Whirlpool
has
announced
a
new
feature
for
its
front-loading
washing
machines.
Called
the
FreshFlow
Vent
System,
it
will
dry
the
appliance’s
drum,
door,
and
rubber
seals
after
a
wash
cycle.
The
system
will
reduce
the
growth
of
mold
and
bacteria
and
will
save
you
from
having
to
remember
to
leave
the
washer
door
open
to
passively
dry
its
interior.
The
new
FreshFlow
Vent
System
is
being
introduced
on
a
pair
of
new
Whirlpool
washing
machines
ranging
in
price
from
$999
to
$1,199
that
are
available
now.
The
new
feature
doesn’t
run
automatically
once
a
load
of
clothing
has
been
washed;
instead,
the
system
requires
you
to
close
the
washer
door
and
start
a
“Dry
Drum”
cycle,
which
uses
a
fan
to
completely
dry
out
the
interior
of
the
washer.
Front-load
washing
machines
are
often
smaller
than
traditional
top-loading
designs
and
use
less
water,
but
the
complex
rubber
seals
used
to
ensure
water
doesn’t
leak
out
during
a
wash
can
trap
moisture,
leading
to
mold
and
bacteria
growth.
It’s
why
appliance
makers
recommend
leaving
a
front-load
machine’s
door
open
to
allow
its
interior
to
dry,
but
that’s
a
slow
process.
The
Dry
Drum
cycle
will
use
more
power
than
letting
a
machine
air
dry
but
could
be
worth
the
extra
monthly
bump
to
your
power
bill
if
it
prevents
your
washer
from
getting
moldy
and
smelly.
The
washer’s
new
Dry
Drum
mode
needs
to
be
manually
started
after
a
wash
cycle.Image:
Whirlpool
Other
features
include
an
antimicrobial
treatment
on
the
machine’s
rubber
seal
to
further
inhibit
the
growth
of
bacteria
and
a
new
“FanFresh”
option,
which
uses
that
newly
added
built-in
fan
plus
additional
periodic
tumbling
cycles
to
keep
a
forgotten
load
of
wet
laundry
fresh
before
it
gets
removed.
And
because
it
seems
like
every
new
product
needs
to
introduce
AI
functionality,
Whirlpool’s
new
washers
now
have
an
“AI
Intelligent
Wash”
option,
which
uses
sensors
to
detect
the
size
of
a
load
and
the
types
of
fabrics
it
includes.
The
machine
can
then
automatically
adjust
settings
like
temperature
and
water
levels
for
optimal
cleaning
and
fabric
care.
That
could
be
a
useful
feature
for
those
of
us
too
lazy
to
sort
our
clothing
properly
or
who
can’t
tell
the
difference
between
cotton
and
polyester.
(Originally posted by Andrew Liszewski)
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