Before, During, or After...?

[mrb627]

Maytag Centerpost Dispenser

I believe you are right on with the centerpost dispenser. The 70's coin-ops would leave the opening and instruct you to add detergent that way.

The Lady-K's hold the detergent till agitation starts. Where's the logic there?

Malcolm

 

[danemodsandy]

What's Odd:

About the "centrepost dispenser" is that I have a set of 806 manuals now (thanks again, Kenny!) from 1976, and the washer's instructions make no mention of it, saying instead, "Add (detergent) to wash basket by moving clothes away from agitator and pouring measured amount around agitator." This was to be done after putting the clothes in the washer. The accompanying photo shows a woman's hand pouring detergent from a measuring cup around the outside of the agitator post.

Can anyone clear up why the change in instructions? And when?

 

[autowasherfreak]

When using the Maytag I wait until it's half full, remove the lint filter and pour down the agitator.

 

[revvinkevin]

When growing up, we (mom, myself, etc) would add the cloths, removed the lint filter from the agitator in the Maytag A700 and pour the detergent as it was filling... OR... after it started agitating.

In my '74 Lady K, I add the cloths, start it and add detergent to the triple dispenser as the tub is filling, which flushes into the tub after agitation starts.

In the GE filter flow I add deterget to the filter, after adding cloths and starting it to fill.

In the 1990 Westy front loader, I add cloths, dump the detergent on top, close the door and start the machine.

 

[aldspinboy]

It depends on my mood-
Top loaders.
1.If you want a sudsy wash add the detergent at the start of cycle.
2. like to add in the middle of filling gives me a good suds level.
3. In my wringer ...i add it when full and agitate then put in clothes.
Front loaders
1. I put it in the dispensers if need more i flush more in with a hose.
2. sometime with additives...Like Arm & Hammer super washing soda tends to clump in the dispensers, i flush as well. Or put it in the basket in the holes and start that way. Also i put the Tide release stain tabs in the same way.

Darren k.

 

[danmantn]

Here's the firm instructions from the Speed Queen at the laundromat that I found interesting. lol

 

[polkanut]

Maytag did indeed intend the center part of their agitator to be used as a detergent dispenser. I add the detergent in my A806 while it is filling, pull out lint filter, add detergent, replace filter, fill fabric softener dispenser, and let her go. Great results every time.

 

[danemodsandy]

Tim:

Now you've got me wondering what year 806 you have. Mine's a 1976. I guess what I'm getting at is: Could there have been a change to the agitator that caused Maytag to change the instructions?

My 806 is undergoing some preliminary work before a test run; I only got it recently, so more info on this feature - or lack thereof - would be helpful before I run the old girl for the first time.

BTW, she's the dread Almond, but she's all there, and with a matching 806 dryer. DUAL lighted consoles - woo hoo!

 

[mrb627]

Every Color

Every color has its place in history. There are no dreaded ones. However, a mismatched colored set is usually frowned upon....

 

[whirlaway]

Color

By whom is it frowned upon?!?!

 

[tomturbomatic]

The AMP machines had a hollow agitator that could not be used for detergent dispensing. The original lint filter agitators had a pumping chamber between the upper skirt with the fins and the skirt underneath that. If you knew what to look for, you could have seen it in a POD this week in the photograph of the underside of the agitator. When you poured the detergent into that chamber, it did not just empty out onto the upper surface of the agitator skirt by the fins, but was held, to a certain extent, in the chamber until it was flushed out by the pumping action when agitation started. Unlike the way the water exits the lint filter in the Power Fin agitators at the base of the column, water exited the original Lint Filter agitator just under the edge of the skirt. This was the construction for all of the Bakelite Lint Filter Agitators as well as the first turquoise agitators. Once they got rid of the pumping chamber, it made no sense to go the extra step of pouring the detergent into the agitator since it would just fall out on the skirt, the same as if you poured it around the agitator column.

 

[panthera]

Doesn't it

depend to some extent on whether you are using a detergent which dissolves readily in cold water as well as on whether you have additives such as water softener or bleach.

My FL has two dispensers for the main wash. The first one is flushed with water for about half the fill and then the second, larger one is used to complete the fill.

According to the instruction book, this ensures that any water softening needed is done by the water softener and not at the cost of the detergent's effectiveness.

Makes sense to me.

Our thumper (and she's PANK!) cleans so well, it doesn't matter, but the Maytag definitely likes to have the detergent dissolved in some of the water before the clothes are added and I have yet to find a way to add chlorine bleach to any Maytag without having some of it be flushed into the wash load at too high a local concentration.

 

[maytagbear]

I always

put the detergent in first, near, but not directly under the fill flume, and let the water run for a minute and a half (or so), then I add the clothes.

As for adding chlorine bleach, I have a quart canning jar that I add the bleach to, and fill the rest of the way with water.

When we had the Whirlpool Imperial, I did use the "Magic Mix Dispenser Filter" for powdered detergent.

Lawrence/Maytagbear

 

[panthera]

Hey Lawrence,

Give me a buzz? I'm not at my folks or Germany...so skype not up.

 

[danemodsandy]

Malcolm:

The reason I refer to Almond as "the dread Almond" is that I know why the colour was developed. It was the result of consumer research and focus groups that determined that what housewives of the '70s wanted was a colour that did not show dirt and fingermarks the way Coppertone, Harvest and Avocado did. Almond was found to conceal kitchen fumes and grease, and fingerprints didn't show up on it the way they did on darker and brighter colours.

Being a person who likes things clean, I much prefer White, where you know right away that something's dirty. Having Almond conceal dirt ain't my thing. Plus, to me it looks like White that has gone uncleaned way, way too long.

 

[maytagbear]

Plus--

White never dates, and always goes with anything!

Lawrence/Maytagbear

 

[polkanut]

Sandy,

My A806s was built 5/71. This way of dispensing detergent is so simple, and idiot-proof, and it helps remind you to clean the lint filter also.