Read This Before You Redo Your Laundry Room

Most HE (high-efficiency) washers are also rated by MEF and WF. Here's what the new acronyms mean:

MEF: Modified Energy Factor is a measure of the energy used to run the washer and heat the water. The higher the MEF, the more energy-efficient the washer.

WF: Water Factor is based on the number of gallons of water consumed per cubic foot of capacity. The lower the WF, the more miserly the washer.