Are appliances still made in the USA? I was on a quest to find out. My assumptions where that foreign companies like LG, Samsung, Bosch, etc would not be made here. But what about Whirlpool, GE, Maytag and other American appliance companies?

In the 80's, there was a lot of backlash about buying Japanese cars, since they already had a few thousand miles on them before they hit the showroom. This was of course a reference to the fact that they were shipping these cars halfway around the world. It's just as troubling to think about your refrigerator coming from Korea or China or Mexico. The Mr. and I did some serious digging on this one.

Here is what we found out...


This is a tough one. So many product categories, so many brands, and such random amounts of information available. We'll try and made sense out of it for you.

First, the Brands:
There are fewer and fewer appliance companies anymore, but still so many brands. A couple of years ago, Whirlpool bought up the Maytag Corp. In that acquisition, Whirlpool Corp. - already with Whirlpool, Kitchen Aid, Gladiator, Roper and Estate brands - added Maytag, Amana, Admiral, and Jenn-Air.

Frigidaire is owned by Electrolux, who also has quite the stable of brands, though most are not sold in the US.

GE owns Hotpoint. Bosch owns Thermador. Sears begot Kenmore......

Now, the Products:
There are still many companies making appliances in the US. I'll try and stick to the ones that you've likely heard of. See the link at the end for more info.

Staber- This smaller appliance maker produces all their washers and dryers in Ohio.

Whirlpool Corp. (see above for list of brands) - Washers, top-mount refrigerators, 50-lb ice makers, dishwashers, some side-by-side refrigerators, counter-depth refrigerators, bottom freezer refrigerators, trash compactors, ice makers, clothes dryers, washer/dryer stack units, built-in ranges, cooktop ranges, built-in microwaves, warming drawers, freestanding ranges. Some side-by-side refrigerators are made in Mexico. The Duet washers are made in Germany, but the Duet dryers are made in Ohio. Most of the Kitchen Aid portable and countertop appliances are made in Ohio, but I could not find if all were made there.

Sub-Zero- Sub-Zero brand built-in and undercounter refrigeration, Wolf gas/electric dual fuel ranges, and maybe more.

Frigidaire - Some refrigerators, freezers, washing machines, dryers, dishwashers, and some ranges ovens and cooktops. Some cooking and refrigeration products for North America are made in Mexico and Canada.

GE - Builds electric ranges, dishwashers, low end washers and some refrigerators at their historic appliance park. But the majority are coming from Mexico and China.

Kenmore - Kenmore manufactures nothing. All products are sourced from manufacturers. So some products may be coming from Whirlpool, some from LG, some from Electrolux... The only way to really know is to ask.

Dacor - This California based company makes ranges, wall ovens, outdoor grills, drawer microwaves, and built-in coffee makers.

For more, see the list at StillMadeInTheUSA.com

The next time you have an appliance die or are just wanting to upgrade, remember who makes their products here in the USA. Remember to support U.S. jobs! These jobs are fading fast, with more and more being shipped off to Mexico. As foreign competitors continue to come into the US market, consider this - they likely aren't building the products here. Here's a quick way to check, if your aren't sure about the one you are looking at on the showroom floor:

Sometimes, they come right out and tell you.
(Note upper left corner)

Check the labels that show the model and serial numbers. The one above is from a refrigerator. Those can usually be found in the refrigerator compartment on the upper right. If you strike out there, check the back of the unit. You may need to get a salesman to help you - that is if they can't find the info for you!