11 Brands You Didn't Know Were Owned By Whirlpool

Chances are that you've heard of Whirlpool. After all, if you'll excuse the pun, it is a household name. It's the brand stamped on a whole world of household appliances, from refrigerators and dishwashers to ovens, ranges, and more. However, while it is a brand in and of itself, Whirlpool actually owns a surprising number of other appliance brands — many of which you probably had no idea were affiliated with it.

Driven by our own curiosity and to help indulge yours, we've spent some time taking a closer look at the long list of brands owned or founded by Whirlpool — all of which are still largely manufactured in the United States. Many are appliance manufacturers, some with more than a century of history, that have been acquired by Whirlpool. Others were launched by the brand itself in a bid to complement its growing range of household appliances. And while the majority deal with your everyday household tasks, there are some in the list that took even us by surprise.

One of the things to know before you buy an appliance from KitchenAid is that it has a long history — over 100 years in business. It's largely known for its stellar line-up of stand mixers, which are the kitchen dream of countless bakers around North America and beyond. But it also produces a heady range of countertop appliances, covering toasters, microwaves, coffee makers, blenders, and more.

It was first established in 1919, with the birth of the world's first kitchen mixer. As for the name, KitchenAid, it apparently came from the spouse of one of the original company directors. They described the new appliance as "the best kitchen aid I've ever had," and the name sort of stuck. Now, if you're wondering where Whirlpool comes into the equation, the answer is that it didn't for more than 60 years. It was acquired in 1986, and since then — under Whirlpool's ownership — the brand has continued to manufacture an impressive 80% of its major appliances here in American factories. But its reach goes far beyond the borders of North America. Right now, KitchenAid also operates across Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Latin America, and Asia. In other words, you may not have known that Whirlpool owns KitchenAid. But it's really no surprise that the name — and the appliance for which it was named — have become such a culinary icon in the minds of bakers worldwide.

If you've spent hours perusing your local Home Depot for appliances, then chances are you've come across the name Maytag. Like KitchenAid, it's among the nation's most popular appliance brands, manufacturing goods ranging from washers and dryers to microwaves, cooktops, refrigerators, and more. You may have spotted them in the same aisle as appliances from Whirlpool, and even agonized between the two brands. The funny thing is — you guessed it — Maytag is now owned by Whirlpool. But it wasn't always that way.

Maytag was founded in 1893, which means that it brings well over a century of appliance manufacturing experience to each new model that hits the shop floor. It was founded in Iowa, and for 113 years, operated as its own entity. In 2006, it was acquired by Whirlpool, however, while the ownership of the business changed, its dedication to quality and American-made reliability remained the same. In fact, its core ethos hinges on dependability, which is why, according to Liberty Home Guard, the average life of a Maytag refrigerator often exceeds 10 years. More than that, that same report concludes that owners of Maytag refrigerators file the fewest warranty claims compared to other top brands, including Samsung, LG, and, interestingly, Whirlpool. It continues to manufacture the majority of its appliances in North America, however, they're also widely available across both Latin America and Asia.

The benefits of owning American-made appliances are many. It's usually easier to replace parts versus appliances made overseas, for example. And as we saw with Maytag, some American-made brands produce dependable, long-living appliances that cost owners less in the long run. JennAir positions itself as a premium brand, building appliances that, in its own words, "redefine luxury." It covers cooking, refrigeration, and cleaning, and has been operating since 1965, when founder, Lou Jenn, invented the world's first downdraft ventilation system. In doing so, he paved the way for discerning home improvers to achieve a clean, minimalist aesthetic in their kitchens, doing away with the need for overhead extraction.

Indeed, JennAir is a good example of why Whirlpool owns so many appliance brands. It's not about producing the same products and stamping a different label on them. Far from it. Instead, Whirlpool's portfolio of brands covers different areas of the market, offering reliable appliances across a wide range of price points. In the case of JennAir, it's at the "luxury" end of Whirlpool's reach. It offers a concierge service to help discerning homeowners find the right appliances. It also has a range of "Statement Pieces," which include professional-grade ranges with distressed finishes, and even a "Burlesque" refrigerator with burgundy and snakeskin motifs...on the inside. After its founding in 1965, JennAir was acquired by Maytag in the 1980s, before coming under the Whirlpool banner as part of the Maytag purchase in 2006. Its appliances are available exclusively in North America.

Championing Whirlpool's dedication to quality refrigeration, cooking, and washing appliances in Latin America, Brastemp and Consul once competed for space in the Brazilian marketplace. Brastemp was founded in 1954 under the Brasmotor group, and back to the point we made earlier about Whirlpool's positioning of brands across different areas of the market, it is now positioned as the more premium brand. Its units often feature more technological "frills," like smart ovens and refrigerators that can be customized with storage zones.

Consul, on the other hand, is geared more towards practicality and affordability. It was founded in 1950, so just four years before Brastemp came onto the scene, and it, too, was founded in Brazil. Now, while its products usually lack the same advanced technology included in some of the appliances made by Brastemp, that's not strictly a "downside." Instead, its products are geared towards busy households where robust manufacturing and reliability are the primary requirements.

As for the Whirlpool acquisition, it's a little tricky to unpick. Both brands belonged to parent company, Multibrás, which in turn was controlled by Brasmotor. Whirlpool has a longstanding partnership with Brasmotor, and in 1997, bought a controlling interest in the company, effectively bringing both brands (along with others) into the Whirlpool family.

Given that Whirlpool is widely associated with appliance manufacturing, Gladiator Garage Works's entry to this list may come as a surprise. The brand is known for its premium range of solutions for garage organization — a far cry from washing machines and dryers. It produces cabinets, rack shelving, workbenches, tool storage, and wall organization solutions — everything that homeowners and DIYers need to whip their messy garages into shape. With all of that being said, it wouldn't be a Whirlpool brand without at least a nod to appliances. Perhaps that's why Gladiator also offers a range of garage-centric appliances — namely drinks coolers.

As for when it was acquired by Whirlpool, it wasn't. Instead, it was created by Whirlpool itself. It launched in 2002, after a Whirlpool innovation day in 2001 that conceived the idea. It was born with the goal of turning the garage into more than just a place to park your car. And while it's one of the only Whirlpool brands not to focus on either appliances or appliance-based products, it has a wide reach that's typical of other Whirlpool brands. It operates predominantly in North America, but its wares can be found at myriad big-box chains like Lowe's and Walmart. In fact, its products are among the highest-rated garage finds at Home Depot.

Acros is another of Whirlpool's brands that operates largely in Latin America. In fact, it mostly operates in Mexico, where it's the name affixed to myriad appliances like fridges, dishwashers, laundry appliances, and more. It was founded in 1946 when its founding company, Aceros Esmaltados, came up with Mexico's first modern gas stove. As for where it's situated in the market, the brand — now under Whirlpool — produces appliances built with endurance, affordability, and ease-of-use very much front of mind.

Whirlpool acquired the brand in 2002. Technically speaking, it actually acquired its parent company Vitromatic, which at the time was Mexico's second-largest appliance manufacturer. Before that, the relationship had been a joint venture, with Whirlpool joining forces with Vitro in 1987. But when Whirlpool purchased Vitro's 51% controlling interest, it formalized its ownership, adding another string to its growing bow of brands.

The list of appliance brands owned by Whirlpool is impressive not only because there are so many. When you dig into the histories of some, you're met with a sense of innovation and dedication to the improvement of domestic life. Amana is a fine example. Today, it positions itself as a creator of products that are reasonably priced, easy to use, and well-made — surely what we all want from our appliances. In its own words, it seeks to "deliver on value" and "put the ability in afford-ability" — two goals that it's pursued since its birth in 1934. In the years since, it's racked up an impressive string of accolades and "firsts," not least the creation of the first deep-freeze upright refrigerator. It also developed the first side-by-side refrigerator, the first bottom-freezer refrigerator, the first self-defrost refrigerator, and the first clothes dryer with a stainless steel drum.

Really, it's no wonder that Whirlpool would want to bring Amana into the fold. It eventually did so in 2006, and today, Amana remains a go-to brand for families in North America who need high-quality appliances without needlessly breaking their bank balance. As for what it actually makes, refrigeration and laundry remain two of its most popular categories. It also produces cooking appliances, including hoods, microwaves, ranges, and dishwashers, along with heating and AC appliances, water filters, and more.

If you've decided that it's time to upgrade your garbage disposal unit, one brand that'll likely feature on your shortlist is InSinkErator. After all, the clue is in the name. Of course, this technology is something many households across the world now take for granted. However, what you may not know is that InSinkErator's founder, John Hammes, was actually the first to invent a domestic garbage disposal system. He did so in 1927, perfecting his creation over more than a decade, before forming the company in 1938. And while various brands have begun producing similar products since then, only InSinkErator can claim to have come up with the idea.

Today, while it continues to manufacture garbage disposal systems for households, InSinkErator also offers a range of instant hot water dispensers and related accessories. It was purchased by Emerson 30 years after its founding, who later sold it to Whirlpool in 2022. The price tag? An eye-watering $3 billion. That price is significant, although it also gives an insight into Whirlpool's ultimate direction. The purchase signified Whirlpool's determination to encompass, and improve, the entire appliance "journey" in the household — from preparation and food storage, to laundry, dishwashing, and with InSinkErator, food disposal.

Further proof of Whirlpool's interest in long-living, easy-to-use appliances is a brand that doesn't actually create appliances at all. Instead, Swash creates a variety of products designed to care for your clothes. In other words, it makes laundry detergent. According to the brand, each liter bottle yields 80 loads, making it a cost-effective solution for family households where the washing machine is apparently always on. And to avoid common laundry mistakes like using too much detergent — which can harm your clothes along with your appliance — each bottle cap is designed for easy measuring.

Self-described as "the laundry formula from Whirlpool Corporation," Swash was actually developed by Whirlpool, instead of acquired from another company. It was done so to leverage the brand's extensive experience in the realm of laundry-machine manufacturing. It offers three detergent products, and each is differentiated by what it "smells like." For example, you can choose one that smells like vacation, one that smells like nothing, and one that, quite simply, smells like clean laundry. As for where to buy them, they're widely available on Amazon, or you can purchase directly from the Swash website.

Another brand that was actually founded by Whirlpool itself, Everydrop produces water filters. They're designed to be 100% compatible with Whirlpool, KitchenAid, Amana, and JennAir refrigerators. In fact, if you own an appliance from one of these brands, and it has a water filtration system, you can head to Everydrop's website and simply search using your refrigerator's serial number. That, in turn, should return a selection of compatible filters, and if you have one, you can also buy filters for your unit's ice machine.

As for when it first came onto the scene, Whirlpool launched Everydrop in 2013. It was originally launched with standard water filters, for bottles and pitchers. However, in 2015, the brand re-launched with its line of fridge-compatible filters. The filters are designed to reduce up to 75 contaminants including pharmaceuticals, pesticides, microplastics, and lead. They're widely available to buy from the Everydrop website, or at various big box chains like Walmart, Target, and Home Depot.

The final brand in this guide, in many ways, ties the majority of the others together. Affresh produces a range of appliance care and cleaning products, which are available to users across the United States and Canada. It rounds off this list nicely, allowing people to both benefit from the trusted build quality that comes with Whirlpool-owned appliances, and then care for them with cleaners that are specially formulated for the job.

The brand was developed by Whirlpool itself. It began in 2007, when Whirlpool developed a breakthrough cleaner for high-efficiency (HE) washing machines. These appliances use less water (hence why they're more highly efficient), which means that they tend to need cleaning more frequently. If you don't, you can find yourself contending with a smelly laundry room — which was the problem that Whirlpool sought to solve. The resulting tablets can simply be added to the drum (without clothes), and used to bust things like mold and mildew, thus eliminating smells. Not only that, but per Whirlpool, they can also help to ensure optimal performance and appliance longevity. Fast-forward to today, and Affresh now produces a wide range of appliance cleaning products, covering not just washing machines, but also dishwashers, garbage disposal systems, coffee makers, and more. They're widely available, too, with stock at chains including Walmart, Home Depot, and Target.