STACK #258 April 2026

TECH FEATURE

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Upgrading your laundry?

These dryers operate at lower temperatures, so they’re also gentler on fabrics and help protect clothes from heat damage.

Faster and more efficient cycles

Things to know before you buy

Modern washers and dryers are designed to save both time and energy. Quick or rapid wash programs can handle lightly soiled loads in far less time while using less water and power.

Today’s washers and dryers are smarter, more efficient, and packed with handy features designed to make the whole laundry process quicker and easier – and keep your clothes looking better for longer. If you’re thinking about upgrading your laundry, here are some key features worth considering. Words Bec Summer

Many dryers also include eco modes and smart sensors that monitor humidity and temperature in the drum, automatically adjusting the cycle to avoid over-drying. Cycles that protect your clothes Dedicated cycles like delicate, hand wash, or permanent press use gentler drum movement and lower temperatures to minimise wear and tear. Cold wash settings can also help prevent colour fading and shrinkage, while appropriate drying programs reduce the risk of heat damage. Your clothes can last longer and keep their shape and colour.

making them easier to iron afterwards. The result is fresher garments and a deeper clean – particularly helpful for bedding, towels, and heavily worn items. Energy efficient heat pump dryers

Detergent auto-dosing It’s not hard to use too much detergent, but auto-dosing washers solve that problem by automatically measuring the right amount for every load. You simply fill the built-in detergent and fabric softener reservoirs and the washer weighs the load and dispenses the correct dose. The results are better cleaning performance, less detergent waste, and no more guesswork. Some machines can store enough liquid for weeks of washing, making everyday laundry that little bit easier. Steam cycles for a deeper clean Steam is a powerful addition to modern washers and dryers. By penetrating deep into fabric fibres, steam helps loosen dirt, dissolve detergent faster, and banish bacteria. It can also help to reduce wrinkles in clothes,

Dryers don’t always have the best reputation when it comes to power use, but heat pump technology has changed that. Heat pump dryers recycle warm air inside the drum, extracting moisture from clothes and collecting it in a tank, cartridge, or drainage hose before reheating the air and repeating the process. This closed-loop system uses significantly less energy than traditional vented dryers.

Smarter laundry with Wi-Fi control

Many modern washers and dryers now include smart connectivity, allowing you to control them using a smartphone app. You can start, pause, or schedule cycles remotely and receive notifications when a load is finished. Some machines can even communicate with each other, selecting the ideal drying program based on the wash cycle used. Add energy monitoring, maintenance reminders, and the ability to run cycles during off-peak electricity hours, and smart appliances can make laundry day a breeze.

28 APRIL 2026

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