1970s Maytag sud saver.

[chambersb]

Got my first set of vintage Maytags, I was told they are 1976. I've been reading up on the save suds option and I don't think this is something I'll ever use. From what I've read you need a separate holding tank for the water which I do not have and do not have the extra space in my laundry room for one. I don't do a lot of laundry so storing a few gallons of water until I use my washer again is not something I'm interested in. Maybe I should have looked into this further before committing to a set of machines?

Please discuss. Thanks

 

[wayupnorth]

If the suds saver is shut off, it will still run as a regular Maytag.

 

[qsd-dan]

Just because the machine has a suds saver doesn't mean you have to use it. Actually, if you carefully remove the entire system, I'm sure someone here would love to take it off of your hands.

Nice set. The washer is a standard capacity machine which is very, very small by todays standards. If you don't wash large items on a regular basis, it will work just fine.

 

[good-shepherd]

need a separate holding tank

A laundry sink would suffice to hold the wash water.

The idea isn't long term storage but reusing the wash water if doing multiple loads at a time.

 

[dermacie]

We always had Sud Saver.  We had a double laundry tub and you had to remember to plug the drain to use it.  My mother used it often.

 

[bradfordwhite]

Yes

"need a separate holding tank" lol

Have no major worries. MTs have a convenient switch on the panel to simply turn off the system, unlike Whirlpool and Kenmore made machines of that era.

If you know for certain you're not going to use it, it would probably be best to connect the drain hose directly to the pump as the valves can impede water flow and act as a trap for lint.

Sudsaver water was intended to be re-used with in a matter of a few short hours after it's been dispensed. The idea was to re-use the best of the HOT/WARM soapy water with the dirt/lint that's settled out, left behind. Obviously, that water cools quickly and the soap loses it effectiveness as well.

When that expelled wash water is left in the laundry tub longer, it doesn't take long for it to start smelling and growing bacteria. You don't want to know what it's like when a thrift conscious, or ignorant neighbor with a sudsaver, tries to save hot water used to wash babies diapers...

Whatever you do, don't just rely on keeping the switch on off and thinking because you're not using the suds hose you don't need to connect it. If you accidently bump the switch and the suds hose is not attached or in a drain, you'll have a mess. Believe me, I've seen that too. (College age cousin....inherited a washer.... didn't know any better.... water all over the floor. ) Also, sometimes these suds valves don't fully close and may leak a little bit of water. That's another potential leak issue.
So, just connect your drain hose directly to the pump and avoid all that.