If you’re a serial sock loser on laundry day, a new feature integrated into Whirlpool’s latest washing machine, unveiled at KBIS 2026, aims to solve the age-old problem.
Losing socks is so universal that people share sock-saving tips online. But those days of getting stuck with only a single sock in a pile of clean laundry behind may be coming to an end.
Serial sock losers will appreciate Whirlpool’s industry-first delicates basket.
The new Whirlpool top-load washer features a delicate basket that sits in the middle of your machine, protecting sweaters and other delicate items from the harsh pounding of a standard laundry load. In addition to keeping delicates safe and secure, the basket is designed to hold socks in one place so you can match them easily when it’s time to fold.
The basket can be removed to retrieve your delicates or left out for a wash that doesn’t require it.
I saw the soon-to-be-released machine at KBIS in Orlando. Just weeks before, I’d ruined one of my favorite sweaters by machine-washing it, so the feature won me over. The idea is so simple and smart, yet this seems to be the first washing machine to incorporate it.
While we weren’t able to see the machine in action yet (it was only on display), a Whirlpool representative told me that clothes placed in the center basket remain there through the cycle, thanks to the distinct water flow patterns.
The basket is easily removed with a gentle squeeze of the handles, so you can extract your delicates and socks. You can also leave the basket out if it’s not needed for a particular wash cycle.
Pricing was not available, but the washing machine is set to launch at national retailers in September of this year.
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