New ways to tackle the dirty job of laundry

(StatePoint) The age-old chore of laundry can be one of the dirtiest jobs around the house. However, with some new trends and a few simple tips, this unpleasant task can be easier to tackle.

Be thankful your clothing isn't as dirty as Mike Rowe's, television's "dirtiest man" whose job as host and creator of Discovery Channel's "Dirty Jobs" would leave anyone looking for ways to make doing laundry easier and more pleasant.

"After 150 dirty jobs, I've begun to look at my clothes as disposable. For lack of a better solution, I often burn or bury them," said Rowe at a recent launch event for Whirlpool brand's Duet Steam laundry pair, as he commemorated 150 "Dirty Jobs."

You don't have to be as dirty as Rowe to tap into the power of a new trend in laundry -- steam. The natural, immersive cleaning power of steam can tackle tough stains and sanitize laundry without the need for bleach. The laundry industry has gone back to basics with temperatures topping 153°F, using steam to eliminate 99.9 percent of common bacteria.

In addition to cleaning your clothes, steam removes tough odors and relaxes wrinkles without chemicals. With 75 percent of clothes being dry-cleaned to eliminate wrinkles and odors, steam technology can reduce dry cleaning and save consumers time and money.