American Home Appliances

[EasternDE 35]

So I've been wondering if anyone else had the same impression as I did.

American home appliances; such as fridge, stoves, vaccum cleaner, washing machine, and kitchen tools; totally look like antics to me.

They seem to be stuck in a 60's design... Most of them actually look like the ones my grand-grandma had. Yes well, post WWII.

My thinking is american manufacturers never had to bother since american people like to buy american things.

Here in Europe, there's much more competition between manufacturers, especially since corean brands invaded the market.

I mean it's really far from the old cliché that we don't have color TV or cellphones in Europe, it's actually the contrary...

I don't want one of those huge not-handy vaccum cleaner!

Yeah, well that was my deep thought for this monday.

[Penguin_ie 5,993]

Depends what's important to you I guess. I was a bit surprised they only seem to start now in making coloured appliances, and design, as you say, seems to be less of a priority here. But functionality is much better- our fridge freezer not only does that, but also dispenses ice (cubes, small cubed, or shaved) and filtered water; my dryer is much faster than the one I had in Ireland etc.

[EasternDE 35]

Depends what's important to you I guess. I was a bit surprised they only seem to start now in making coloured appliances, and design, as you say, seems to be less of a priority here. But functionality is much better- our fridge freezer not only does that, but also dispenses ice (cubes, small cubed, or shaved) and filtered water; my dryer is much faster than the one I had in Ireland etc.

Yep, but are you sure your new dryer doesn't consume much more electricity than the previous one?

Should be interesting to compare. You know like american cars and gaz consumption.

I suspect it's comparable.

Yes, well ice cubes, if the ice cubes maker takes like 30% of the inner space...

I was very disappointed with american fridges. They're not wide... It seems they're made for bottles and cans only.

Then I realized that what we actually call american fridges here are not really american fridge but more like a french customized american fridge.

Just as "french fridges" in the US!

[tinyrosie 0]

My husband cares more about design than I do (I am more functional). So we have pretty good-looking and up-to-date appliances -- all stainless steel look -- and they work well too. so I guess it depends. I notice that rented apartments have functional but not-so-good-looking appliances (hubby said not enough incentive for the owner to provide good looking ones). But I know what you mean about old-looking appliances they have here. My parents in law have them

And I agree that many things consume more energy here in the US. I lived in Japan for years and people do everything they can to save energy. Smaller and separated air conditioner/heater for each room, on-demand water heater, etc. Here, every house has centralized air conditioner/heater and huge hot water tank, which consume so much (unnecessary) energy.

[adiiann 163]

Hmmmm.. Just my opinion.

Me and my husband go to the appliances section whenever we have chance, just to look at the innovated technology that so far going on here in America. I am not trying to defend anything but they are pretty much good and well-improved. I have no point of comparison between France and America, but then, I must say that American inventions and designs when comes to making life easier are damn good. When comes to efficiency, they're much better. Usually designs comes with ergonomics of a certain appliances, it isn't really how it should be looks like.

Appliances' designs and functions depends on what you need and how much you can afford. You might still be using 60's appliances, I must say it isn't really handy and efficient because most of designs in 60's are mechanical base and semiconductor technology just started to be develop. Why not put your old appliances to garage sale, then go to store and buy high-tech appliances. I am very much sure that you can get one that fits your needs.

[Usui Takumi 1,562]

Not to bash European models or anything but I'd have to completely disagree. European models all seem very clunky to me. I remember doing a load of laundry at my old house in Bristol and it would take like 90 minutes just to wash and they only hold perhaps 3/4 of a US load. I'm sure they are probably more efficient perhaps in the long run but I found it crazy that it sat and spun for 90 minutes (and that was the fast wash!) Fridges, well I remember them as being much simpler and maybe half the size of a US model (say maybe 3/4m wide and deep by 6' tall where as the US fridge we have is probably 1 and 1/4 m deep and wide and 6' tall).

In terms of vaccuum cleaners we have the same model here in the US as we had there and the stoves seemed identical if perhaps a little smaller over there.

[lechatnoir 0]

I am in agreement with Lancer...I lived overseas and I hated the appliances. They were old, small, and everyone had the same stuff! There was no variety to speak of and really nobody could afford newer nicer appliances. I'm not sure why you think the American designs are antiques? Where are you shopping? I find them very innovative and full of variety. You can get all sizes of refridgerators... ranging from very narrow to huge double sided with pull out freezers and the like.

[milimelo 4,479]

Not to bash European models or anything but I'd have to completely disagree. European models all seem very clunky to me. I remember doing a load of laundry at my old house in Bristol and it would take like 90 minutes just to wash and they only hold perhaps 3/4 of a US load. I'm sure they are probably more efficient perhaps in the long run but I found it crazy that it sat and spun for 90 minutes (and that was the fast wash!) Fridges, well I remember them as being much simpler and maybe half the size of a US model (say maybe 3/4m wide and deep by 6' tall where as the US fridge we have is probably 1 and 1/4 m deep and wide and 6' tall).

In terms of vaccuum cleaners we have the same model here in the US as we had there and the stoves seemed identical if perhaps a little smaller over there.

What European model of the washing machine did you have? We bought a Candy washing machine (washer/dryer combo) back in 2006 and it had all the options possible - including the 30 minute wash - we used that most often and could fill it up with 6 kilos of dirty clothes. Now, I wish they had the larger capacity machines like in the States, but most people in Europe are hard pressed to have a normal sized machine in the apartment, let alone large capacity washer and dryer.

Candy is still waiting for our return to continue using it

[Dave and Helena 0]

We bought new appliances last year, the ones we had before looked and acted like antiques. I really love the gas stove though, in Sweden that is very unusual and most people have an electrical stove.

My biggest gripe is with the !@#$%! upright vacuum cleaner. It is a PAIN to carry up and down the stairs. My sweet and thoughtful husband tells me I can have a canister vacuum cleaner for my birthday if I hate the one we have so much....

Edited September 30, 2009 by Dave and Helena

[milimelo 4,479]

My biggest gripe is with the !@#$%! upright vacuum cleaner. It is a PAIN to carry up and down the stairs. My sweet and thoughtful husband tells me I can have a canister vacuum cleaner for my birthday if I hate the one we have so much....

You should look into one of those Roomba robot vacuums - I'm thinking of getting one so it can do the vacuuming for me :-)

[Marilyn. 340]

this machine can hold around 23 bath towels.. and it is energy efficient

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?sk...d=1218045568111

plus there is a whole lot more big machines here...

http://www.bestbuy.com/site//olspage.jsp?i...p;type=category

[EasternDE 35]

Ahh I have a Samsung washing machine here in France too, I love it. I have like kazillions of different programms, I like to set it exactly the way I want. Not just Cold/Cold, Cold/Hot; Hot/Hot.

I don't even get why there should be one temperature for the wash and another for the rince...?

Ok so you understand the Vacuum cleaner problem.

American model

Euro model

How are you supposed to clean your stairs with the american model? I don't know!

There's the same problem with showers, there's no flexible neck tube whatever thingy in the US!

It's very handy! Especially when you clean it... I don't know how to clean a shower or a bathtub without a flexible tube hand thingy (gosh I hope you'll understand this...)

How do you do, do you take a bucket with you?

[EasternDE 35]

Not to bash European models or anything but I'd have to completely disagree. European models all seem very clunky to me. I remember doing a load of laundry at my old house in Bristol and it would take like 90 minutes just to wash and they only hold perhaps 3/4 of a US load. I'm sure they are probably more efficient perhaps in the long run but I found it crazy that it sat and spun for 90 minutes (and that was the fast wash!) Fridges, well I remember them as being much simpler and maybe half the size of a US model (say maybe 3/4m wide and deep by 6' tall where as the US fridge we have is probably 1 and 1/4 m deep and wide and 6' tall).

In terms of vaccuum cleaners we have the same model here in the US as we had there and the stoves seemed identical if perhaps a little smaller over there.

You know that when it comes to electric appliances standard, UK isn't Euro, right? And for some other things...

[Malrothien 6]

There's the same problem with showers, there's no flexible neck tube whatever thingy in the US!

It's very handy! Especially when you clean it... I don't know how to clean a shower or a bathtub without a flexible tube hand thingy (gosh I hope you'll understand this...)

How do you do, do you take a bucket with you?

You can buy one to put onto your shower....

[Marilyn. 340]

yeah you can buy those here.. they have many different kinds

http://www.target.com/s/176-9238572-487153...k=relevancerank