Frigidaire Launches New AffinitySupermodel Hosts Clothes Off Our Back Fundraiser at Frigidaire's "Glacier Lounge" at Film Festival in Park City, Utah

    Park City, Utah (Jan. 19, 2006), Frigidaire will unveil its new line of Frigidaire® Affinity™ Front Load Laundry Products this weekend at Park City's posh Village at the Lift. Supermodel Frederique van der Wal and celebrities like William H. Macy, Maria Bello and Aaron Eckhart, who are in town for the festival, are expected to attend the "Glacier Lounge" benefit event for the Clothes Off Our Back Foundation.

    The new Frigidaire Affinity Washers and Dryers, available in glacier blue, platinum ice and arctic white finishes, give homeowners stylish new laundry space design options. To demonstrate the product's style and versatility, Frigidaire enlisted van der Wahl, a popular Victoria's Secret fashion model and current host of the Discovery Channel's new series, "The Invisible Journey," to debut the line. She and other stars will donate washable fashions, which will be auctioned at www.clothesoffourback.org, between January 19 and March 31 to raise funds for children's charities. The event is expected to raise thousands of dollars to kick off Clothes Off Our Back's 2006 fundraising season.

    The New Laundry Market

    According to the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers, laundry products account for about one-fourth of wholesale major appliance sales. Driving the demand is the expansion of home square footage, allowing for laundry areas on the main and/or second level of the home. "We're seeing more consumers choose to upgrade their laundry appliances and laundry rooms," said Keith McLoughlin, CEO, Electrolux Major Appliances, Americas. "Five years ago, people primarily reported buying a new washer only when the old one needed repair or replacement. Today, because of how stylish, quiet and adaptable the new products are, consumers are fitting them into unexpected areas of the home, whether a dressing area, work space, hobby/creative room or even a media room."

    The World Leader in Front Load

    The fastest growing laundry segment is front load products. According to Traqline, an independent survey of consumer purchase habits conducted by The Stevenson Company, front load laundry accounts for 25 percent of all laundry appliances sales. That number is expected to continue to grow. The new Frigidaire Affinity line comes from the world's largest manufacturer of front load laundry.

    "As more consumers come to understand the energy saving and fabric care benefits of front load, we're continuing to evolve the Frigidaire line to bring them greater selection," McLoughlin added. "A front load machine is gentler on fabrics because there is no agitator. It's also less costly to operate, amounting to almost 70 percent less water and energy. And, it's better for the environment."

    High Performance at a Great Value

    Frigidaire Affinity Washer will be available in February starting at $799 at Best Buy, Lowe's Home Improvement and many independent appliance retailers. The dryer will retail starting at $599. The Frigidaire Affinity Washer and Dryer boast several high-performance proprietary features:

  • iCare™ Ultra: Intelligent fabric care system that gently washes, plus a deep clean option and our best drying system to keep your clothes looking their best
  • iWash™ Ultra: Intelligent wash system that automatically customizes each load for a whiter, brighter, cleaner wash, plus a deep clean cycle to help better treat stains
  • iDry™ Ultra: Intelligent drying system with moisture sensor technology that precisely dries clothes for enhanced fabric care

    • Frigidaire Affinity

    The new line represents the centerpiece of Frigidaire's full line of existing front loading washers and dryers. For more information, visit www.frigidaire.com.

    About Frigidaire

    Frigidaire®, a trusted name in home appliances, boasts a brand heritage rich with quality products and lifestyle-improving innovations. Frigidaire® offers pioneering features of tomorrow with an emphasis on quality, trust and service. Visit www.frigidaire.com for more information on Frigidaire® products.

    About Clothes Off Our Back Foundation

    The Clothes Off Our Back Foundation is a 501c3 organization that hosts charity auctions showcasing today's hottest celebrity attire. Items are put up for bid to the public with proceeds going to benefit children's charities. Clothes Off Our Back was founded by actors and philanthropists Jane Kaczmarek ("Malcolm In The Middle") and Bradley Whitford ("The West Wing") whose efforts, along with their celebrity and designer friends have helped improve the lives of children across the globe.