Far from being confined to the archives of the industrial revolution, the use of steam is becoming an increasingly important part of modern-day culture. We use steam for steaming food, to cleanse the skin, to iron our cloths. It was only a matter of time before we tried it for washing our clothes. We truly live in a steam age!

It will come as no surprise that to many that Whirlpool, the appliance company have come up with something novel and new called the AquaSteam. Unlike conventional automatic washing machines, AquaSteam powerfully injects steam into the drum boosting the temperature, which is key to removing tough stains. The high energy content of steam allows it to fill any space quickly and transfer heat efficiently, removing stains and odours and ensuring that your laundry stays in tip top condition. To be frank, it sounds so simple and straight forward that one cant help but wonder what this was not done before!

The innovation does not stop there. This cool new range of appliances come packed with other novel features too. The Sanitisation Option cleans clothes by injecting steam into a dry drum once the washing cycle has ended, killing bacteria. This option can be used even when washing at low temperatures. If you are a parent, or rather a mum (as dad's don't do that much laundry) your be glad to hear that it's great for baby clothes or for people with sensitive skin and ensures delicate items come out squeaky clean. This technology is extremely general.

Sometimes you simply don't need a thorough wash. In the old days, guys would just spay some deodorant on their cloths, and girls would put them through a whole new needless wash! This is no longer necessary. The Refresh Option is perfect for giving your favourite dress a quick face lift. In just 20 minutes, odours such as smoke and cooking vapours are removed from clothes so that they are ready to wear again.

Other cool, up to date features include 6th SENSE technology. No, the Whilpool does not see dead people! This feature is far more practical. Whirlpool's 6th SENSE technology adjusts the washing cycle according to the load, which saves water and up to 30% of washing time. It also injects the correct amount of steam into the cycle when required.

Sometimes, you need to go retro and revert to the delicate ways of our forefathers. With the hand-wash function you can do just that. The innovative hand-wash function saves you time and energy, whilst achieving the same hand-washed effect.

For the shallow people amongst us that are more interested in aesthetics than technology, be assured that that not all washing machines are created equal. The fact is that clothes are one of our greatest passions, we invest a lot of time and effort in what we wear, it says a lot about us and our personalities. We should welcome anything that enables us to take the best possible care of our cherished clothes and helps ensure we can take pride in them for years to come.