Coin operated laundry washer usage question

[lordkenmore]

Yesterday I was at a strip mall in my area, which includes a coin operated laundry. I went through it for my afternoon adventure.

While exploring, I saw several small front load machines. (Can't remember for sure the brand, but I do remember seeing Wascomat on at least SOME front load machine in the laundry. I think the small ones said "18 pound.") I studied it, and I'm wondering how to correctly use it. Part is easy to figure out--pour in mountains of quarters to start it. But the puzzling thing is the detergent use. Apparently 2 dispensers. It appears there is both a "soak" cycle and "wash" cycle. So I'm left wondering about the correct "dosing" of detergent, in case I ever have to use one of these. (I suppose I could ask a regular, but I am little cautious about asking, given the stories I've heard about people who know nothing using one of those places.)

 

[laundromat]

I would wait until the machine starts to see which way the water flows and in which tarck it's flowing.Are you sure that theer is a pre wash/soak prior to the main wash?There is usually some type of instruction list on them.I'd check the underside of the dispenser lid.

 

[lordkenmore]

I'm not 100% sure of anything, since I'm going by fast check yesterday, and my memory today. From my recollection, there were instructions that said to put detergent in for soak and wash, and gave compartment numbers. That much seemed clear. Although they don't mention anything about amounts. (Hard to recommend, of course, since detergents vary. But I do wish they had SOME sort of starting point. Then, again, it's not a huge problem since this is a "maybe I'll need to use one of these someday" type things for me.)

 

[launderess]

Soak ='s Pre-Wash

If using powder detergent one places the proper amounts in both compartments (soak/pre-wash and main wash),and they will be flushed down as each cycle starts.

During the first cycle water goes down the first compartment only, the second cycle (main wash) normally uses both. IIRC this is because of how the washers are plumbed, in that cold water comes in the pre-wash/soak side, and hot on the main wash side. To further confuse things at least at our laundry whenever a cycle is chosen for "hot" or "warm" water water comes down both sides to mix the proper temperature. Was told this is because the hot water comes from the main apartment building's boiler and thus was "too hot" for tap direct use. *Yeah Whatever You Cheap......* *LOL*

Being as this may do not pour any liquid products down either side unless you want them flushed down at once. Many persons pour liquid detergent down the pre-wash/soak side for that cycle, then proceed to add more detergent for the wash in it's compartment. Not noticing all that detergent is going straight into the first cycle. Worse still have seen persons add *MORE* liquid detergent at the start of the wash cycle despite the machine already choking on froth.

The same goes for LCB, which at least on the machines at our local a light goes on (at beginning of fill for second wash cycle) indicating to add bleach. Powder bleach and or any other wash additive that is not a liquid can also go in the main wash compartment.

Sounds complicated but really isn't. However it is best to observe how the machine dispenses (or read directions printed on machine front), to see how things are supposed to be done.

 

[dirtybuck]

At the laundromat I go to, the larger Maytags have two soap dispensers. One for pre-wash and one for wash.

 

[lordkenmore]

Thanks for the answers so far!

Another thing I'm wondering is how much these machines can hold--how close to the top of the drum can laundry be loaded?

 

[launderess]

Normally inside the door somewhere there is a plate with max load weight along with other information. Normally this is anywhere from 18lbs to 50lbs of dry weight for laundromat washers, though IIRC you can have nearly 100lbs machines as well.

Loading is same as for any good well built front loader. For a mixed load of cottons you can load the washer "full", that is leaving about a fist's worth of space (more or less) between the load and the top of the drum. Cotton/linen loads will compact down quite a bit once they are fully saturated with water. For permanent press items you want to load a bit less to reduce wrinkles.

Assuming these are hard mount washers without pumps, they *will* go into spins at max loads, even when they are unbalanced. With no pump to choke all that water dumps right down into the drains.

 

[peterh770]

"I would wait until the machine starts to see which way

Which is very good idea since some owners will bypass the pre-wash. Woe to you if you oversuds and -- SURPRISE!!! -- there are only 2 rinses!

Assuming these are Generation 5 Wascomats or earlier and the owner hasn't messed with the cycle, the instructions say this:

Powder supplies:
Place powder detergent in Compartment 1 for the pre-wash/soak.
Place powder detergent and powder bleach in Compartment 2 for the main wash.

Liquid supplies:
Place liquid detergent in Compartment 1 for the pre-wash/soak.
Wait for the main wash to start (about 5 minutes) and when the water is running in Compartment 2 add liquid detergent and liquid bleach.

Place liquid softener in Compartment 3.
.
Wascomat did make a very small (by USA standards), softmount washer at one point, the P12 model, in the late 1970's. They didn't last long. Seems to me they had a pump. And I remember them going directly into spin from the wash/rinse to do the drain.