DD Whirlpool Speeds

[dtwwhirlpool]

I know this has been discussed many times, but I have a DD Whirlpool that I feel is putting more wear and tear on our clothes than necessary. We use cloth diapers for our children and it's putting years of wear on those diapers in a matter of months. I still like the simplicity of how the machine works, so I'm wondering if there is anything I can do to my current machine to make it more gentle on the laundry, or look for another machine with different options? I recall some of the Kenmore versions had a selector to choose the speeds. Or, possibly abandon the DD Whirlpool and get a totally different machine. Not opposed to a front loader either, but we do a lot of laundry, so reliability is important.

Thanks in advance!

Art

 

[DADoES]

 
Find a 3-speed machine.  There are Kenmore (usually 80 and 90 series) and WP (Gold) models with a separate speed control.

Agitation:
High = 180 strokes-per-min
Slow = 120 spm
Ex-Slow = 90 spm

KitchenAid 3-speed models are even better if you can find one, and with an agitator with a larger base and larger fins (exclusive to KA, the base covers the ring of perforations at bottom of the basket).  They operate at the middle (slow) motor speed for high agitation and the lowest speed for slow agitation.

Frontloaders are definitely less aggressive, even with longer wash cycles.

 

[potatochips]

You should be able to find a good two or even three speed used Kenmore. Some of the higher end Kenmores (I think the 80 series and above, here in Canada at least) have a slow speed agitation (or normal speed if its a 3 speed machine) and high speed spin as the "Normal" selection. This is what I would try to find if I wanted a DD machine, either that or find a Maytag machine from the Dependable Care line.

 

[jeb]

I have one similar to yours and have used it for 15? years without any adverse affects to my clothes. I don't load it heavy and give the clothes plenty of room to move around.

 

[DADoES]

 
DTWWhirlpool,

The only things you can do with your current machine (the model in pic #2?) is underload it so items have more room to circulate loosely ... or run it on the cycles that operate at low agitation speed -- Delicate, and I think Quick Wash.  Reset the timer before it drains to repeat the wash period if you need longer agitation time.  Pausing the cycle for some soak time can also be effective.

Normal cycle runs low agitation speed at the Soft Wash (6 mins) position but the Rinse agitation is high.

 

[combo52]

Heavy Wear On Diapers Being Washed

If this is the case you are simply over washing them in terms of needed agitation to get them clean, your washer is doing a great job.

 

Try the normal cycle with less wash time possibility as little as 6 minutes of agitation may be plenty, Diapers should be washed in Hot water and rinsed in COLD water to keep any remaining bacteria at bay until they are dried in a hot dryer.

 

John L.

 

[dtwwhirlpool]

Ok thanks. As much as I'd like to go looking for a 3 speed Kenmore, or a Kitchen Aid, I think we'll play around with the shorter wash times and see how it performs. The 6 minute quick wash might be enough. There's a load of diapers in there right now and that cycle does use the slower agitation speed. At this point, the KA might have the edge with the larger base agitator to maybe prevent things from getting snagged under the agitator? Not sure if that's even an issue on my current machine. I like a machine that I know I can fix most any issue that comes up.