Imagine a microwave that can grill a steak to your specified doneness, a refrigerator that tells you how long the power was out so you know if your food is safe to eat and a washing machine that can wash three baskets of laundry at once while saving energy and water. Think you're visiting a future world? Think again--welcome to the new world of appliances.

Buying an appliance can be intimidating if you haven't purchased one for several years. Laundry appliances sound, look and perform differently than older models. For instance, high efficient (HE) washers are meant to use a relatively small amount of water, but most people are used to seeing a basket full of water and suds. Extra water actually interferes with an HE washer's mechanics and the machine's cleaning performance can be altered. Before you are overwhelmed with the changes in appliance technology, Whirlpool brand offers some helpful tips.

"Today's appliance market can be daunting to someone who hasn't bought an appliance in 15 years. What was considered futuristic not too long ago--washing machines playing songs, microwaves grilling and refrigerators displaying important information--is available on the market today," said Monica Teague, senior manager of public relations, Whirlpool Corporation. "There are a number of choices and options for consumers and we want to help them make the right decision when purchasing their new appliance."

With so many options available in today's marketplace, it is important for consumers to know what appliances will fit their lifestyle and fit in their home. Evaluating your appliance needs and knowing the amount of space you have are key factors to consider when purchasing an appliance, for example:

• Consider the size of the household--are you empty-nesters who rarely cook or are you a family of five who has your extended family over for Sunday dinner every week? Are you looking for a refrigerator for your garage or media room in the basement? Is there a water line established for ice and filtered water? Do you buy more fresh food   than frozen? Does your kitchen have space for a side-by-side model or will you have to stick with a top-mount configuration?
• HE laundry is no longer reserved for front-load machines. HE is available in both top and front-loading machines, offering consumers a choice in how they can configure their laundry space and the ability to have front-load efficiency even if you prefer a top-load washer with mega capacity. Before you go shopping for washers and dryers, think about the features you are looking for, how much room you have for new machines and whether your dryer is gas or electric. New laundry room tools such as storage towers and pedestals not only offer storage but increase accessibility.

To help consumers' purchase process be less confusing, Whirlpool has partnered with Lowe's to create a downloadable checklist available here.

About Whirlpool Brand

Whirlpool Corporation is the world's leading manufacturer and marketer of major home appliances, with annual sales of approximately $19 billion in 2008, 70,000 employees, and 67 manufacturing and technology research centers around the world. Whirlpool brand recognizes that consumers lead busy, active lives and continues to create solutions that help consumers optimize productivity and efficiency in the home.

In addition to designing appliance solutions based on consumer insight, Whirlpool brand is dedicated to creating ENERGY STAR qualified appliances like the new Duet washer which uses 74% less water and 80% less energy than a traditional top load washer manufactured before 2004. When used with the washer, the new Duet Resource Saver dryer improves dryer energy usage by 40% as compared to traditional top-load laundry pairs, average size load. Whirlpool is one of Habitat for Humanity's largest corporate partners, donating a refrigerator and range to every new Habitat for Humanity home built in North America. For more information, visit http://www.whirlpool.com/. Additional information can be found at www.whirlpoolcorp.com.