When it comes to planning a new kitchen, the late winter/early spring season is one of the most popular times of the year. And why not? Coming right on the heels of the KBIS, one of the world’s hottest design expos, it’s the perfect time to plan. Getting the chance to integrate some of the most cutting-edge kitchen appliance innovations will definitely make your design stand out from the crowd.

And with 2020’s hottest appliance trends, the look for your new kitchen will be crystal clear.

1. Better Food Storage

Refrigerators keep your food fresher longer. And with the newest storage innovations, they’ve never done a better job. Specialized drawers are better at managing humidity and removing harmful ethylene gas, you’ll even be able to set third and even fourth distinct temperature zones to create the perfect storage environment for all kinds of food. Door-in-door design allows you to easily grab your go-to foods and drinks without losing all the cold air inside the fridge, so you’ll save food and money.

Bosch Refreshment Centre

Brand new for 2020, Bosch has also introduced the Refreshment Centre Refrigerator, featuring an elegant glass paneled drawer dedicated to wine storage. This cutting-edge innovation gives you the temperature and humidity control you’d expect from a dedicated wine cooler, conveniently located in your refrigerator.

2. Air Frying Innovation

Everyone loves the taste of fried food, but it’s so unhealthy… isn’t it? Move over greasy trans fats because there’s a new fry guy in town. Air Frying is an innovative approach to convection cooking. The feature uses the convection heat in your oven cavity to spike the temperature at the start of the cooking cycle. This blast of moving hot air crisps the outside of your food to a perfect golden brown before decreasing the temperature to cook the interior of your food at a lower heat. The inside is juicy, the outside is crispy. It’s perfectly done healthy fried food.

3. Voice-Activated Technology

Connectivity and innovation continue to go hand-in-hand as voice-activated technology brings hands-off design into the kitchen. Brands like GE offer improved integration through Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. With simple commands, you can turn on and off your appliances, check their status, and run some safe hands-off programs.

4. Dryer Dishes

One of the most common complaints about dishwashers is that they don’t do a very good job at drying the dishes, especially as the machines get more energy efficient. Well, Bosch listened, and they’ve brought their A game with their latest innovation in drying technology. Zeolite crystals, first introduced in Bosch’s luxury Thermador line, absorb moisture and radiate heat to speed up and improve the drying process. Because the chemical properties of the Zeolite crystal is all natural, the technology uses less energy as well. Look for them in all of Bosch’s newest 800 Series and Benchmark dishwashers.

To learn more about Zeolite, read this: Zeolite is a Magic Mineral That Dries Dishes – Here’s How

5. Steam Ovens

Steam ovens have been on the market for a while; they continue to gain in popularity and are making a push in 2020. By retaining more nutrients as it cooks, steam remains the go-to method for anyone looking to make healthier menu choices. But that doesn’t mean you’re sacrificing taste! Steam ovens, whether plumbed or tanked, offer perfectly steamed vegetables, juicy cuts of meats that fall off the bone, and moist flaky fish to satisfy any palate.

6. Connectivity

Connectivity is here to stay, and it’s back again in a big, big way. LG continues to be a market leader in connected appliances, and their 2020 ThinQ line up promises a whole new take on innovative living.

People can continue to monitor and diagnose their appliances, including turning them on and off remotely, adjusting temperatures and monitor usage all with a touch on a screen. LG will also make a push into the gourmet cooking platform with integrated cooking support that offers cooking tutorials, a recipe library that preloads settings onto your range, and more complementary functionality to improve meal prep and clean up.

Those are just some of the hottest kitchen appliance trends in the upcoming year! For more information about kitchen appliances, and how to choose the perfect appliances for your home, visit us in-store or online to shop for all your appliance needs.

Isabelle, Your Appliance Expert

Your house is your sanctuary, but it doesn’t stop creepy crawlies from entering it. It’s easy handling ants, a few daddy long legs, and even the occasional flies now and again – but when a bed bug appears, it’s time to act quick! A single fertile female bed bug can lay around 2-5 eggs each day – making this an extreme problem if not dealt with. Guard your Concept Zzz mattress and prevent an infestation.

Here are a few ways to check for beds bugs in your mattress.

Step 1: Examine the Linens With a Flashlight

Take off all your bed’s blankets and sheets except for your fitted sheet that surrounds your Concept Zzz mattress. Now’s the time to put on the latex gloves and get down to business. Grab a flashlight and start looking for bed bug excrement or bloodstain smudges. We know it’s gross, but things are going to get a lot worse if you don’t find out if your bed’s swarming with insects.

Step 2: Take Off the Other Linens

If you didn’t find any messes from the bed bugs on your sheet, move on to the mattress cover and do the same thing. Again, if there is nothing that you’ve found that’s even remotely bug-like, move on to the bare mattress. With your flashlight, continue the search for excrement, bloodstains, pieces of skin, and even eggs. Don’t forget to look in the seams of the mattress! This tends to be common place live ones will hide. It’s an awful job to do, but just remember, the sooner you do this, the sooner your mattress can be rid of any pesky pests.

Step 3: Don’t Miss the Tags!

There are a lot of details on a mattress that you don’t even realize are there and it’s important that you check each and every one of them during this process. Make sure to check the tags, any straps, buttons, zippers, and any other detail your mattress has. The more diligent you are, the better your results.

Step 4: Flip It

When we said check every detail, we meant EVERY detail. That includes flipping your mattress over and inspecting the other side of it. This is a chance to also watch for frightened bugs making an escape for it. While your mattress is in the air, take a moment to also look at your bed frame to see if there are any tiny bugs in that area as well.

Step 5: Push Away From the Wall

Another place bed bugs like to go is against the wall, behind your bed. Push the frame and bed away from the wall and shine the light against the wall to check for more frightened bed bugs running away. If there are none in sight, give the wall a little inspection. You know the drill – check for excrement and bloodstains.

Step 6: Check Under the Bed

This is the last, and arguably the ickiest part. You’ll need to get on the ground to get close enough to check for bed bugs underneath the bed frame. They have an innate sense to go towards dark places, so this could be your jackpot. They could even be hiding in screw holes!

Nobody wants to check for bed bugs in the place where they sleep. But if you happen to think there’s a chance you have bed bugs in your Concept Zzz mattress, you’ll want to go through these steps. If you do end up by finding some unwanted travellers living in your bed, be sure to get in touch with a pest control service immediately!

Angela, Your Sleep Expert

The microwave: It’s where we go to whip up popcorn for a family movie night, or to heat up leftovers on busy weekdays, or make hot chocolate on a rainy afternoon. When simplicity is your goal, your microwave is always there for you — so make sure you’re picking out the right one!

Countertop and over-the-range (OTR) microwaves are the two most common types you’ll find when you start shopping — but what are the pros and cons of each, and how do you pick between them? To choose that perfect Whirlpool microwave for your kitchen, you’ll want to take a few things into consideration.

Kitchen Size

If you have an especially small kitchen, this question is a no-brainer. Countertop microwaves eat up valuable surface space that could be used for food prep, storage, or even decorations. Over-the-range microwaves are installed under your cabinetry, up off the countertop. In a small kitchen, you’ll want to save every inch of counter space you can and opt for an over-the-range microwave.

Venting Power

One of the biggest benefits of a Whirlpool over-the-range microwave is that it also doubles as a range hood, essentially functioning as two appliances in one. This is the perfect solution for the average home cook, but for people who do professional cooking in their home kitchens, an over-the-range microwave might not cut it.

Over-the-range microwaves are great at siphoning out small amounts of steam, heat, smoke, or oil from your cooking surface, but it’s not nearly as powerful or quiet as a dedicated vent hood. The average over-the-range microwave vents air at a rate of around 300 CFM (cubic feet per minute), while dedicated range hoods can reach rates above 450 CFM.

An OTR is designed to either vent outside or recirculate clean air back into the kitchen. The installation instructions are very clear and easy to follow. The installation is fairly straight forward, but you will find that two people are needed for the actual installation…lifting the OTR into place.

If you plan to frequently cook large quantities of food, you may want to opt for a countertop microwave and leave the ventilation to an appliance designed just for the job.

To learn more about kitchen ventilation, read this Updraft Vs. Downdraft Kitchen Ventilation Explained

Microwave Height

One drawback of over-the-range microwaves is that getting food in and out isn’t always practical. Kids and shorter adults may have trouble reaching them, and can even run the risk of spilling their hot food. Countertop microwaves have the benefit of being easily accessible for just about everyone.

On the other hand, some people may prefer not to have to hunch or lean over when getting food in and out of the microwave. Especially if you’re taller or struggle with back pain, having an over-the-range microwave that sits comfortably at head-height may be preferable.

Ease of Installation

Countertop microwaves require no installation or pre-measurement of your space — all you have to do is plug them in and get cooking! Of course, you can always call our store if you want help getting a microwave installed stress-free, but if you want to start using your microwave as fast as possible, a countertop microwave is the simplest option. Countertop microwaves are also easy to take with you if you move around a lot, so once you’ve invested in that perfect microwave, you can keep it with you for a long time.

If you have any other questions about whether a Whirlpool countertop or over-the-range microwave is right for you, give us a call or stop by our store to talk to an associate. Our appliance experts are prepared to guide you through the buying process and show you all the best options of either variety. With our extensive selection, you’re sure to find an option that perfectly fits your space and your needs!

Shop Whirlpool Microwaves

Amanda, Your Appliance Expert