'Double Knits' definition

[DADoES]

 
IIRC, WP and KM advised to always use max fill level on W-n-W / PP ... at least in the early days.

Knit cycle was on the LAA and LDA series, don't recall LFA.  The Imperial Mark 18 LAA and LDA models could (presumably, if low wasn't hard-wired into the timer) do a high spin on Knit via the separate speed buttons.

 

[toploadloyalist]

Did Whirlpool ever have the simulateous fill & agitate like Kenmore?

 

[combo52]

Reply # 21

Yes, WPs WnW- PP cycle worked the same way as it did on Kenmore models.

 

John 

 

[DADoES]

 
John,

Agitation during refill for the remainder of the drain increment was a thing specifically related to combination of a W-n-W/PP cycle? ... vs. W-n-W/non-PP that repeatedly drained and refilled with no agitation ... vs. PP that drained, refilled, then agitated?  Is that the logic behind the difference?

 

[appnut]

Our 1970 Kenmore 800 agitated during fill of the drain increment on the PP cycle. Neighbors next door had a 1966/1967 next to TOL WP pair that had cycle designated as PP/W'n'W cycle. It shifted to gentle about 4 or 6 minute segment of wash. It didn't agitate during fill on the drain increment. Only after finished filling during each of the 2 cooldown segments. Rinse agitation was also gentle.

 

[toploadloyalist]

When did WP switch to the drain-pause-fill-agitate sequence? KM did so in 1976, on high speed.

 

[frigilux]

Two things don’t make sense to me regarding Kenmore’s cool down protocol:

1959-1960 models (had a ‘59 LK and grew up with a ‘60 Model 80) did several partial drains and refills with no agitation whatsoever. I used the Wash ‘n’ Wear Sturdy cycle for fun a couple of times, which provided medium temp wash water (warmer than warm, but not outright hot). After all those refills—don’t recall how many anymore, but I’d guess it was 4 or 5—the water at the front of the tub was still not cold. The water in the rear half of the tub, where the fresh water rained in, was, of course, cold.

Fast forward a number of years and it started agitating as soon as the refill began. So you’ve gone to all the trouble of treating your W ‘n’ W items carefully, only to have them jerked around by (albeit slow) agitation with only half a tub of water.

Why didn’t they let the machine agitate for a bit once each refill was complete? There would be no warm spots and it would be gentler to fabrics.

 

[toploadloyalist]

Early Kenmore 'Alphabet' washers' hot delicate w

When Kenmore first started their 'alphabet' cycles c.1960, the wash temprature for the 'Delicate Fabrics' selection was hot, while 'Washable Woolens' had warm wash. Any idea why they originally had that temperature for the former, and when and how did they determine otherwise? More recent washers, particularly coin-op ones, have almost exclusively cold wash for such cycles.

 

[launderess]

IIRC by late 1960's to early 1970's Lady Kenmore "Letter" top loaders had "warm/cold" as their "Delicates" cycle. Though some models may also have had a cold option for wash and or rinse to over ride programmed setting.

If we're talking about "delicates" made from nylon or other synthetics, then hot water isn't going to harm them, in fact might do a world of good depending upon what sort of wash day product was being used.

https://www.automaticwasher.org/cgi-bin/TD/TD-VIEWTHREAD.cgi?47320

https://www.automaticwasher.org/cgi-bin/TD/TD-VIEWTHREAD.cgi?1142

 

[launderess]

Furthermore while there were other options such as Deft, Woolite and other light duty detergents for "nice things"; many women still preferred to use soap like Ivory Snow or Lux Flakes for their fine washables.

If you're going to use soap, then you want hot, or very warm water for washing.









In fact if using "Delicate" cycle for all sorts of wash made from cotton, linen, or man made fibers Ivory Snow, Lux and other soaps still tried hard well into early 1960's to hang onto that market.



But by 1970's it was pretty much becoming a lost cause. Light duty detergents such as Woolite began stepping up their game. Then there is fact that those detergents didn't have associated issues that come from using soap on wash day.