Some people are talented, creative and have too much spare time on their hands. Sometimes the result of that combo can be some pretty good music.
Archives for 2007
Washing Your Washer?
Whirlpool has just announced the release of cleaning tablets designed specifically for cleaning high efficiency (HE) washing machines. These tablets called Affresh, are designed to remove mold and mildew from inside the washer. Whirlpool claims that due to the efficient design of HE washers, they are more prone to mold and mildew residue.
They also mention that all manufacturers recommend monthly cleanings. Well, I just checked the manual that came with my Bosch Nexxt washer and it specifically says that the inside should not need cleaning and if for some reason descaling(which is not mold and mildew removal) is needed, proceed with caution and follow the product instructions carefully.
I have noticed that the inside of the washer remains damp after every use and that could develop into a smelly problem, but if I leave the door open for a couple hours and let it air out, everything is fine. I have had the same machine for almost two years and it smells just fine.
I suppose if the problem exists these tablets might be worth a try, but I would suggest prevention first, and then if necessary, be sure to follow the instructions carefully.
Recall:Toshiba Recalls AC Adapters sold with Portable DVD Players Due to Burn Hazard
Name of Product: Toshiba AC Adapters Sold with Portable DVD Players
Units: About 142,000
Distributor: Toshiba America Consumer Products LLC, of Wayne, N.J.
Hazard: The AC adapters can fail, causing the portable DVD player to overheat, posing a burn hazard to consumers.
Incidents/Injuries: Toshiba has received two reports of minor damage to the bottom of the DVD player. No injuries have been reported.
Description: This recall involves the AC adapter sold with the Toshiba portable DVD player Model SD-P1600. “Toshiba” and ADPV16 can be found on the side of the adapter. “Toshiba”, Model SD-P1600, and the serial number can be found on a rating label on the bottom of the cabinet for the DVD player.
Sold at: Consumer electronics stores nationwide from January 2005 through April 2006 for between $200 and $230.
Manufactured in: China
Remedy: Consumers should stop using the AC adapters immediately and contact Toshiba Customer Solutions for a replacement adapter.
Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Toshiba Customer Solutions toll-free at (877) 290-6064 between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. CT Monday through Friday, or visit the firm’s Web site at www.tacp.com
The Right Appliance for You
Do you find that you are drawn to a certain brand of appliance again and again? Did your mother always rely on one brand of washer and dryer? Whirlpool is aware of consumers conscious and unconscious preferences for specific appliances.
For every Whirlpool Corporation brand – including Whirlpool®, Maytag®, KitchenAid®, Jenn-Air®, Amana® and Gladiator® GarageWorks – there is a unique brand identity that is defined using proprietary consumer research about preferences, lifestyles and values. Whirlpool Corporation uses this research to make tough, strategic decisions about the kinds of product innovations, features and designs it will offer to consumers.
Each of Whirlpool Corporation’s branded products is designed to meet the specific needs and preferences of consumers from a psychographic standpoint. What’s important to one consumer may not even occur to another,” said Michael A. Todman, president, Whirlpool North America. “For instance, the consumer who buys Maytag brand focuses on reliability, so the durability of internal nuts and bolts means everything. The time-starved nature of the Whirlpool brand consumer means placing greater value on getting more done quickly, so the brand’s focus is timesaving features.”
Some other Whirlpool insights into how they, and we view their large family of brands:
- For 100 years, the Maytag brand has represented strength and lasting durability
- With a common-sense approach to life, Amana brand consumers believe in creating a pleasant atmosphere in their home. Amana consumers want quality and style at an affordable price.
- KitchenAid brand consumers enjoy cooking with others, savoring the journey of making great food with great friends and family.
- The Jenn-Air brand appeals to a consumer who loves to entertain, has uncompromising taste and pays great attention to detail.
So, the fact that your mother might have insisted on a Maytag washer because she knows they are durable is exactly what Maytag (remember they’re Whirlpool in disguise) wants her to think. It’s up to Whirlpool to build machines that uphold the reputation.
If you’d like to read more about the varieties of appliances available from these Whirlpool brands, you can do so here
Green Light to Hidden Energy Costs?
I have often thought that the little green lights on the computers, monitors and printers in my home office were handy little night lights but today I started seeing them differently. Warren Swil writes in the Los Angeles Times Opinion Section about the tremendous amount of energy that is wasted by leaving appliances on in what is commonly called sleep mode.
In June 2005, British Environment Minister Elliot Morley reported that electrical equipment in sleep
mode used enough energy per year to emit about 800,000 tons of carbon. That’s just for the 60 million or so Britons; multiply by five for the United States. The U.S. Department of Energy has estimated that by 2010, the portion of each utility customer’s bill consumed by appliances in standby mode will reach 20%.
The article goes on to suggest doing an inventory of your home to see how many of those little green, red and blue lights are glowing day and night. I did a quick survey of my house and found 17 lights including the answering machine and one each for the oven, microwave and DVD clocks. (I never even went upstairs where I would find at least two more clocks glowing red.)
Go ahead, read the article here and then go through your house and see how much those little lights are costing you and the environment.
Style in the Hood
When we bought our house about three years ago, we replaced all the kitchen appliances. It was very necessary as far as I’m concerned since the kitchen was equipped with top- of-the-line 1960 copper colored, oven, cooktop, dishwasher (okay, maybe that was installed in the ’70s) and fridge. The problem now is we lost our momentum before getting to the hood. So, I look daily at a nonfunctioning, out of style hood that I regularly bang my head on. The people who owned the house before us were quite petite and I am about 5’9″, so their idea of just the right height and mine are not the same.
I’ve been thinking again about getting the hood replaced and although, because of my height, I have mostly considered very basic nonintrusive styles, The Pacific Daily News has me reconsidering the idea. Although the article mentions that some people are looking more for “appeal and appearance than functionality,” it is possible to find both.
Recall: IonizAir Table Top Air Purifiers
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.
Name of Product: IonizAir(tm) Table Top Air Purifiers
Units: About 83,000
Importer: P3 International, of New York, N.Y.
Manufacturer: Leaven Enterprise Co., of Taiwan
Hazard: The air purifier’s cartridge can overheat, posing a risk of fire.
Incidents/Injuries: P3 has received 10 reports of purifiers melting or catching fire. No injuries have been reported.
Description: The recalled air purifier is a tabletop model that is about 6″ x 3 1/2″ x 11 1/4″. The unit has a removable cartridge with a silver-colored handle. The recall involves model number P4620 with lot numbers beginning with either 03 or 04 or having no lot number. The lot number is located on the bottom of the air purifier. No other models or lot numbers are included in this recall.
Sold at: Various retailers nationwide including mail-order and Internet retailers from January 2003 through July 2004 for between $60 and $90.
Manufactured in: Taiwan
Remedy: Consumers should stop using and unplug the recalled air purifier immediately, and contact the firm for a free replacement cartridge.
Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact the firm toll-free at (888) 734-0449 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or visit the firm’s Web site at www.getnewcartridge.com
To see this recall on CPSC’s web site, including pictures of the recalled products, please go to:
http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml08/08012.html
Sears Going Green
Turn off the Lights! Turn off the water! Reuse and recycle!
I know I try to follow those simple guidelines and have installed low flush toilets, energy efficient appliances and compact fluorescent lights in my home. Sears is trying to help a bit by “rolling out the Kenmore Elite® dishwasher with Ultra WashHE technology, and the SteamCare(TM) Washer and Dryer lines, along with a new alliance with the Jane Goodall Institute’s Roots & Shoots Program. ”
The Roots & Shoots program is a youth program whose mission is to foster respect and compassion for all living things, to promote understanding of all cultures and beliefs and to inspire each individual to take action to make the world a better place for people, animals and the environment.
With that goal in mind, Sears’ new product line will be high efficiency, high performance and have a sleek modern line. “Consumers understand that small changes made in their homes can have a significant impact on the environment,” said Tina Settecase, vice president and general manager of home appliances, Sears Holdings Corp. ” As part of the initiative, $25 will be donated to the Roots & Shoots Program for every Kenmore Elite dishwasher with Ultra WashHE technology sold between Oct. 28 and Nov. 7, 2007. To read more
Salton Electric Toaster Recall- Fire Hazard
Salton Inc. and QVC Recall Electric Toasters Due to Fire Hazard
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in
cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary
recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using
recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.
Name of Product: Cook’s Essential Electric Toasters
Units: About 5,200
Retailer: QVC Inc., of West Chester, Pa.
Distributor: Salton Inc., of Lake Forest, Ill.
Hazard: The toaster can turn on without bread in the slots and ignite
items placed on top of it, posing a fire hazard.
Incidents/Injuries: QVC has received information that ten toasters
reportedly turned on spontaneously, including one incident of fire
damage to kitchen cabinets and two incidents of toaster covers burned.
No injuries have been reported.
Description: This recall involves the “Cook’s Essential” four-slice wide
slot electric toasters model CET 401. These toasters are made of
stainless steel and measure 12 inches long, 13 inches wide and 8 inches
high. Each toaster has “Cook’s Essentials Classic Look Toaster, Model:
CET401” printed on a plate located on the underside of the toaster.
Sold by: QVC through its television station, its Web page; its toll-free
number, outlet, and its employee and Studio stores from January 2003
through June 2003 for between $63 and $69 plus about $8 for shipping and
handling. Some recalled toasters may have been sold at various
retailers.
Manufactured in: China
Remedy: Consumers should stop using the toaster immediately, unplug it,
and cut off the power cord where it enters the body of the toaster.
Consumers who return the power cord in the prepaid envelope that will be
provided will receive a full refund.
Consumer Contact: Consumers who bought a toaster from a QVC’s television
program or at QVC.com were sent a package by mail containing information
on how to receive a refund. Consumers who have not received the
information packet should call QVC at (800) 367-9444, from 7 a.m. to 1
a.m. ET, seven days a week or visit QVC’s Web site at www.qvc.com.
Consumers who bought a toaster at a QVC outlet or retail store should
return the toaster at the store where it was purchased to receive a full
refund. For all non-QVC purchases, contact Salton at (800) 233-9054
between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. CT Monday through Friday or visit the
firm’s Web site at www.esalton.com
To see this recall on CPSC’s web site, including pictures of the
recalled products, please go to:
http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml08/08001.html
Appliance Use for the Disabled
A report from ABC News says:
The Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission (HREOC) is warning that new technology for home appliances is becoming harder for people with disabilities to access.
The report says small buttons on remote controls, heavy oven doors, and touch-operated devices, are some of the features that render appliances unusable for about 20 per cent of the population.
Disability Discrimination Commissioner Graeme Innes says keeping disabilities in mind when designing products is crucial for an ageing population.
“What we need to do is build some partnerships so that everyone is included in the design of products, and not just someone who either has a problem seeing or manipulating or hearing,” he said.