Of the more than 50 American-made household appliances named by Consumer Reports, a dozen brands are assembled at factories in Ohio.
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Ohio-built appliances figured prominently in Consumer Reports' recently released list of the best top-performing American-made appliances, including KitchenAid dishwashers and stand mixers, Whirlpool and Amana clothes washers, and Vitamix blenders.
Of the more than 50 household appliances named in the July issue of Consumer Reports, a dozen brands are assembled at factories here in Ohio. Moreover, many household appliances made in U.S. factories use gaskets and other components manufactured in Middlefield, Geauga County, said Bob Bloom, president of Bloom Brothers Supply in Chesterland.
"Every country has winners and losers when it comes to quality and performance," Consumer Reports explains in its story. "Here, we focus on the best American-made large and small appliances available now. Especially with so much reshoring, the U.S. is competitive in these categories, so you have plenty of choices.
"You may have to spend a bit more, however, since in many cases, appliance manufacturers have brought production of premium lines home, while continuing to outsource lower-priced models."
Marc Blumenthal, vice president of B&B Appliance Co. in Euclid and Middleburg Heights, said "Most of the Whirlpool family of dishwashers are made in Findlay, Ohio. This includes KitchenAid, Maytag, Whirlpool, Amana, and Jenn-Air.
"There is an ADA-compliant Whirlpool dishwasher that's made overseas, and one Jenn-Air dishwasher that's not made in Ohio," he added.
Among clothes washers, "the Maytag, Whirlpool, and Amana washers are made in Clyde, Ohio; and the Maytag, Whirlpool, and Amana dryers are made in Marion, Ohio," Blumenthal said.
Bloom said said the two front-loading Maytag Maxima washers on Consumer Reports' list are made in Clyde, all the KitchenAid dishwashers are made in Findlay, and Amana and Maytag chest and upright freezers are made in Ottawa, Ohio.
KitchenAid stand mixers are made in Greenville, Ohio. KitchenAid makes its ranges in Cleveland, too, "but it's Cleveland, Tennessee," Bloom said.
He said appliance sales have definitely risen as the economy has picked up and people are upgrading their homes again. Although all the American-made appliances in his store are labeled as such, not all consumers want that.
"I wish more would," Bloom said.