Are Tech Savvy consumers ready for a laundry room upgrade?

We all think about relieving the tedium of everyday chores, just the other day I wrote about the new automated floor cleaning system Mint.

Now news just out from Whirlpool that their new top loading Vantage line ($4000 for a washer/dryer pair) has 33 settings for clothes, blankets and even shower curtains all on a very cool iPod like touch screen.

Bosch, Sears Kenmore brand and LG are among an array of manufacturers coming out with new machines making the laundry room the next battleground for your already stretched credit/debit cards.

My 5-year-old Kenmore’s have 23 settings (I counted) so you can see how the ante is rising. I have at times even gone adventurous with my machines, washing items that claim Dry Clean Only, only to find them cleaned perfectly minus the $10+ cost per item at my local Dry Cleaner.

My laundry room is not the first place I bring guests when they come over, but if you have a need for blackberry or lemongrass shaded appliances I have an avocado side by side fridge just waiting for my Mrs. Paul’s fish sticks to thaw out.