The BIG DEAL starts Friday at 8am!  We will have amazing doorbusers from 8-10am only, but the Black Friday sale prices will last all weekend long.  Plus, you can take advantage of zero interest if paid in full within 18 months.  Click here for all of the details.

5 Appliance Myths That Waste Your Time & Money

MYTH: Cold water won’t properly wash your clothes

FACT: Modern washers are designed to clean in cold water and 90 percent of a washer’s energy goes toward the water heating. So by washing with hot water, you’re pouring money down the drain.

MYTH: You must rinse your dishes before they run in the dishwasher

FACT: Dishwashers and detergent clean best when starting with dirty dishes. The detergent needs food to activate and many dishwashers use sensors to determine the “turbidity” level of the water so if the dishwasher thinks the dishes are already clean, it will run shorter and colder. Today, an Energy Star dishwasher uses only 4 gallons of water or less, and some estimates say you’ll use 20 gallons of water from your faucet pre-rinsing dishes. So it’s better to run the dishes through 4 times than to put them in rinsed.

MYTH: More soap = more clean

FACT: Just because dishwashers and washers now require less water to clean properly doesn’t mean that everyone has gotten the message to reduce our detergent use in conjunction. Too much dishwasher detergent can leave a white film on dishes and too much laundry detergent can cause oversudsing in the washer, reducing the performance and lifespan of a washer not to mention leaving soap residue on your clothes that didn’t properly rinse out.

MYTH: Using an old refrigerator as a second beverage refrigerator is a money-saving idea

FACT: The electricity to power an old refrigerator over several years will cost more than an energy efficient replacement…and then some! PLUS many local utilities will actually pay you $35 or more to let them come haul away your second refrigerator.

MYTH: When the oven’s preheating chime sounds, it’s fully reached temperature

FACT: Some preheat chimes are on a timer so it shouldn’t be trusted for finicky bakers, who should test the temperature with a thermometer. For your everyday pizzas and casseroles, you should be fine.

Taken from Warners’ Stellian

The Perfect Finger Foods for Your Next Party

If you’re planning a Labor Day get-together, try some of these easy, tasty hors d’oeuvres from our friends at Electrolux.

Tangy Yogurt Dip. Give your crudité a fresh fix with this bright dip. Stir together Greek yogurt, grated ginger, finely chopped herbs (like basil, cilantro, thyme, and chives), fresh lemon juice, apple cider vinegar, salt, and pepper. Serve with sliced vegetables or chips.

Spicy Toasted Chickpeas. This crunchy snack is an instant crowd-pleaser, and seriously easy. Just rinse and drain canned chickpeas, toss in oil, and roast at 400ºF until the chickpeas turn brown and crisp, stirring occasionally to avoid burning. Toss with salt and your favorite seasoning mix — try the hearty Indian spice garam masala or a tangy combination of chili pepper and lime zest.

Roasted Savory Nuts. This addictive snack is also great for a sports lovers gathering. Toss nuts with melted butter, salt, and seasonings, and then roast at 325ºF until the nuts are glazed and golden. The flavor possibilities are endless — rosemary and chipotle; lemon zest, black pepper, and thyme; and red pepper flake, garlic, and oregano are three classic options.

Jazzed-Up Deviled Eggs. Add a twist to this much loved finger food. Spice up your mayonnaise mix with Sriracha or wasabi; mix-in meaty flavors like bacon or salami; or add diced pickled fennel or onions as a crunchy topping.

Anything Goes Bruschetta. Think outside the basic tomatoes, basil, and balsamic combo. Try everything from olive tapenade to herb-roasted vegetables to cheese and honey as toppings for toast points.

Left-Over Dishwasher Detergent?

If you still have caked detergent after running your dishwasher, try these dishwasher troubleshooting tips.

Before doing anything, check out your Use & Care manual to see what kind and how much detergent the manufacturer recommends.  Your problem could be as simple as using too much detergent.

Was the dispenser cup wet when you added detergent?

If dispenser cup is wet, the detergent can clump. Clean it out and start over.

Is the cycle incomplete?

If the previous cycle did not complete, the detergent can become caked in the dispenser cup if it is left sitting in the dishwasher. This probably isn’t the cause for those with chronic detergent-caking issues. Again, clean the detergent from the cup and start over again.

Is the detergent old?

Older detergent exposed to air will clump and not dissolve well, which will cause the dispenser door to stick to the detergent. Buy new detergent, and this time, keep it in a tightly closed container (i.e. not the box with an open flap) in a cool dry place (i.e. not under your sink right next to the wall where your dishwasher runs hot).

Is the water temperature too low?

For best washing and drying results, water should be 120oF (49o C) as it enters the dishwasher, so check your water heater setting. I also try to remember to run the kitchen sink tap until hot water comes out to help this.

Were items blocking the dispenser that kept it from opening?

Items blocking the detergent dispenser will keep it from opening. Make sure water action can reach the dispenser.

Other good detergent guidelines:

Use automatic dishwashing detergent only.

Add detergents just before starting the cycle.

The amount of detergent to use depends on the hardness of your water and the type of detergent.

Your manufacturer’s suggested amount is based on standard powdered detergent, so follow instructions on the package when using liquid or concentrated powdered detergent.

Taken from Warners’ Stellian

Stay cool with this delicious pomegranate tea sorbet that Frigidaire posted on their Facebook page.  It’s easy and delicious!

Ingredients:

2 Cup Pomegranate Juice

4 Bags Berry Herb Tea

1 Cup Water

3 Tablespoons Sugar

Directions:

In a medium saucepan combine juice and 1 cup water.  Bring to boiling.  Remove from heat.  Add tea bags.  Cover and steep 5 minutes.  Remove tea bags, squeezing out extra liquid.  Add sugar, stirring until dissolved.

Pour juice mixture in a 2 quart square baking dish.  Cover and freeze about 6 hours or until mixture is nearly firm, stirring occasionally so mixture freezes evenly.

Break mixture into chunks.  Transfer to a food processor.  Cover and process just until smooth, but not melted.  Return to baking dish.  Cover and freeze about 3 hours more until firm.

To serve, let stand at room temperature 10 minutes.  Scoop into dessert dishes.

Makes 8 one-half cup servings

Invest in America

For many of us, buying American is important.  Now is a popular time to buy refrigerators so we put together a list of refrigerators that you can feel good about buying because you are investing in America.  These refrigerators are designed, engineered, and assembled in the U.S.

The Maytag® MFT2673BE is a french door model featuring the Store-N-Door Ice® system with window, fold away shelves and a 26 cu. ft. capacity. Plus, 2X Life tested freezer drawer glides.

The Whirlpool® WRF989SD features a stamp of quality with the Good

Housekeeping Seal. Plus, this model puts food at eye level and moves the crispers to waist level for added convenience.

The KitchenAid® KFIV29PCMS is the ultimate in food preservation. It is a 29 cu. ft. french door bottom freezer with a platinum interior and the industry exclusive Preserva® food care system—with three technologies to keep food fresh.

The Amana® ABB1921WE bottom-freezer refrigerator features an 18.5 cu. ft. capacity and Temp Assure™ freshness controls.

Cooking School Schedule

Alternate Routes to Our Mount Vernon Store

Since the Skagit River Bridge will be out for a while, we wanted to provide you with some alternative routes to our Mount Vernon Store.  If you’re coming from the South, I-5 is still the best and easiest route and you should experience little traffic.

From The North East:

Take State Route 20 E/WA-20 E

Slight right onto State Route 536 E/WA-536 E/Memorial Hwy

Turn left onto W Kincaid St        

Turn right onto the I-5 S                       

Take exit 225 for Anderson Rd  

Turn left onto Anderson Rd      

Turn left onto Cedardale Rd

From The North:

Take I-5 S to exit 229 for George Hopper Rd        

Turn left onto George Hopper Rd            

Turn right onto S Burlington Blvd           

Continue onto Riverside Dr/Watson Bridge

Turn right onto Stewart Rd         

Turn left onto Freeway Dr          

Turn left onto W College Way   

Turn right to merge onto I-5 S

Take exit 225 for Anderson Rd  

Turn left onto Anderson Rd       

Turn left onto Cedardale Rd

From the North East:

Take WA-9 S      

At the traffic circle, take the 1st exit onto E College Way             

Turn Left on LaVenture
LaVenture turns into Anderson Rd       

Turn Right onto Cedardale Rd

Dryer Troubleshooting

If your dryer isn't drying, troubleshoot your vent before calling for service - especially if you’re running it twice to get clothes dry.  If your dryer’s vent system is clogged, moist air won’t exhaust as well and it will take longer for your clothes to dry.  It's also a fire hazard!

Here’s how to test your vent to see if it’s clogged:

• Run your dryer for at least 5 minutes
• Find your exhaust hood on the exterior of your home and use your hand to feel for air movement. If it’s less than a hair dryer on high speed, clean the lint from the entire length of the system and exhaust hood.

This should be done about every two years.  If you're still having issues with your dryer after cleaning the vent, don't hesitate to give us a call.  425 258-4557

Taken from Warners’ Stellian

May is Maytag Month!

If you were thinking of buying a Maytag appliance, now is the time to do it!  You can receive up to a 15% rebate on select kitchen appliances and up to an additional $250 rebate when you purchase select laundry appliances!  For more information click here or stop by any of our stores.

More Ways to Save!

At Judd & Black we strive to offer you the best products and service at the lowest price possible.  In addition to our everyday low prices, you can find tons of manufacturer and exclusive rebates right on our website to help you save even more.  Plus, when you shop our online catalog, it will tell you if a certain product has a rebate.  Or you can find a rebate that you like, then click on the "shop by item" link right next to the description and it will bring up all of the items that rebate applies to. Also, you can click here to get information about our store sales and other promotions.  It doesn't get much easier to save than that!

10 Ways You’re Wasting Money in Your Kitchen

Here are 10 energy-wasting choices to avoid:

1. Making your dishwasher heat up cold water

Run hot tap water before you run your dishwasher it doesn't have to heat up the water as long.

2. Setting your refrigerator and freezer too cold

Your fridge section should be set at 37 degrees to 40 degrees, and your freezer section should be set at 5 degrees. A deep freeze should be set at zero degrees.

3. Using an uncovered pot to boil water

Think of all the heat and time lost without a cover on a pot of heated water. Instead, a cover traps the energy in.

4. Selecting “Heat Dry” on your dishwasher

If you don’t wash a lot of plastic dishes, or lots of dishes in general, choose the “Air Dry” setting or simply prop your dishwasher door open after the rinse cycle.

5. Leaving foods uncovered in the refrigerator

Uncovered foods release moisture, causing the compressor to work harder. Instead, cover all liquids and foods.

6. Prewashing your dishes

Not only will it decrease the effectiveness of your dishwasher detergent, prewashing your dishes is unnecessary and wastes water. Just scrape off the big pieces of food.

7. Ignoring the gasket on your refrigerator

Close your refrigerator door over a piece of paper or dollar bill so it’s half in and half out of the refrigerator. If you can pull it out easily, your door seals aren't airtight.  Try moistening the gasket with a thin layer of Vaseline, which should create a better seal. If that doesn't do the trick, you might need to replace the gasket altogether.

8. Cooking with dirty burners and drip pans

Clean burners and drip pans will reflect the heat better, cooking your food faster and saving you energy.

9. Placing small pans on bigger burners 

Match pans to the size of the element. Otherwise, you’re using energy to heat a bigger burner only to let it escape around the sides of the smaller pot or pan.

10. Barely stocking your refrigerator

It seems backwards, but a full refrigerator holds temperature better than a poorly stocked refrigerator. Just don’t pack food so tight as to block the airflow.

Taken from Warners’ Stellian

How to Sharpen Your Disposal Blades

Just like your kitchen knives, your garbage disposal blades can dull over time from use.

To sharpen the blades, combine table salt and coarse cleanser, then shove the mixture down past the baffle (that rubber thing above the blades) and run the disposal without any water. When that’s finished, run water with the disposal like normal and rinse away the residue.

The coarse mixture should sharpen your blades. Another tip: Always run cold, not warm water when running your disposal. Cold water hardens greasy substances, which makes them easier to grind, and keeps grease from sticking to the drain lines.

Taken from Warners’ Stellian

Tips for the Perfect Marinade

Now that spring is officially here and the sun is shining, it's time to break out the grill!  If you want to be a grill master, you'll need to start with a killer marinade.  Our friends over at Weber have provided an outline along with some helpful tips in order to make your own tasty marinade.  Click here for the whole story.

#1 In Built-In Cooking

According to a leading consumer magazine, Whirlpool Corporation is #1 when it comes to built-in cooking.  Whirlpool Corporation includes Maytag, KitchenAid, Amana, and of course Whirlpool.  Check out the chart to the left to see the top 5 wall ovens and electric cooktops and then come into any of our stores to check them out for yourself!

New Frigidaire HE Top Load Washer

The new Frigidaire Affinity High Efficiency Top Load Washer is pretty slick.  It features WaterFall™ jets that soak your clothes thoroughly, ensuring whiter whites and tough stain removal – even with big loads. It is gentle on your clothes too.  Immersion Care™ Wash Action gently spins and moves water and detergent through clothes for more thorough cleaning without being harsh on fabrics.

In addition to getting your clothes fabulously clean, it’s also quite – 20% quieter to be exact.  Advanced vibration control keeps even oversized loads balanced for smooth, quiet operation. Ideal for second floor installation.

And to top it all off, it’s high efficiency so it uses less water and energy than traditional top load washers, saving you money.  Check them out for yourself!

Our Next Cooking Class!

We had another successful cooking class last night featuring Jackie Davison from Pot Luck Kitchen Studio and wine pairings by Silver Bell Winery.  We have so much fun at these classes, we can't wait for the next one!  Here are the details of the next class so you can join in on the fun!

Thursday April 18th at 6pm

Presented By Judd & Black

Guest Chef Chris Bertrand from Johnny Carino's in Burlington

Wine Pairing TBA

Chris will prepare a delicious three course meal and teach you how to create it yourself!  Each course will be paired with a wine as well.  Winery to be announced soon.

Tickets are $35 per person or $50 for two.  They can be purchased at any Judd & Black location starting March 13th.

All of our cooking classes take place at our Mount Vernon store located at 2520 Cedardale Road.  If you have any questions, please call Rachael at 360 336-6515.  Hope to see you at our next class!

Why HE Detergent Is Important

More laundry detergent does not mean your clothes will come out cleaner, especially when using a front-loading high-efficiency washing machine.  High-efficiency washers use far less water than traditional washing machines. Less water and more powerful wash action means less dilution of detergent, leading to overproduction of suds.

High-efficiency detergent (or HE detergent) provides just the right amount of suds to ensure the cleanest clothes possible. HE detergent is often labeled “concentrated” or “2x” , and has a “HE” logo on its bottle or box.  Make sure to follow the instructions on the label based on load size.

If you don’t use HE detergent, Whirlpool Corp. warns of the following problems:

·         Poor cleaning results.

·         Detergent residue left on clothing.

·         Washer odor due to sudsing residue.

·         Wet clothes at the end of the cycle due to excess suds hindering spinning and draining.

·         Leaking due to excess suds.

·         Extended cycle times or excessive water usage from extra rinsing to remove suds.

·         Error codes.

Taken from Warners’ Stellian

Cleaning With Vinegar

Most everyone has heard of using vinegar to clean, but did you know about all of these…

1. Rinse aid substitute - There’s really no harm in using vinegar in your dishwasher, but I suggest only using it in lieu of rinse aid between trips to the store. Modern dishwashers need regular rinse aid to properly dry dishes.

2. Microwave cleaner – Heat a microwave-safe cup of vinegar in your microwave and let it boil, so the steam can loosen up all the stuck-on splatters for a minute or so. Wipe down the interior immediately, while it’s still moist inside — no scrubbing necessary!

3. Clothes washer cleaner - Your washing machine benefits from a regular vinegar cleaning. Run a cup through an empty cycle using the hottest setting.

4. All-purpose surface cleaner - Equal parts vinegar and water work well for cleaning windows or glass. Also try the solution for an all-natural way to clean the inside of a refrigerator. I hear you can use it to clean stainless steel as well, though, I recommend using a stainless steel cleaner for a shiny, polished finish.

5. Coffee maker cleaner – Try to run a full coffee pot of vinegar through your coffee maker (remove any coffee or filter, obviously) every few months. It’s satisfying to watch all the grime flake off into the pot, and you’ll be amazed how much faster your coffee brews without all the sediment slowing it down!

6. Stove top and oven cleaner – Use a paste of vinegar and baking soda on your stove top to scrub out those stubborn brownish discolorations and food splatters.

Do you have any other vinegar cleaning tips?  Leave them in the comments!

Taken from Warners’ Stellian

Recipe: Potato Cheese Soup

Maybe it’s because of our last cooking class, but I've been in the mood to cook lately!  I found this yummy recipe on food.com for potato cheese soup.  It’s perfect for these cold, wet winter days we've been having, plus it’s super simple!

Ingredients:

1/3 cup chopped onion

3 tablespoons butter or 3 tablespoons margarine

1 (1 1/2 lb) bag frozen hash brown potatoes

1 (15 1/4 ounce) can sweetcorn, drained

1 teaspoon dried parsley flakes

3 1/2 cups chicken broth

2 cups milk

1 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon pepper

2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

Directions:

1. Place first six ingredients in a large pot, and bring to a boil.
2. Cover and simmer for 25 minutes, or until potatoes are tender.
3. Remove from heat, and puree the potato mixture with a potato masher.
4. Stir in milk and seasonings, and return to heat.
5. Add the cheese, and stir until melted.
6. Enjoy!

KitchenAid's Quietest Dishwasher Ever!

You have to listen very closely to hear a KitchenAid dishwasher and if that dishwasher is the new KUDE70 model, then you may have difficulty hearing it at all. It’s just that quiet - only 40 dBA!  It also cleans great.  It has advanced features for high-performance cleaning and drying including the ProWash™ Cycle.  This cycle adjusts fills, wash time and temperature to different levels of food soil on dishes. It’s excellent for loads with heavy to normal amounts of soils. There is also the ProScrub® option that has 36 powerful spray jets near the back of the bottom rack that concentrates intense cleaning power on heavily soiled pots.  It dries great too! The ProDry™ option uses the heating element plus a system of vents and a fan to draw the hot, moist air from the dishwasher for faster drying.  And of course it’s stylish.  It comes in 4 different colors to match any kitchen.  Visit any of our superstores to learn more.

DIY: Fixing Your Refrigerator Seal

If you've noticed ice crystals on your frozen foods or condensation in your fridge, check your refrigerator seal. After some troubleshooting, you might be able to make a DIY repair without having to resort to a refrigerator gasket replacement.

First, open your refrigerator’s freezer door and slip a dollar bill against where the gasket seals to the freezer cabinet. Shut the door to hold the bill in place.If the bill slips out, your seal isn't tight.

Fortunately, moistening the seal with Vaseline (petroleum jelly) should do the trick and revive the strong rubber grip of your fridge’s youth AND keep your foods nice and chilly. Just apply a thin layer of Vaseline to the part of the seal that touches the refrigerator or freezer and that should do the trick! 

Taken from Warners’ Stellian