Laundry has certainly cleaned up its act, so to speak, raising its profile from the dusty basement to the first and second stories, and has evolved into colorful design elements in your home. Now washer and dryer options are helping to keep your linens clean, along with Planet Earth, with energy efficient laundry options. 

Before selecting the latest green washing machine, make a laundry list (pun intended) of what you want from your cleaning machines and where and how often you plan to use the equipment.

Top vs. Front Load: Capacity is King
The main ruling factor in your choice of both washer and dryer will be that of capacity.  Simply put, the larger the capacity the fewer number of times you’ll have to fill (and empty) the washer and dryer. Hence, the popularity of large-capacity models is evident. 

The laundry debate spins around that of top-loading (vertical axis) vs. front-loading (horizontal axis) machines. For the most part, top-loading washers and dryers are known to be less efficient in both energy and cleaning than their front-loading counterparts. However, top-loading washers and dryers are now stepping up to give some of those front-loaders a run for their money. Now you can find models that boast better energy and cleaning efficiency with stainless steel baskets. Do note that you’ll pay a higher price tag than average top-loaders, but only by a few hundred dollars.

Whirlpool’s Cabrio washer boasts a 4.5-cu-ft capacity that can hold up to three baskets of laundry according to the company, while the Profile Harmony washer from GE has a 4.0-cu-ft capacity, which GE says can hold up to 24 bath towels or 50 T-shirts. This model is able to communicate directly with a matching dryer to end wash and dry cycles together on a dime to help save time and eliminate overlapping cycles. Sears has Oasis models that feature a tempered glass lid (designed to eliminate the need to peek in and interrupting the cycle) and 3.8-cu-ft of capacity.

On the other hand, front-loading machines are still popular and are increasingly so in the United States after being the number one choice in Europe for years. Front-loading washers offer larger capacities because the horizontal axis used to create agitation in the wash eliminates the need for an agitator in the middle of the drum.

Whirlpool is taking note and says its Duet front-load washer is 23% larger than a conventional top-loading machine, with an equivalent capacity of 3.8-cu-ft. LG Electronics USA introduced a new line of washers with capacities of 3.5-cu-ft and 3.83-cu-ft, and a 4.0-cu-ft model that LG says is the largest front-load washer available for home use. Front-loader capacity of 3.5-cu-ft is one of the features of the Frigidaire Affinity line, from Electrolux Home Products.

Efficiency
These days laundry is going green, so be sure to keep an eye out on those energy labels. A federally mandated minimum efficiency level of 1.26 was recently raised from 1.04 and is required for washers. However, Energy Star rated appliances are now required to meet an even higher level of 1.72. According to the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM), 14% of all washers were Energy Star in 2002, but grew to 38% in 2006.

A new name to look out for when shopping is Hydromatic Technologies Corp., which introduced a new technology for clothes dryers that reportedly reduces energy consumption up to 50% and cuts clothes-drying time by up to 41%. As the second-most energy consuming appliance in the home, clothes dryers are not currently required to abide by energy standards. With Hydromatic's technology, the company says that dryers will finally go "green," and the company is poised to set energy standards for the appliance three years ahead of the June 30, 2011 deadline set by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE).

Hydromatic's technology, named the Dryer Miser, uses a specially-engineered fluid to dry clothes using hydronic technology. By heating up a non-toxic fluid in a self-contained system, the dryer produces enough heat to dry clothes faster than traditional dryers, resulting in less energy consumption and reduced energy costs for consumers.

An international patent is currently pending for Hydromatic's technology, and the Dryer Miser will be available to the public in Fall 2008 as an after-market kit that can be installed by service technicians. Discussions are currently being held with international appliance manufacturers to offer the technology as original equipment in new dryers in the near-future.

Bosch has an EcoOption button on its new front-loading Nexxt 500 plus and 800 series of washers. When selected, the EcoOption decreases the water temperature and, thus, decreases energy consumption 20%.

Looks and Personality
As the washer and dryer have moved up from the basement, laundry appliances are no longer hiding in the shadows. Several models are available in a variety of colors and finishes to reflect even the most vibrant personality. LG Electronics recently announced the addition of two new designer finishes - Bahama Blue and Emerald Green - to its front-load laundry palette. The new finishes are now available on LG's 4.0 cu-ft capacity laundry pair. The Bahama Blue laundry pair is available now at a manufacturer's suggested retail price of $1,049 for the washer; the matching dryer is available at $949. The new Emerald Green finish will be available for MSRP of $1,049 for the washer and $949 for the dryer. These recent additions add to LG’s vibrant color line-up that already includes red, stainless and black finishes.

Besides color, new features such as extra storage options provide added ease and accessibility to all your clothes-cleaning accessories. LG, Whirlpool, Kenmore and Maytag offer bottom (where your washer and dryer are set on top) or side (where the washer and dryer sit next to) storage units. Bottom pedestals help raise front-loading machines and eliminate the pesky need to bend and pick-up and gather clothes out of the units. Pedestals and cabinets range from $100 to $200.

Despite your preference for front- or top-loading accessibility, today’s laundry options are far from the white appliances in your mother’s basement. Today’s washers and dryers offer energy efficiency in large capacities that can handle the demands of any sized family. It’s really just a matter of choosing your favorite color.