Whirlpool Expands Efficient Washer Line

The top-loading Calypso washers feature Whirlpool’s unique Calypso Wash Motion. In place of the agitator found in most top-loading (vertical-axis) washers, there is a special “wash plate,” which cleans fabrics using 50% less water and 66% less energy than conventional top-loading washers. The absence of an agitator allows large loads to be washed with minimal wear-and-tear on the fabrics, according to the company. The suggested retail price on these washers is about $1,200.

The Duet washer is manufactured at one of Whirlpool’s European factories and relies on horizontal-axis technology—the route taken by most manufacturers to achieve Energy Star® compliance with clothes washers (see