High-Tech Home Cleaning

High-tech is coming to your home laundry room and it's more than just a new washer and dryer. Here are some of the latest cleaning devices to help you remove that ring around the collar and solve other tough cleaning problems forever.

Today's laundry trends mirror what's going on in the rest of the house. People are installing what once were considered commercial style appliances in every room- from stoves to theaters, gyms and spas. Now the laundry room is getting in the act with new appliances that offer the same conveniences as your local dry cleaner at home.

Maytag's Neptune Drying Center
This is a state of the art front load dryer with a unique shelving system attached that allows you to air dry clean delicates up top while heavier stuff goes in bin below. It's really a simple idea with twofold results: It saves a trip to the dry cleaners and also (because you don't have to tumble dry all the time) prolongs the life of your clothing. The shelved upper area holds shirts sweaters, dresses or blouses. It takes about 3, 4 hours to dry a wet sweater.$1,200; www.maytag.com

Whirlpool Personal Valet
Whirlpool's entry is its Personal Valet. Billed as a clothes vitalizing system, the personal valet is not a dry cleaner, but more of a clothes freshening system. Using a detergent like formula called Presiva and four settings, the Valet can remove odors and wrinkles in suits shirts and dresses in about 30-minutes. You can even toss your sneakers in it. It installs easily, no vent required. $1300; www.family-studio.com/prod/pv.htm

LG Combo Washer/Dryer
As far as technology goes, the big news this year is LG's WM3632HW combo washer dryer. Not a stackable system but this combination washer/dryer is one appliance that both washes and dries clothes. The LG is the first full size (22lb capability) washer dryer combination in the United States. Great for city dwellers, apartments, condos, and folks with no room to spare, this sleek looking unit is a one -stop shop for laundry. Note: Combo units take a bit longer to wash and dry and can only dry 12 pounds at a time, but if you're strapped for space its worth it. $1900; www.lge.com

European Ironing Station from Frontgate
With Museum of Modern Art styling, this Italian design ironing board begs to stay out in the open even when you're done ironing. Aesthetics aside, the European iron station features an area for your iron, a built in sleeve board for pressing shirts, two shelves and a utility rod with five chrome hangers. It can also be switched for left hand users. $179; www.frontgate.com

Maytag Cordless Iron
As for Irons, Maytag's cordless iron is tough to beat. That's right! No cords sliding under you shirt sleeves or wrapping around ironing board only a sleek looking cordless wonder that comes in a cool carry case and takes care of most average ironing chores. The iron includes a base station that charges and stores the iron. Prices start at $129; www.maytag.com

Rowenta Steam Generator
The Ferrari of irons is Rowenta's Steam Generator. From the inventor of the electric iron, this behemoth cuts your ironing time in half and can provide over 1.5 hours of continuous steam. Its six foot cord allows you to vertical steam curtains on the rod, comforters, even dust ruffles on the bed. $300; www.rowenta.com.

The Steam Board from Hammacher Schlemmer
Vertical steaming is the best way to get wrinkle free clothes, but finding a way to hang your stuff is another story. Enter the Steam Board from Hammacher Schlemmer. The Steam Board connects over a door. Its tension bar holds clothes securely so you can steam out the wrinkles without scalding your hand. $120; www.hammacher.com

TIDE Buzz
For spots and stains there's a new high tech stain removal product called the TIDE Buzz Ultrasonic Stain Remover. Like a high tech version of SHOUT, Buzz uses ultrasonic waves, special cleaning fluids and tiny pads to remove most any kind of stain. If that sounds like a lot of work, it kind of is, but the results speak for themselves. If you have a family full of spills or are like me and never met a cup of coffee you didn't wear, Tide Buzz gets the job done. $50, pad refills and stain solution $5/each. www.tidebuzz.com.

Downy Wrinkle Releaser
This product has been around awhile but it's simply magic. Simply spray on wrinkles -even linen- tug on the fabric and wrinkles disappear. Wrinkle releaser works on dry clean clothes only, but hey, that's what gets wrinkled. Great for travel it sells for $4. www.downy.com

AllerSafe Laundry Detergent
For folks with allergies and asthma comes AllerSafe Laundry Detergent, an all natural way to get rid of dust mites. Dust Mite allergens are the single greatest source of allergy and asthma misery. They live in your mattresses, pillows, comforters, blankets, and box springs. Mites also thrive in clothing stored in your closet and your dresser drawers. And the allergens they produce linger on your sheets, pillowcases, and clothing, causing you to suffer. Until now, frequent hot water washing (110 - 140 degree) was the best way to remove mites from bedding and clothing. But hot water can damage fabrics and fade colors. AllerSafe is gentle on your washables. And it washes away the source of your symptoms in all water temperatures. AllerSafe also removes other harmful allergens such as pet dander, mold, mildew, pollen, chemicals, and smoke. Free of dyes, perfumes, and other irritating additives, AllerSafe gives you clean, fresh laundry and the allergy and asthma relief you need. $11.95; www.HealthStores.com