18 Mar
Blog

Training Load: Find Your Right Volume

What kind of athlete are you??

The one who never stops exercising? The athlete trying to beat the competition?

Or are you the one who is constantly looking for a way to hack the system?

Which one is better?

From a health perspective, what increases the risk of injury: over or under training?

The answer? Both.

Working too hard is as harmful as not working hard enough.

Please note that these are non-contact injuries due to overuse. These are avoidable. Contact injuries are a different story. We don't have as much control over what happens when two players collide on the soccer field or basketball court.

Find your training balance

The best performance programs target a “sweet spot” where the training is intense enough to make athletes better, faster and stronger, but not so much to cause injuries.

Regardless of sport, we should consider two factors when setting up training programs::

  1. The intensity of workouts or movements. This is also known as "loading".
  2. How quickly the intensity "increases".

Let's define "training" a little further:

  • Acute training is the amount of training volume in the past week.
  • Chronic training is the average amount of training volume over the past 4 weeks.

Think of acute training as well as tiredness. How tired are you from your workouts or workouts in the past week? Chronic training includes looking back over the past few weeks and thinking about how fit you are from these workouts.

If you objectively compare how you feel now, how you have felt in the past three to six weeks, you will get interesting data on how ready you are to compete. For example, I train a group of adult distance runners to prepare them for half and full marathons over a 15-week cycle.

These athletes run their maximum mileage three weeks before the race day. The time remaining until the competition is called "rejuvenation" in order to reduce the acute training load. The goal is to feel fresh on the starting line and still have the capacity to run 13.1 or 26.2 miles.

Rejuvenation weeks can be a source of stress for athletes who fear that they will not run, work out or train at their usual high volume, but there are scientific reasons for this strategy. If an athlete has made himself comfortable in the week before a race, but has good mileage throughout the training cycle, he is still well prepared for the day of the race.

The acute training of this athlete would be classified as low because he would be well rested. However, your average chronic workout is high because the athlete has built up a base for endurance in the weeks before.

The role of training load

The load is a measure of the intensity of a training session or the stress on the body from this session. Three things define this for an athlete:

  1. External training load: “work” or “volume” (total distance, lifted weight, number of sprints, jumps to rebound a basketball, collisions in soccer, etc.) 1
  2. Internal exercise load: the body's reaction to exercise (perceived exercise rate, heart rate, blood lactate, oxygen consumption) 1
  3. Individual characteristics of the athlete: age, experience, history of injuries, physical performance

In summary: training result = external stress + internal stress + individual characteristics of the athlete.

All of these factors are important to determine the effect of a particular workout. The same external load can have different internal effects depending on the person. For example, how a 21-year-old college college soccer player would react to 4-mile training compared to a 40-year-old athlete who started running a few weeks earlier.

The training is too intensive for the 40-year-old and can increase the risk of injury. Conversely, the run would be “too easy” for university athletes with little to no cardiovascular gains.

External stress can also have different effects on the same athlete. A hard week of training often makes an athlete feel tired, stressed, and tired. If proper recovery measures are not taken, exercise performance may be affected.

It is also important to understand the impact of “life factors” on training: emotional disorders, illness, stress, or recent training history. Respect these factors and change the training accordingly.

Tracking the external load

This is easy to monitor for endurance athletes such as runners, swimmers and cyclists. GPS watches can log distances and speeds.

Most elite / professional athletes are now using GPS-based sensors to track movements and training specific to their sport. For example, the number of jumps in volleyball, collisions in rugby or soccer, strokes while swimming or sprints per game in soccer. Trainers can increase or decrease the training load depending on what a particular athlete had in competition.

Since GPS watches are not useful for strength training, calculate the load as follows:

External load = number of repetitions x kg weight lifted 3

Tracking the internal load

The perceived load rate is one of the easiest ways to track the internal training load. Rate the intensity of the session on a 1-10 scale. Multiply this rate by the length of the training session in minutes:

Internal load = RPE (scale 1-10) x minutes of training

This score could also be referred to as an "exercise minute". Researchers are still collecting data on different scales for "high" or "low" effort for different sports. At the moment we consider a score of 300-500 among football players as a low intensity training session and 700-1000 is higher

Heart rate or VO2 max multiplied by minutes of exercise would also be another way to track internal stress. Blood lactate concentration measurement is a technical and invasive method, but a unit of measurement.

There are other scales for top athletes like the recovery stress questionnaire that measures mood, stress levels, energy, pain, sleep and nutrition. The total number of points indicates the well-being of the athlete, so that trainers or strength and fitness experts can adjust the training accordingly.

The role of individual athlete characteristics

Studies on rugby and Australian soccer players show that age affects athletes' response to conditioning programs. Research also shows that older athletes are at higher risk of injury from overuse.

With regard to these studies, one has to ask whether the risk of injury results from over-intensive training sessions or whether the risk is increased because older athletes may have earlier injuries more frequently. Research also shows that the history of previous injuries is a major risk factor for a new injury.

Irrespective of this, a training program should be adapted to the age, experience, injury history and general physical fitness of the athlete.

Calculate your training load

Tracking external and internal stress, or acute and chronic training, can help determine if you are an optimal zone for your goals. More importantly, it can indicate an increased risk of injury. Consider the training example used previously:

"Top weeks" for a half marathon runner (weeks 8 to 11 of a 15-week program):

  • Week 8: 21 miles
  • Week 9: 23 miles
  • Week 10: 25 miles
  • Week 11: 30 miles
  1. Acute stress (kilometer week 11) = 30 miles
  2. Chronic strain (average mileage 4 weeks earlier) = 24.75 miles

Now take the acute stress (30) and divide it by the chronic stress (24.75) to get a ratio::

Acute stress ÷ chronic stress = ratio of acute to chronic stress (30 / 24.75 = 1.21)

"Taper weeks" for the same race (the last weeks before the competition):

  • Week 12: 24 miles
  • Week 13: 23 miles
  • Week 14: 18 miles
  • Week 15: race week
  1. Acute stress (mileage in week 14) = 18 miles
  2. Chronic stress (average mileage of the 3 weeks before) = 21.67

Calculate the ratio again::

Acute stress ÷ chronic stress = ratio of acute to chronic stress (18 / 21.67 = 0.83)

Research shows that the sweet spot or optimal zone for training is a relationship between. 0.8 and 1.3.3.2

The runner is in the above-mentioned "peak weeks" in the optimal training zone. He has built up enough mileage base to stay in this zone through the rejuvenation and start the racing week.

Research has also shown that a ratio above 1.5 is a “danger zone” for training. The increased risk of injury is higher in the weeks after training with this type of stress.

How many of us were in this situation? We feel great in a certain training week and continue to increase the intensity. When training becomes more difficult, we initially feel invincible. Then the wheels fall off. An injury happens "out of nowhere" and we wonder what went wrong. I can't tell you how many times I've heard "but I felt so GOOD, Carol! I don't know what happened ?!"

Unfortunately, this is a simple trap, but monitoring the acute to chronic stress ratio can be helpful.

But maybe you are not running. You – lift weights, CrossFit, play soccer, insert sports of your choice. How do you keep track of your training?

The same concepts apply::

  • Calculate the acute training load of the last week (number of repetitions x kilogram of weight lifted). Or add up the number of sprints, minutes of soccer training, etc.
  • Find the chronic training load (average of the last 4 weeks).
  • Divide the acute stress into the chronic stress and compare it with the figure above.
  • Remember to take internal training factors and individual characteristics into account.

The conclusion of the volume training

  1. Intensity is important. Both overtraining and undertraining endanger athletes. A training program must prepare the athlete for the requirements of their sport, but the coach and the athlete must understand that it can take a few weeks to reach this point.
  2. Sudden increases in training intensity endanger athletes. Monitor acute training (how tired you are over the course of a week) and compare it to chronic training (how "fit" you have been in the past few weeks).
  3. Monitor the body's response to exercise. The internal training load. Use the perceived exercise rate x number of minutes you have spent training. Think of other factors – age, stress, sleep, etc. These are all important to determine what your training load should look like.

References::

1. Gab bed TJ. The paradox of training injury prevention: Should athletes train smarter and harder? Br J Sports Med. 2016 Mar; 50 (5): 273-4. 80. doi: 10.1136 / bjsports-2015-095788. Epub 2016 Jan 12

2. Blanch P, Gabbett TJ. Has the athlete trained enough to play safely again? The ratio of acute to chronic workload enables clinicians to quantify a player's risk of later injuries. Br J Sports Med. 2016 Apr; 50 (8): 471-5. doi: 10.1136 / bjsports-2015-095445. Epub 2015 December 23.

3. Bourdon PC, Cardinale M., Murray A., Gastin P., Kellmann M., Varley MC, Gabbett TJ, Coutts AJ, Burgess DJ, Gregson W., Cable NT. Monitoring athletes' training load: declaration of consensus. Int J Sports Physiol Perform. 2017 Apr; 12 (Suppl 2): ​​S2161-S2170. doi: 10.1123 / IJSPP.2017-0208.

4. Rogalski B., Dawson B., Heasman J. et al. Training and game strain as well as injury risk among Australian elite footballers. J Sci Med Sport 2013; 16: 499-503.

5. Gab bed TJ. Development and application of a model for predicting injuries in non-contact soft tissue injuries in elite collision athletes. J Strength Con Res 2010; 24: 2593-603.

17 Mar
Blog

Training Load: Find Your Right Volume

What kind of athlete are you??

The one who never stops exercising? The athlete trying to beat the competition?

Or are you the one who is constantly looking for a way to hack the system?

Which one is better?

From a health perspective, what increases the risk of injury: over or under training?

The answer? Both.

Working too hard is as harmful as not working hard enough.

Please note that these are non-contact injuries due to overuse. These are avoidable. Contact injuries are a different story. We don't have as much control over what happens when two players collide on the soccer field or basketball court.

Find your training balance

The best performance programs target a “sweet spot” where the training is intense enough to make athletes better, faster and stronger, but not so much to cause injuries.

Regardless of sport, we should consider two factors when setting up training programs::

  1. The intensity of workouts or movements. This is also known as "loading".
  2. How quickly the intensity "increases".

Let's define "training" a little further:

  • Acute training is the amount of training volume in the past week.
  • Chronic training is the average amount of training volume over the past 4 weeks.

Think of acute training as well as tiredness. How tired are you from your workouts or workouts in the past week? Chronic training includes looking back over the past few weeks and thinking about how fit you are from these workouts.

If you objectively compare how you feel now, how you have felt in the past three to six weeks, you will get interesting data on how ready you are to compete. For example, I train a group of adult distance runners to prepare them for half and full marathons over a 15-week cycle.

These athletes run their maximum mileage three weeks before the race day. The time remaining until the competition is called "rejuvenation" in order to reduce the acute training load. The goal is to feel fresh on the starting line and still have the capacity to run 13.1 or 26.2 miles.

Rejuvenation weeks can be a source of stress for athletes who fear that they will not run, work out or train at their usual high volume, but there are scientific reasons for this strategy. If an athlete has made himself comfortable in the week before a race, but has good mileage throughout the training cycle, he is still well prepared for the day of the race.

The acute training of this athlete would be classified as low because he would be well rested. However, your average chronic workout is high because the athlete has built up a base for endurance in the weeks before.

The role of training load

The load is a measure of the intensity of a training session or the stress on the body from this session. Three things define this for an athlete:

  1. External training load: “work” or “volume” (total distance, lifted weight, number of sprints, jumps to rebound a basketball, collisions in soccer, etc.) 1
  2. Internal exercise load: the body's reaction to exercise (perceived exercise rate, heart rate, blood lactate, oxygen consumption) 1
  3. Individual characteristics of the athlete: age, experience, history of injuries, physical performance

In summary: training result = external stress + internal stress + individual characteristics of the athlete.

All of these factors are important to determine the effect of a particular workout. The same external load can have different internal effects depending on the person. For example, how a 21-year-old college college soccer player would react to 4-mile training compared to a 40-year-old athlete who started running a few weeks earlier.

The training is too intensive for the 40-year-old and can increase the risk of injury. Conversely, the run would be “too easy” for university athletes with little to no cardiovascular gains.

External stress can also have different effects on the same athlete. A hard week of training often makes an athlete feel tired, stressed, and tired. If proper recovery measures are not taken, exercise performance may be affected.

It is also important to understand the impact of “life factors” on training: emotional disorders, illness, stress, or recent training history. Respect these factors and change the training accordingly.

Tracking the external load

This is easy to monitor for endurance athletes such as runners, swimmers and cyclists. GPS watches can log distances and speeds.

Most elite / professional athletes are now using GPS-based sensors to track movements and training specific to their sport. For example, the number of jumps in volleyball, collisions in rugby or soccer, strokes while swimming or sprints per game in soccer. Trainers can increase or decrease the training load depending on what a particular athlete had in competition.

Since GPS watches are not useful for strength training, calculate the load as follows:

External load = number of repetitions x kg weight lifted 3

Tracking the internal load

The perceived load rate is one of the easiest ways to track the internal training load. Rate the intensity of the session on a 1-10 scale. Multiply this rate by the length of the training session in minutes:

Internal load = RPE (scale 1-10) x minutes of training

This score could also be referred to as an "exercise minute". Researchers are still collecting data on different scales for "high" or "low" effort for different sports. At the moment we consider a score of 300-500 among football players as a low intensity training session and 700-1000 is higher

Heart rate or VO2 max multiplied by minutes of exercise would also be another way to track internal stress. Blood lactate concentration measurement is a technical and invasive method, but a unit of measurement.

There are other scales for top athletes like the recovery stress questionnaire that measures mood, stress levels, energy, pain, sleep and nutrition. The total number of points indicates the well-being of the athlete, so that trainers or strength and fitness experts can adjust the training accordingly.

The role of individual athlete characteristics

Studies on rugby and Australian soccer players show that age affects athletes' response to conditioning programs. Research also shows that older athletes are at higher risk of injury from overuse.

With regard to these studies, one has to ask whether the risk of injury results from over-intensive training sessions or whether the risk is increased because older athletes may have earlier injuries more frequently. Research also shows that the history of previous injuries is a major risk factor for a new injury.

Irrespective of this, a training program should be adapted to the age, experience, injury history and general physical fitness of the athlete.

Calculate your training load

Tracking external and internal stress, or acute and chronic training, can help determine if you are an optimal zone for your goals. More importantly, it can indicate an increased risk of injury. Consider the training example used previously:

"Top weeks" for a half marathon runner (weeks 8 to 11 of a 15-week program):

  • Week 8: 21 miles
  • Week 9: 23 miles
  • Week 10: 25 miles
  • Week 11: 30 miles
  1. Acute stress (kilometer week 11) = 30 miles
  2. Chronic strain (average mileage 4 weeks earlier) = 24.75 miles

Now take the acute stress (30) and divide it by the chronic stress (24.75) to get a ratio::

Acute stress ÷ chronic stress = ratio of acute to chronic stress (30 / 24.75 = 1.21)

"Taper weeks" for the same race (the last weeks before the competition):

  • Week 12: 24 miles
  • Week 13: 23 miles
  • Week 14: 18 miles
  • Week 15: race week
  1. Acute stress (mileage in week 14) = 18 miles
  2. Chronic stress (average mileage of the 3 weeks before) = 21.67

Calculate the ratio again::

Acute stress ÷ chronic stress = ratio of acute to chronic stress (18 / 21.67 = 0.83)

Research shows that the sweet spot or optimal zone for training is a relationship between. 0.8 and 1.3.3.2

The runner is in the above-mentioned "peak weeks" in the optimal training zone. He has built up enough mileage base to stay in this zone through the rejuvenation and start the racing week.

Research has also shown that a ratio above 1.5 is a “danger zone” for training. The increased risk of injury is higher in the weeks after training with this type of stress.

How many of us were in this situation? We feel great in a certain training week and continue to increase the intensity. When training becomes more difficult, we initially feel invincible. Then the wheels fall off. An injury happens "out of nowhere" and we wonder what went wrong. I can't tell you how many times I've heard "but I felt so GOOD, Carol! I don't know what happened ?!"

Unfortunately, this is a simple trap, but monitoring the acute to chronic stress ratio can be helpful.

But maybe you are not running. You – lift weights, CrossFit, play soccer, insert sports of your choice. How do you keep track of your training?

The same concepts apply::

  • Calculate the acute training load of the last week (number of repetitions x kilogram of weight lifted). Or add up the number of sprints, minutes of soccer training, etc.
  • Find the chronic training load (average of the last 4 weeks).
  • Divide the acute stress into the chronic stress and compare it with the figure above.
  • Remember to take internal training factors and individual characteristics into account.

The conclusion of the volume training

  1. Intensity is important. Both overtraining and undertraining endanger athletes. A training program must prepare the athlete for the requirements of their sport, but the coach and the athlete must understand that it can take a few weeks to reach this point.
  2. Sudden increases in training intensity endanger athletes. Monitor acute training (how tired you are over the course of a week) and compare it to chronic training (how "fit" you have been in the past few weeks).
  3. Monitor the body's response to exercise. The internal training load. Use the perceived exercise rate x number of minutes you have spent training. Think of other factors – age, stress, sleep, etc. These are all important to determine what your training load should look like.

References::

1. Gab bed TJ. The paradox of training injury prevention: Should athletes train smarter and harder? Br J Sports Med. 2016 Mar; 50 (5): 273-4. 80. doi: 10.1136 / bjsports-2015-095788. Epub 2016 Jan 12

2. Blanch P, Gabbett TJ. Has the athlete trained enough to play safely again? The ratio of acute to chronic workload enables clinicians to quantify a player's risk of later injuries. Br J Sports Med. 2016 Apr; 50 (8): 471-5. doi: 10.1136 / bjsports-2015-095445. Epub 2015 December 23.

3. Bourdon PC, Cardinale M., Murray A., Gastin P., Kellmann M., Varley MC, Gabbett TJ, Coutts AJ, Burgess DJ, Gregson W., Cable NT. Monitoring athletes' training load: declaration of consensus. Int J Sports Physiol Perform. 2017 Apr; 12 (Suppl 2): ​​S2161-S2170. doi: 10.1123 / IJSPP.2017-0208.

4. Rogalski B., Dawson B., Heasman J. et al. Training and game strain as well as injury risk among Australian elite footballers. J Sci Med Sport 2013; 16: 499-503.

5. Gab bed TJ. Development and application of a model for predicting injuries in non-contact soft tissue injuries in elite collision athletes. J Strength Con Res 2010; 24: 2593-603.

28 Feb
Blog

Electrolux EFLS627UIW 4.4 Cubic Feet 600 Series Front Load Washer Review

electrolux efls627uiw press render

Electrolux EFLS627UIW 4.4 cubic feet 600 series front loading washing machine

"When used correctly, the stain-fighting power of this Electrolux machine is impressive."

  • Reversible door washing

  • Fit a lot in the machine

  • Better performance when using a POD

  • Steam option for deep cleaning

  • Long wash cycles overall

  • Bad stain remover if only detergent is used

  • No hand washing option

The Electrolux Perfect Steam ™ washing machine with front loader and LuxCare Wash and SmartBoost was developed to combat stains. When used correctly with the right stain control agents, it does a good job. However, these functions are a waste for people who only want to use detergent in their laundry and nothing else.

Big and brave

The white (also available in gray) washing machine is full of frills, and most of them have one goal: stain removal. In true Electrolux fashion, the front loader model is attractive – the type of machine that you would expect in a custom home. Perhaps our favorite design feature is the reversible door of the washing machine, so it can be used in almost any large room with installation restrictions.

In true Electrolux fashion, the front-loading washing machine is attractive – the type of machine that you would expect in a custom home.

The 4.4 cubic foot washer measures 38 x 27 x 32 inches (H x W x D) and is therefore not ideal for more compact washrooms. These dimensions are not far from the slightly larger 4.8 cubic foot Maytag MHW6630HC0. The Elektrolux accompanying dryer Electrolux EFME627UTT is similar in size. Like most washing machines these days, you can purchase an optional 15-inch pedestal on which you can place it so you don't have to bend down to use the machine.

Simple panel

The Electrolux Front Load Perfect Steam washing machine has a lot of settings and we found that navigating was a breeze. The cycle selector offers options for heavy duty, whitest whites, normal, active wear, color, 15-minute quick wash, delicate wash, rinse and spin and clean washing machine. Once you have selected a setting, you can adjust the temperature (disinfect, hot, warm, cold and tap color), the type of floor (solid floor, max, heavy, normal and light) and the spin speed (max, high), medium , low and no spin).

For additional stain control, you can also choose between StainSoak and Perfect Steam. When using the StainSoak feature, you can also choose the type of stain you want to remove (chocolate, blood, or a stain). There are also options for Extra Rinse, Wrinkle Release, Extended Refresh, Delay Rinse and Control Lock. As with most washing machines, there are restrictions on what options you can add to a wash.

On the far right of the control panel you will find the Start / Pause, Cancel and PODS buttons. On the far left of the machine is a pull-out drawer into which you can fill detergent, fabric softener, bleach and even the pods. If you choose to use a pod for your washing needs, also press the PODS button on the control panel. There is also a stain treatment liquid compartment that you want to fill when using the StainSoak function. This option extends a cycle by approximately 10 minutes.

The LED display also has a variety of instructions. In addition to the large digital timer (you can see how much time is left from a distance), you can choose the type of stain you want to treat, mute the sound, and check if your wash combination is environmentally friendly. The letters "close door" light up when the door is not locked.

Once you have loaded items into the device, press the power button to select your settings. The digital display shows relevant symbols and an estimated time how long the charging process will take. We should note that many of the cycles on this machine take well over an hour. However, if you're in a hurry and have a small load, you can use the 15-minute cycle to clean clothes that aren't stained.

A stain on performance

With all of the stain removal options available, we were keen to love the Electrolux 600 series washing machine. Unfortunately not so much. We can say that using a POD instead of a standard detergent made a significant difference. This is probably because a POD usually contains more than just laundry detergent. In our tests, however, as in our practice, we only used basic HE detergent and did not add any additional stain control or detergent.

Using a POD instead of a standard detergent makes a significant difference in performance.

We ran different loads over a few months and were satisfied with the results. When it was time to test the stain removal functions, the results were a bit mixed. We washed a basic load of minimal stain clothing on Delicates and selected Normal Soil, Cold, and Low Spin to remove almost all of the stains. To be fair: an item had a stain that we have been trying to remove for months.

To really put it to the test, we sprayed cooking oil, red wine and hot sauce over T-shirts, heavy cotton shorts, polos, khaki pants and a buttoned shirt. We leave these stains on for a few hours. We did not use a stain remover and washed these items with the "Normal" setting with warm temperature, normal bottom, medium spin and perfect steam. While these settings may not be optimal to combat stains in this machine, we usually test all washing machines. Sixty-eight minutes later, when the cycle was complete, we still saw the residue of some stains. When washing the items again in a longer cycle using some of the stain control settings specific to this model, the results were much better and almost all of the stains were gone.

warranty information

The Electrolux washing machine comes with a one-year guarantee that covers parts and labor. During the second year of operation, Electrolux pays for the replacement of defective parts. In addition, the manufacturer will cover the inner wash tub for the life of the product and the wash tub drive motor for ten years. Workers are no longer included after the first year.

Our opinion

In the end, the Electrolux Front Load Perfect steam scrubber with LuxCare Wash and SmartBoost can do a good job of fighting stains, but you need to make sure that you are using the right stain remover and settings. If you are someone who likes to use PODs, you will appreciate the space available in the dispenser and will likely get more stain control power from them. However, if you don't want to add extra detergents to your laundry load, this may not be the best solution.

Is there a better alternative?

We were more impressed with the Electrolux EFLS537UIW front loading washing machine with LuxCare washing system, which costs less and removes stains better when only detergent is used. However, the model is a bit smaller. That said, Electrolux models generally have deceptively large tubs, so you should be able to easily fit king-size duvets into them. It really depends on what you want, and our washer and dryer shopping guide can help you decide which features are most important to you.

How long it will take?

Front load washers typically do not last as long as top load machines. usually have a longer lifespan than front loading washing machines. The experts say a washing machine should last between 10 and 14 years, and is probably closer to 10 than 14.

Should you buy it

We weren't so impressed with the machine's stain-fighting abilities – although there were plenty of them. For a washing machine that costs over $ 1,200, it really should have been better to clean clothes. If you need a reversible door washing machine, we recommend that you check out other Electrolux models with some basic stain control features.

Editor's recommendations




28 Feb
Blog

Electrolux EFME627UTT 8.0 Cubic Feet 600 Series Front Load Dryer Review

Electrolux washer and dryer side by side

Electrolux EFME627UTT 8.0 cubic feet 600 front loader electric dryer

"This top-of-the-range model offers a variety of functions that are ideal for a busy family or a household."

  • wrinkle control

  • Spacious

  • steam option

  • Fast drying cycle

  • Cycles can run longer than the assigned time

  • Short cycle works best with smaller loads

The electric Elektrolux front-loading steam dryer with PredictiveDry and immediate update is very spacious and can process several blankets. The best thing is that the internal LED lighting of this model can help you find the missing sock in the columns of the dryer.

Built for bulky items

The white dryer (also available in gray) offers all first-class functions, including steam with wrinkle removal. This Electrolux model in combination with the washing machine of the Electrolux 600 series gives even the most boring washrooms in the basement style. Like most dryers, the Electrolux has a reversible door. Perhaps our preferred design feature is the basket style lint filter, as it is easy to clean and has twice as much space to collect dryer waste.

The 8.0 cubic foot dryer measures 38 x 27 x 31.5 inches (H x W x D). Although you can get an accessory to stack it on the washing machine, you will probably enjoy it more if you place it side by side. Page. The accompanying disk of the Electrolux is similar in size. If you're looking for a more ergonomic setup, an optional 15-inch base is available, so you can use the machine without stooping.

The Electrolux Front Load Perfect Steam 600 dryer is equipped with user-friendly settings. You can select cycles for heavy / hand towels, allergen, normal, active wear, mixed load, 15-minute quick drying, delicates, time drying and instant updating. Once you have selected a cycle, you can adjust the temperature (disinfect, high, normal, low and air drying), the degree of dryness (max, high, normal, less and moist) and the drying time (auto, 75 minutes) 60 min, 45 min and 30 min). Additional options include Perfect Steam, Anti-Static, Eco, Wrinkle Release, Extended Tumble, Delay Time and Control Lock. The options you choose depend on which drying cycle you originally selected.

On the far right of the control panel are buttons for start / pause and cancel. The LED display has a large digital timer (you can see the remaining time some distance away) and information about the sound of the machine, the lock and whether it is an environmentally friendly charge. You do not have to ask yourself whether it is time to clean the fluff filter, because if so, the letters "Clean fluff" light up on the display. Once you've loaded items into the device, press the power button to select your settings and press Start. The timer on the digital display tells you how long the cycle should last.

drying Dynamo

We used the Electrolux dryer for a few months and were happy with the results. In general, the cycles ran slightly longer than indicated on the digital display. However, it usually didn't take more than ten minutes. You can also change the settings during a cycle by pressing the Start / Pause button, making the new selection, and then pressing Start.

The 15-minute drying cycle works excellently for small loads in an emergency.

During our tests, we made two loads of different items, including delicates, tablecloths and shirt blouses. We dried the clothes with Activewear, Normal Temperature and Normal Dry as well as the automatic time setting. After 35 minutes the rather heavy load came out dry. In addition, we put a dry, wrinkled shirt in the dryer and activated the instant update cycle with the "perfect steam" option. Although the top did not come out perfectly, most of the wrinkles were removed. We appreciated the 15-minute drying cycle, which works great with small loads.

warranty information

The Electrolux dryer has a one-year warranty on parts and labor. During the second year of operation, Electrolux pays to replace defective parts, but after the first year there are no more workers.

Our opinion

The Electrolux Front Load Perfect steam dryer is a solid machine. This top-of-the-range model offers a variety of functions that are ideal for a busy family or a household. However, if you only need a simple dryer, this model is more than you want.

Is there a better alternative?

We were impressed with this dryer and are comparable to other high-end models available. If you're looking for a solid, less frills model that costs less, check out the LG DLE7100W. The dryer is a bit smaller at 7.3 cubic feet and costs about half the price. When you buy a dryer, you should make a list of the main features. Read our washer and dryer shopping guide for an idea of ​​what's available.

How long it will take?

According to experts, this Electrolux front-loading dryer should have a lifespan of 10 to 13 years.

Should you buy it

The Electrolux Front Load Perfect steam dryer of the 600 series is impressive and equipped with functions that are extensive. You'll pay for it though – this dryer costs over $ 1,300. While this is expensive, you are unlikely to replace it until ten years from now.

Editor's recommendations