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Samsung airdresser review


Not (Quite!) A Home Drycleaner — The Kavalier

Hey gents, today I’ve got another product review, but it’s not my usual roundup.

Don’t worry. I have no intention of stopping my roundups.

But unlike the market saturation one finds in just about every other corner of the garment industry, at the moment this product is close to one of a kind.

It’s the Samsung Airdresser.

This contraption, which is about the size of a refrigerator (except quite a bit narrower, as you can see in all the photos), is essentially (but not quite!) a home drycleaning machine.

Today I’m going to talk about why I bought one, what it does, and whether, based on your own clothing collection, you might consider investing in one yourself.

Why I bought it

If you’ve been following me for awhile, this shouldn’t be much of a stretch.

You’ve seen the size of my closet.

You’ve also seen how many suits and other dry-clean only garments I own. With the amount of money I spend on drycleaning, I’m guessing the Airdresser is going to pay for itself by the end of 2020.

But there’s more, both to the reason I bought it and the machine itself.

The Airdresser does so much more than refresh dry-clean only suits.

I’ve used it on everything from my children’s stuffed toys to my wife’s delicates and my accessories.

It has a setting for just about every type of clothing, as well as other fabric items, and it’s one of the few big-ticket items for which I’ve never felt any buyer’s remorse.

Shall we get into a bit more detail?

What it Does

The basic function of the airdresser is as an effective deodorizer and wrinkle reducer. This function has three timed options available: normal (48 minutes), quick (24 minutes) and one for delicates (40 mintues.

The Normal and Quick options are for everyday wear that isn’t dry-clean only.

These are obviously not your best options for the sweat socks you just ran three miles in or the shorts you’ve worn to the gym every day for the past week.

They are a good option, however, if you want another working day out of your khakis or OCBD shirt, provided that they’re not stained.

The Delicates option is pretty self-explanatory (got delicates?), especially when you look at the icon on the instruction manual:

It also has several similar options for sanitizing, drying and even pressing, for which it includes several weights. I attached these to a few of my trousers and this cycle did a very effective job of getting the wrinkles out.

Although the interface on the Airdresser itself is pretty straightforward and user-friendly, the SmartThings mobile app accompanying the Airdresser is, in my opinion, the best way to use it.

It’s both Android and Apple compatible and contains a great many customizable recipes that go well beyond the basic sanitize, wrinkle release and drying.

ConstructioN

As I expected since it’s Samsung, the Airdresser is REALLY well-made. It’s sleek and the construction is solid, even down to the hinges on the door, and it’s clear that the designers paid a great deal of attention to detail.

It about as tall as a refrigerator but markedly slimmer, making it easy to fit into a walk-in closet.

It’s also quite energy efficient (much more so than the space heater I kept in my studio!). It doesn’t even require a water line or a heavy-duty outlet.

Instead, it plugs into a normal wall outlet and uses an easily refillable tank that lasts three or four full cycles. The used water empties into another tank, and both are easy to remove and clean.

Should You Buy It?

Fair question.

It retails in the U.S. at $1499, so in certain circumstances, no.

If you’re just starting to build your wardrobe or you never go to the drycleaner, this may not be a worthwhile investment for you.

But it might be worth the investment if…

-You have a lot of suits that you want to keep fresh without taking them to the drycleaners (you can run up to three at a time through its cycles and it comes with these wide hangers that ensure every inch of the garment in question gets serviced!).

-You have children with stuffed toys. I was floored at how clean my children’s plush toys smelled and felt after I put them through the sanitizer cycle.

-You have a lot of bedding, duvets, pillow cases, etc…that you want to keep fresh without washing too often. See my comment about the stuffed toys.

-You have enough room in your closet and/or house. This is not a worthwhile investment if you live in a studio apartment or even a walk-up (it’s REALLY heavy!). On the other hand, it might be worth sacrificing some closet space if you don’t have a washing machine in your apartment. Like I said earlier, it won’t clean your workout clothes or get stains out, but it will extend the lives of your trousers, shirts and suits, sparing you trips to the drycleaners and maybe even the laundromat.

Conclusion

So there you have it gents. My review of the Samsung Airdresser and why I think it might be a good investment for you under the right circumstances. I highly recommend that you check it out.

Do any of you own one of these? How easy was it to move into your house? Where do you store it?

Would you invest in one if you went to the drycleaners a lot? What about if you didn’t?

Let me know what you think down in the comments, or send me a message on Instagram or Twitter.

You know I always love hearing from you guys, and I’m especialle interested in hearing whether those of you who own one have had a similar experience to mine.

Until next time, gents, this is The Kavalier.

Clothing, How to, Lifestyle, ReviewsGuest UserBlog Articles, clothing sub, airdresser, samsung1 Comment

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Samsung AirDresser Review: It Sanitises and De-wrinkles Clothes?

If you've heard about the LG Styler, perhaps the Samsung AirDresser that has finally dropped in the Singapore market (having first launched in South Korea back in 2018) would interest you. The appliance works on a similar level—it sanitises, deodorises, dries and refreshes clothes. Even their forms look similar—both come with a sleek, monolith built with a mirrored facade for elegance and also for looking at yourself wearing your cleaned clothes.

Sleek and stylish: The Samsung AirDresser is essentially a garment care appliance.

I took the swanky Samsung AirDresser out for a spin and tested it out for a couple of weeks. Here are my thoughts on it.

Design: 6/10


User-friendliness: 8/10

It’s a really heavy appliance—it weighs a whopping 85kg—so the Samsung AirDresser really isn’t meant to be shifted around the house despite its slim and sleek appearance. I would recommend placing it stationary in a walk-in closet or bedroom. It comes with a tinted mirror finish that although stylish, will leave fingerprint marks.

The AirDresser features a depth of 63.2cm, when closed, and a height of 185cm. See the illustration below for the full measurements and include a bit of clearance space around it for proper ventilation, if you are intending to have it flush with your built-in wardrobe. It doesn't really emit heat or moisture during operation though, so there's no need to fear it will ruin your carpentry.

Measurements for the AirDresser

Inside, you’ll find three chunky "AirHangers" that hold up your clothes. They are designed with a hollow centre so that jets of air can pass through your clothing to sanitise and dry them properly. The hangers don’t come with side ridges, so some of our clothing couldn’t quite hold up and slipped through.

Inside the Samsung AirDresser

Close-up of an AirHanger

The AirHanger is designed with a hollow centre

A soft ‘click’ sound will indicate that you’ve slot the hangers in place properly. Each hanger comes with a pair of metal clips, which are useful for holding up trousers or tea towels. The appliance also comes with a shelf (great for toys or cushions) that can be stowed away by the side of the door when not in use.

The Samsung AirDresser comes with a shelf, useful for holding up things that can't go on the hangers.

There’s definitely an effort to make things as fuss-free and seamless as possible. So even without looking at the manual, we managed to work things out for ourselves. Before starting, you’ll need to fill up the water tank located at the bottom of the AirDresser. A full tank can go for about 3 to 4 cycles, depending on what cycles you choose. The LCD control panel by the side will let you know when the tank needs to be refilled.

The water tank and drain tank are placed at the bottom of the appliance, side by side. The tanks are easy to remove, allowing you to fill or empty the tanks without much fuss.

On the panel by the side, select 'Clothing Care' if you want to refresh your clothes and ‘Drying’ if you want to dry your clothes.

Within the Clothing Care and Drying programmes, you can select a specific cycle depending on the items you are refreshing or drying. Under Clothing Care for instance, you can opt for cycles such as 'Baby wear', 'Bedding' or 'Wool/Knit'. The '>' or '<' buttons to select the cycles were a wee bit difficult to see under low light, so that could definitely be improved on.

The LCD screen panel will indicate the time needed to refresh or dry your clothes. Then all you have to do is hold down the start button and it’s good to go. It produces an almost inaudible hum when the cycle is running and a cheery chime is played at the end when the cycle is finished.

The controls panel by the side of the AirDresser. Things are very straightforward here.

You can’t disable the sounds (it also beeps when the buttons are pressed) unfortunately, so it may be a nuisance for families who have napping toddlers who will awake with the slightest noise. Otherwise, I didn’t find it too annoying and I actually found the tinkle at the end to be a little too soft in our open-plan space.

Programmes and Functionality: 7/10

The Clothing Care programme works for clothes that need a bit of a sprucing up and deodorising and is great for “in-between” clothes that aren’t dirty enough to go to the washer and aren’t clean enough to go back into your closet.

I tried it out on clothes that I’ve stuffed at the back of our wardrobe for a long time. The programme did help to eliminate the musty smells and even reduced the wrinkles on our clothing. Although it couldn’t completely remove the deep-set wrinkles on our linen and cotton shirts, it definitely helped to make ironing easier.

Before and After: How my linen shirt looks after a turn in the Samsung AirDresser.

Before and After: Work pants straightened out, although the deeper crinkles still needed to be ironed out.

We also tried out the Clothing Care programme with towels, soft toys and cushions. We didn’t see a huge visible change to these items since they didn't have a lot of wrinkles, but they did come out smelling cleaner (there’s also a very slight chemical smell that fades after a while). Our soft toys also felt slightly softer to touch.

Drying turns the Samsung AirDresser into a dryer. I tried the programme with various clothes—a towel, shirt, a pair of jeans and a queen-sized quilt cover—that came straight out from our washer. The towel and shirt managed to dry off under the AI Dry cycle, but the pair of jeans and the queen-sized quilt cover required a longer time and we had to restart the drying programme several times before they could be completely dried off.

Drying my laundry straight from the washer.

The ‘AI’ part comes into play when the appliance automatically adjusts the drying time based on the leftover humidity in the AirDresser. It shortened or increased my drying cycles when necessary, but it wasn't 100% effective or accurate since some of my laundry items were still wet even by the end of the cycle.

It's worth to note that I folded the jeans and the quilt cover during the drying programme in order to fit them into the AirDresser, so it may have affected the effectiveness of the appliance’s drying function.

The Sanitize function can be paired with Clothing Care if you want your clothing to feel extra clean as it incorporates a steaming process that according to Samsung will effectively eliminate “99.9% of bacteria, viruses and 100% of house dust mites.” It can be activated on a number of cycles including 'Baby wear', 'School wear', 'Toys' and 'Bedding'. They won't work with the Drying programme. Activating Sanitize will make the cycle run longer.

Cycles take a long time to run. The Daily Care cycle for instance takes around 40 mins, while the AI Dry cycle can go for more than an hour. If you add Sanitize, the entire cycle can run for approximately 2 hours. For those short on time, there are quick modes to reduce the time needed to refresh or dry your clothes, although these weren't as effective in drying or removing the musty smells of our laundry.

If you like a particular scent on your clothes, you can stick a dryer sheet (or a cotton wool infused with your favourite smell) on the Fresh Finish compartment at the back of the AirDresser. Your clothes will come out smelling like that particular scent after the cycle.

The Fresh Finish compartment in the Samsung AirDresser.

Stick a dryer sheet or your favourite scent soaked in cotton wool in the compartment.

There’s also a Keep Fresh programme, which you can select at any time during the cycle if you aren’t able to remove items right at the end of the cycle. This preserves your steamed and freshened up clothes from creasing or smelling bad until you are ready to wear them. The Keep Fresh programme will stay on for up to 24 hours after a cycle has finished. It will turn off automatically when you open the door to the AirDresser.

Delayed End works similarly, allowing you to end the cycle on a set time (up to 24 hours), so your clothes will be ready when you need them to.

For households with young children, there's a child lock feature to give you some ease of mind. It gets activated when you tap and hold the Delayed End button. Turning it on will deactivate every button except the Power button.

If your home runs on SmartThings, which is the Samsung smart home system, you can connect the AirDresser to it as well, allowing you to operate the appliance remotely via the SmartThings app. You will still need to place clothes manually inside though, so I didn't find that function to be particularly life-changing.

You can also use the Samsung AirDresser as a dehumidifier by keeping the door of the appliance open and hitting the Room Refresh cycle (located under Drying). This helps to control the humidity levels in an enclosed space like a walk-in wardrobe.

Maintenance

The drain tank needs to be emptied once it's full. The appliance will tell you when you need to do so. If you aren’t using the AirDresser for a long time, make sure you empty out both the drain tank and water tank to prevent water from sitting there for long periods of time. The insides of the machine can be cleaned by running the Self Clean cycle.

If you tend to use it for items that tend to accumulate a lot of dust, you can clean out the air filter located at the back of the machine regularly by brushing it down and running it under clean water. The lint filter, located at the bottom of the machine, can also be cleaned in the same way.

It also requires regular descaling. Like with most things, it will let you know when it needs to be descaled. The manual will take you through how to do so, and it's pretty fuss-free. Just make sure you have a descaling liquid on hand to pour into the water tank before the process starts.

What could be better

The Samsung AirDresser isn't a replacement for your major appliances, but it's a handy accompaniment.

This isn’t a machine for the impatient. Cycles, both the refreshing and drying one, tend to take a while to run. The waiting time drags on if you want to sanitise your clothes. As I've mentioned, you do get quick modes for those who are short on time, but these aren't as effective as the normal cycles.

It would help if we could place more than three articles of clothing in the AirDresser. Stacking clothes on the shelves reduced the appliance’s efficacy e.g. musty smells couldn’t be completely eliminated. And because of the small capacity, I couldn't quite straighten our bedding properly to dry it under one drying cycle.

The Samsung AirDresser is no substitute for your washing machine, dryer or iron. But it definitely does what it says it does. It removes smells on clothes that’ve been to the hawker centre, it straightens out a blazer that has been slung on your office chair for too long, and it can dry off more delicate clothes that you don't want to tumble dry without needing a separate water supply like a dryer does.

You'll find it extra useful if you have a lot of clothes that need to be dry cleaned, since you can just pop them to the AirDresser whenever you need a quick refresh, saving you hefty bills in the long run. Do note that it doesn't eliminate stains, so you will still need to run a trip to the dry cleaners for those.

It’s essentially a non-essential appliance, so it's not quite for everybody. My basic lifestyle (yes, I'm #basic), inexpensive clothes and small household mean I won't really need it around. Still, if you are looking to reduce ironing time and cut on your laundry loads and if you can afford the extra space, it's a useful appliance to have around to pick up some of the slack on laundry days.

The Samsung BESPOKE AirDresser is available on the Samsung Online Store and in major consumer electronics stores at $2,499.

TL;DR? See our video review of the Samsung BESPOKE AirDresser here:

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Samsung DF60R8600CG/LP Garment Steamer - Grey, Gray

Eliminates bacteria, viruses and allergens.

JetSteam Technology

Jet Steam Technology hygienically cleans and refreshes your clothes with Jet Air's powerful high-temperature steam system that penetrates deep into fabrics and eliminates 99.9% of viruses and bacteria, 100% of dust mites, 99% of odors and 99 % other harmful substances*.

* Eliminates: 1) 99.9% of 4 types of viruses (Adenovirus, Influenza, Coronavirus and Herpes virus) as tested by Korea University Laboratory using Hygiene Mode. 2) 99.9% 2 types of bacteria (E. coli and Staph), 99% airborne odors (Iso-valeric acid: sweat; 4-ethynylpyridine: tobacco; Valeraldehyde: foodstuffs such as grilled meat; and Tetrachlorethylene : dry clean) based on testing by Intertek using the Refresh setting. 4) 99% harmful substances (perchlorethylene) as tested by Intertek using Refresh mode. Individual results may vary depending on actual usage situation. * Kills : 1) 100% dust mites, tested by Intertek / BAF certification using Hygiene mode.

Eliminates odors and restores freshness to clothes

Deodorizing filter

The AirDresser is equipped with a deodorizing filter to eliminate odors. The filter captures and removes 99% of unpleasant odors, including sweat, tobacco, grilled meat and dry cleaning*, and prevents them from accumulating on clothes.

*Based on Intertek testing using conventional mode: iso-valeric acid: sweat, 4-ethenylpyridine: tobacco, valeraldehyde: roasted meat, and tetrachlorethylene: dry cleaning. Tested for iso-valeric acid and 4-ethenylpyridine based on KS standard K0891. Individual results may vary depending on the actual use situation.

Gentle Low Temperature Drying

HeatPump Drying Technology

HeatPump Drying Technology gently and gently dries your clothes. It prevents shrinkage and damage to clothes by using a low drying temperature thanks to the synergy of two technologies - JetAir airflow from above and HeatPump heat pump from below. Together, they improve air circulation inside the closet and dry your clothes evenly.

HeatPump technology dries your clothes gently and gently. It prevents shrinkage and damage to clothes by using a low drying temperature thanks to the synergy of two technologies - JetAir airflow from above and HeatPump heat pump from below. Together, they improve air circulation inside the closet and dry your clothes evenly.

Less wrinkles. Less ironing.

Wrinkle Care Technology

A neat look without ironing! Wrinkle Care technology uses a combination of steam and air to reduce and smooth wrinkles in your clothes so you can wear them without the hassle of ironing. The technology eliminates up to 100% of wrinkles in woolen clothes and up to 80% of wrinkles in viscose clothes*.

*Based on independent testing by Intertek using normal mode in accordance with KS K 0891 and ISO 9867. After using the AirDresser, the wrinkle removal rate was 100% for wool and 80% for viscose.

Quick and quiet dust removal from clothes

Jet Air System + Air Hanger Technology

Thanks to the powerful Jet Air system and special air hangers, clothes are completely blown from the inside out and in two directions - up and down. Such a system effectively removes deeply ingrained dust from fabrics almost silently and without vibration*!

*Based on internal testing, the noise level is 42.8 dB in normal mode and 37.8 dB in silent mode. This is the maximum equivalent continuous noise level LEQ from the front, sides and rear. The tests were carried out in an anechoic room at a distance of 1 m from the product. Individual results may vary depending on actual usage situation.

Keep cabinet interior hygienic and fresh

Self-cleaning function

Keeping your AirDresser cabinet clean and hygienic is essential for maximum performance. You don't need harsh and expensive detergents: the cabinet keeps the inside clean on its own with a combination of heat, air and steam. And after 40 cycles, it will notify you to clean.

Keeping your AirDresser cabinet clean and hygienic is essential for maximum performance. You don't need harsh and expensive detergents: the cabinet keeps the inside clean on its own with a combination of heat, air and steam. And after 40 cycles, it will notify you to clean.

Optimum room humidity for better storage

Room dehumidifier

High humidity in the room can affect the storage of your items. The AirDresser steam oven allows you to maintain optimal humidity in the room thanks to the Dehumidify mode. When the cabinet door is open, the Dehumidify mode extracts excess moisture from the air in the room, creating the perfect storage environment for your belongings.

Excessive humidity in the room can adversely affect the quality of storage of your belongings. The AirDresser steam oven allows you to maintain optimal humidity in the room thanks to the Dehumidify mode. When the cabinet door is open, the Dehumidify mode extracts excess moisture from the air in the room, creating the perfect storage environment for your belongings.

Advanced AI*-enabled

SmartThings Wi-Fi control

More care modes! The SmartThings** app learns from your user behavior to improve your garment care *** . The ‘Care Recipe’ function will help you choose the best care cycle****. The ‘My Closet’ function will select the optimal care program for your clothes. The ‘Special Course’ will offer both general and specialized modes. And ‘Home Care’ allows you to identify and fix any problems.

*From English. "artificial intelligence" - artificial intelligence.
**Available on Android and iOS devices. Wi-Fi connection and Samsung account required.
***Store user data, preferences and usage patterns to offer the most useful options.
****The user will be solely responsible for any possible consequences, including, in particular, any damage or harm caused by incorrect information provided by the user.

Soft and safe closing of the door

Soft Closing

Enjoy the smooth movement of the door with a special hinge that slowly moves the last few centimeters and closes gently and silently. No more unnecessary sounds will disturb you.

Experience the smooth movement of the door with a special hinge that slowly moves the last few centimeters and closes gently and silently. No more unnecessary sounds will disturb you.

Video review

AirDresser steamer

Want to see for yourself how a steamer takes care of your clothes?
Watch the video review and learn more about the special functions and settings of the Samsung AirDresser

Want to see for yourself how the steamer takes care of your clothes?
Watch the video overview and learn more about the special features and settings of Samsung AirDresser

LG Styler Review - Wildly Helpful Tips for Choosing

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The

LG Styler is a smart steamer, and it's a bit monstrous. Head to Korea and you'll see rows of these appliances at power retailers, and to a lesser extent, the US has adopted the steamer too. But the LG Styler is definitely a niche.

So is it possible to do without indulgence? Or does this smart clean tech plate do things for your clothes that dry cleaners can't? It certainly offers convenience, as you can wear a jacket, shirt, and trousers overnight and have them fresh and ready to go the next day. However, if there are only three hangers and a trouser holder in the doors, this is not a high volume machine.

The LG Styler doesn't have as many features as you'd like (Photo credit: Rob Clymo)

Pricing and Availability

The LG Styler is out now and available for £1899 / $2099 / AU$3299 direct from LG or John Lewis in the UK. At the time of writing, John Lewis had access to the black door model. If you are in the US or Australia, then the LG website can help you track down listed companies. These are valuable items, and with niche appeal, you may find them a little harder to get hold of than many everyday items like washers and dryers.0006

In terms of comparable products, the Samsung AirDresser is a similarly styled device and another expensive unit that costs £1999 from Samsung in the UK. US pricing is not currently available, although it appears to be available in Australia for AU$3299.

LG Styler and TrueSteam Technology

Styler is powered by LG's TrueSteam technology. The company claims to "destroy over 99.9% of Germs and Bacteria Found in Clothing and Household Items” certified by the British Allergy Foundation. Thus, it would seem that there is merit in the lawsuit. While the appliance does not wash clothes, it has a fairly powerful steaming ability.

It combines the steaming process with the movement coming from a hanging rail at the top of the cabinet that effectively shakes out creases and ejects dirt and dust into the deal. Meanwhile, there's a flip-out plastic panel in the door that you slide your pants into, which is rather curiously billed as the Pants Crease Care.

LG Styler has four main functions. There is a Refresh for suits, dresses and sweaters that can be used to revive tired outfits in just 20 minutes. The Gentle Dry, meanwhile, does a much cleaner job of drying clothes than a conventional spinner. As a result, shrinkage is minimized. It is important to note that there is a sanitary regime, which is a feature that eliminates allergens and bacteria. Finally, the Trouser Press option will bring your wrinkled trousers back to their store-bought feel.

Things get pretty hot too. The steam generated inside the LG Styler reaches its maximum at 60 degrees. You can also pair your LG Styler with the LG ThinQ app on your smartphone, which allows you to control it without pressing any buttons on the device. LG also says the Styler will double as a dehumidifier when the door is open, adding a little more value to this premium monolith. types of crumpled or musty items. This will revive bedding and, more usefully, puffy coats that have been in the back of the closet for a while, giving them a whole new life. Choose the right program and you will get your clothes back fresh, crisp and fresh. We even revived some soft toys that were going to be given to a new owner..

The water reservoirs at the base of the LG Styler require special attention (Photo credit: Rob Clymo)

design

The LG Styler looks really like this. Our review unit came with a black glass front door, but a white version is also available. It is quite tall (1850mm) and narrow (449mm) with a depth of 585mm which means you have a hard time getting into the position you want. The LG Styler also weighs in at over 80 kilos, which also poses a problem for you if you live upstairs and don't have an elevator. In its packaging, it is bulky, and made of cardboard and polystyrene, the protective material is simply heavy.

LG's promotional images show the Styler looking very cool in posh apartments with a dedicated walk-in closet or walk-in closet, which is the perfect place for it. You can also tuck it into built-in furniture if you want a seamless design feel. Keep in mind that the LG Styler generates heat, so it needs space for air to circulate. The manual gives a handy guide to tolerances.

Filter sheets let the LG Styler add a touch of fragrance to your clothes (Image credit: Rob Clymo)

The unit comes with a box of feet that includes leveling options if you install it on hard floors. There is also a pair of pointed carpet feet that are designed to push through the fibers and backing to hold the unit securely in place.

The LG Styler creates a certain amount of vibration. During our time, the steam engine seemed to almost wobble, which is probably due to the suspension mechanism inside, which wobbles back and forth while the appliance does its job. The Styler is pretty quiet, although it has a displacement of 40 dB(A) thanks to its inverter motor which is just as good as they are. So, on the hard floor, the LG Styler has received a nod on the operational front.

Customize

The controls for the LG Styler are clear, concise and sensitive to touch (Image credit: LG)

The LG Styler is actually very easy to set up once you've gone through the quandary to install it into place . You will need to be in close proximity to a power outlet, but other than that it is self-contained. At the bottom front of the device are two small retractable tanks, one of which is designed to collect wastewater after the program. The one on the right is for fresh water, which can be straight from the tap rather than needing to be distilled. Easily.

All the fun happens on the front of the unit, with touch-sensitive function buttons in that shiny glass door. Here you can select your preferred mode (Refresh, Special Care, Sanitary, Soft Dry), including the intensity of the program selection. These include Normal or Light for a quick transition to Heavy for a full upgrade. You can also delay the start.

The program time is displayed in the door so you know how long it will take. Interestingly, we found that you can open the door in the middle of a cycle, which gives you the opportunity to see how this swinging hanger does its job.

Open the door and you'll be greeted with a cool blue tint of indoor lighting (Photo credit: Rob Climo)

Performance

We loved the jaunty tone you get when you finish the program. It's almost like a silent fanfare announcing that your underwear is ready to be opened. However, opening this hefty door for the first time has had mixed results. We took our things carefully, not wanting to accidentally squeeze expensive suits and shirts.

And that's the thing with the LG Styler: despite the comprehensive user manual, it takes a bit of getting used to. Initial runs left us with creases and light air if disappointing. However, with practice we managed to get some really impressive results.

The heat pump system seems to be efficient, while the TrueSteam nozzle on the bottom of the unit did a great job on some of the stale smelling hats we mounted on the rack just above. The LG Styler also appears to be fairly frugal in terms of water usage, although you do need to top up the tank from time to time. It will tell you when to do it though. Power consumption in normal refresh mode is 1850 watts, although the appliance consumes less if you're just drying.

You can enhance the attractiveness of LG Styler with filters. These are stinky paper sheets soaked in perfume that are placed in a special steam compartment at the bottom of the appliance. We had a Saffron Aroma Sheet filter with a demo model.

When the machine airs and steams your clothes, the fragrance will penetrate your clothes. It's an acquired taste, with our sample packaging from Saffron, leaving things smelling mostly fresh but a little pony. I think car air freshener is here. Surely some will really like it.

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