frigidaire team

If Lovin’ Dirty Laundry Is Bad, I Don’t Want To Be Good

September 30, 2009 By Blonde Mom 1 Comment

This is the last in a series of posts I’ve written about my Frigidaire Affinity washer and dryer as part of the Mom Central campaign that kicked off in July.

I’ve been married for 12 years and my Affinity front-loading washer and dryer have to be the nicest appliances we’ve ever owned. I feel like Jane Jetson or, better yet, a modern day Betty Draper every time I walk into our utility room. I just need a laundry robot to fold everything, mix martinis, and bake homemade apple pies. Actually toss Don Draper into the mix, strolling into the kitchen to read the paper and drink his morning coffee and, well, that’s my little domestic fantasy, OK?

It’s been a real treat for me because, let’s face it, washing dirty britches is a fairly mundane task. I have been really pleased with the overall quality of the appliances, but I thought I’d point out a few areas that haven’t been all gleaming and spot free, but I can honestly say it’s pretty difficult to find anything too noteworthy. First of all if you are short like me (I am barely 5 ft. 2) and you purchase the pedestals for the appliances (which I highly recommend because OH MY LORD the storage space) then you may have a bit of trouble pouring bleach or liquid detergent into the slots at the top. We also have a small concrete ledge that’s about 2 inches high that our washer and dryer sit on and that makes it even tougher to reach. There is a rubber “lip” at the opening of the washing machine that tends to catch miscellaneous things, mostly random weird stuff my 4-year-old likes to collect in her pockets, like pumpkin seeds and wood mulch chips from the playground. I’ve also read that it’s common for front-loading machines to tend to get stinky, so I’m going to start leaving the washing machine door open so it can air out. But so far I haven’t detected anything smelly, other than our usual two dogs.

Now, how would you like a chance to own a swanky Frigidaire appliance?

Actress Jennifer Garner, a mom to two girls like me, has teamed up with Frigidaire to ask moms to think ahead to November 1 (remember spring forward, fall back)and pledge to use that time to help make a difference in the lives of children. Save the Children created the CHANGE program (Creating Healthy, Active, and Nurturing Growing-up Environments) to promote healthier lifestyles for children living in poverty by providing nutritious snacks and regular opportunities for them to get physically active.

Frigidaire will donate $1 to support CHANGE for anyone who visits Frigidaire.com and pledges to make time for a child. Everyone who pledges will also be entered for a chance to win a new Frigidaire Professional double wall oven. Mom Central is also giving away a Frigidaire Professional double wall oven! Visit Mom Central online and tell them about your pledge and how you would give back your time to children in need. A random winner will be chosen from all entries…good luck!

Filed Under: Bloggy Things, Domestic Diva 1 Comment

Airing, And Sharing, My Dirty Laundry

August 30, 2009 By Blonde Mom 5 Comments

Disclosure: As part of my review opportunity for Team Frigidaire, I agreed to post twice this month about my new front-load Affinity washer and dryer. At first I thought, “what the heck am I going to write about ,” but this was before I started using them…almost daily.

In late July my 7-year-old daughter, Miss C, caught a cold from her little sister. She just couldn’t kick the cough and one night I really became concerned when she came to me and told me, “Mommy it hurts here when I cough” and pointed to her chest. It turns out she had pneumonia in her left lung. Cue the mommy freak out music as school was starting in a little more than two weeks. Thankfully within two days of starting on an antibiotic she was asking to go swimming and ride her bike (which I told her, “um, no.”)

Now what does this rambling have to do with my new washer and dryer? I don’t know about you, but when one of my kids gets sick I immediately strip their bed and wash their bed linens. I realized as I was about to start our new washing machine that we had a high temperature sanitize mode and you can better believe I used it.

Here are some additional features on my Affinity washing machine from Frigidaire that I’ve been using frequently (and loving):

Whitest Whites – I love using this for towels, especially. Socks get a beating at our house, too.

Delicates/Hand Wash – I have some nicer items I wear to my office that I like to wash on delicate.

Another bonus feature is the fact that the Affinity washing machine is incredibly quiet during the wash cycle. Both appliances are energy saving, too. I have yet to use the delay wash feature but I’d like to try this on a day I am scheduled to go into my office.

As far as the dryer, I am using the Towels/Bedding feature the most. Even though there are only four of us in our household, it seems like I am constantly washing and drying towels, especially in the summer if we hit the pool.

I also love the storage pedestals that are optional to purchase with the washer and dryer, something I would highly recommend. Our utility room is a long and narrow space and having additional out-of-sight storage is wonderful.

Now if I can just get the rest of my utility room organized, it will be the ideal laundry room!

Thanks again Frigidaire and Mom Central!

Filed Under: Reviews & Giveaways 5 Comments

I Will Never Look At Dishwashing The Same

May 8, 2009 By Blonde Mom 10 Comments

With Mother’s Day coming up, I can’t help but fantasize about my dream present (besides a private island with a margarita fountain and personal cabana boy at my beck and call). My own personal goal, seriously, is to have more time to spend with my family and doing things I truly enjoy. This is why I’m so excited to announce I’ll be working with Frigidaire this summer as part of their Team Dishwasher group of bloggers chosen to test, and keep, a gorgeous new stainless steel dishwasher as part of a new line of appliances designed with busy moms in mind. We own a Frigidaire refrigerator, so it’s a brand name we are familiar with and have been happy with. Our current dishwasher, however, is going on 10 plus years and has seen better days so I can’t wait for this beauty to arrive next month:

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Hello lover…it is quite possible you will make my plain white appliances envious, to which I say, DEAL WITH IT.

Frigidaire is rolling out a great new collection of more than 250 kitchen and laundry appliances with time-saving features. A recent survey conducted by Frigidaire, The Frigidaire Motherload Index, showed that moms spend most of their waking hours–200 hours each month– doing the activities they least enjoy (how’s that for depressing?) And yet the majority of moms like me say they “rarely” or “never” feel caught up on our household tasks. Frigidaire kept all of this in mind when designing their new appliances. My new Frigidaire dishwasher features a Quick Clean dishwashing cycle that cuts the time it takes to clean dishes in half.

Frigidaire has so much confidence in this new product line that they are offering a “More Me-Time” Guarantee: Moms will reduce the amount of time they typically spend on housework by at least 8 hours a month using a combination of three or more select Frigidaire appliances or they can return the appliances to their place of purchase within 30 days and get their money back!

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Frigidaire wants to know what you would do if you had more free time. Log on to Frigidaire’s website and click on the More Me Time link and list five things you would do with an extra hour each day. All participants will be entered for a chance to win an entire suite of NEW Frigidaire appliances (be still my heart), in addition to other great prizes, like a gorgeous new Frigidaire Affinity washer/dryer. You can also friend Frigidaire on Facebook and follow the entire Frigidaire Team on Twitter.

Thanks Frigidaire and Mom Central!