set into a tighter-than-normal space. Yet, they still have enough capacity to handle a family's laundry needs," said Drew Fraser, vice president for North American laundry products.

The dryer's powerful drying system, combined with the washer's exceptional water extraction, takes clothes from wet to dry in under 30 minutes(1). And, the EPIC z units exceed basic ENERGY STAR® requirements and are some of the most energy efficient in the industry.

Suggested retail prices are $799 to $949 for the washer, and $749 to $959 for the dryer. The Maytag EPIC z units are now available at appliance retailers and home improvement stores. Colors include Arctic Blue with Chrome, Black with Chrome, White with Chrome and White.

New, slimmed-down Maytag® Centennial™ 27-inch dryer fits through doorways, into small laundry rooms and delivers great capacity. Twenty percent of homeowners say getting major appliances through the doorway is the most frustrating aspect of installation(2). Maytag® brand now offers a streamlined Centennial™ dryer that fits smaller spaces and delivers the dependability that people have come to expect from Maytag brand appliances.

While the most common width for a washing machine is about 27 inches, standard dryers are often 29 inches wide. The new, slimmer, 27-inch Maytag Centennial dryer fits smaller spaces and still delivers the largest drying capacity of any Maytag brand dryer. Thanks to Maytag brand engineering, the 27-inch Centennial dryer offers 7.4 cubic feet of drying capacity, the largest capacity offered by Maytag brand. It also features a commercial-grade base frame, a traditional drop-down door and an up-front lint filter.

Maytag Centennial dryers range in suggested retail price from $399 to $549 for the electric models and $429 to $579 for gas models. Washers range in suggested retail price from $449 to $649.

About Maytag Brand

For more than a century, Maytag brand appliances have been synonymous with dependability and durability. Through the commitment of Whirlpool Corporation, Maytag brand's unequaled tradition of quality production and unrivaled performance continues to thrive. Exceptionally durable, commercial-grade components are found in Maytag brand appliances -- including the Maytag® EPIC z™ front-load and the Maytag® Centennial™ top-load washers and dryers, the Maytag® Gemini® double-oven range, the Maytag® Ice2O™ French door bottom-freezer refrigerator, the first of its kind with external ice and water, and the Maytag® Jetclean® dishwashers. Maytag brand is part of the Whirlpool Corporation , the world's leading manufacturer and marketer of major home appliances, with annual sales of approximately $18 billion, more than 73,000 employees, and more than 70 manufacturing and technology research centers around the world. For more information on any Maytag brand appliance, visit http://www.maytag.com/.

  (1) Based on six loads per week, normal cycle.
  (2) Based on the average age at replacement using independent research
      conducted 1980, 1983, 1984, 1987, 1990, 2002 and 2006. Processed
      numbers of survey responses ranging from 6,000 to 35,000.

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact: angela_m_hersil@whirlpool.com

SOURCE: Whirlpool Corporation