Electrolux washers

[thomasortega]

hahaha
activists setting fire on wave touch machines in front of electrolux plant. LOL

can you imagine this situation? (of course they won't mind the smoke because it's for a good cause)

Before somebody think i'm extremist, let me put things very clear.

It's very important to protect our environment and as far as I know, ALL THE MANUFACTURERS not only Electrolux try to cause the smallest footprint possible.

BUT...

some things are impossible to be done without causing a footprint. Doing laundry is one of them.

Someday we will have the technology to use much less water AND have amazing results, but now there are only fancy prototypes and millions of dollars being spent. Maybe our grandsons and daughters will be able to do their laundry without water.

unfortunately, in 2009 we reached the limit. Wave touch can perform a good wash and at the same time reduce the footprint.
It uses much less water than top loaders and there's no need to repeat the cycles thousands of times to get the clothes properly rinsed.
But there's even more we can do. now we must remember to use it with responsability. the world would be much better if everybody starts to choose friendly detergents that are more biodegradable than required by law. STPP is good, but it's also bad. i'm sure we all can think twice before using it. It doesn't need to be used on every wash, does it? we don't need to run the machine with a pair of socks inside it, why not wait until we have a full load? hot water is also good. it's excellent! but do we really need to boil all our clothes like noodles every time we wash them? Can't we try to reduce a little bit the temperature? A single load in our homes doing that means nothing, but imagine millions of water boilers and internal heaters in the world reducing 1 degree.

Also, the automaticmania. Ok we don't have the time to change the load and reuse the same wash water, but, can't you try to do that at least once a month? since I started to save the water, i had a HUGE impact on groceries bills. My detergent boxes and bottles last 6x more. I just started it to save the "imported" box of Tide and A&H washing soda John brought me.
A single load we save means a dose of detergent. again, only one means nothing, but imagine millions of people doing the same thing.

The best of all (for us that love to be in front of our loved machines) we can interact much more with them.

Next time you do a load, try to use a bucket and change the load before draining the wash water. If you have more than a machine, it's much easier. just put the drain hose in the drum and let it drain, as I (and many other members) do.

And don't be surprised when the next generation of HE machines come with internal and automatic suds saver containers.

And you? what are your suggestions to help our environment without reducing the washing and rinsing performance?

 

[georgect]

gemini80204 - 2 New Video's 19 pair Jeans

Just to update everyone.

Gemini80204 put up two more videos of 19 pairs of jeans in the WaveTouch.

http://www.youtube.com/user/gemini80204

 

[thomasortega]

Every time I see this machine in action I feel even more proud and amazed.

Electrolux really did an excellent job. In my opinion it's the best HE machine I've ever seen.

 

[georgect]

Agree...Best HE Machine!

Sorry to step on some toes but I think the (American) Electrolux WaveTouch is better then the Americanized Meile's.
Do I dare say, even better than the European Meile's?

I can't imagine the weight of 19 pairs of jeans and water that machine has to bare and then spin them out...incredible.

That has to be an outstanding suspension system...(springs and shocks) to not falter at such a load of laundry that size.

I keep becoming more and more impressed with this machine.

 

[thomasortega]

George

That was the idea when they decided to make this machine..

Be better than the best. And the best is not enough.

Starting by the SS spiders, than we have the very sensitive electronic sensors and the step motor (with much more steps)that can balance the load much faster than the others. The suspension system is also very accurate, but most of the impacts are eliminated before the spin starts.

And the big secret inside this machine is not a secret. It's monster size makes it stable.

Best of all, it wasn't made to last only 5 years.

Electrolux better than that, only the commercial (Ex-wascator) machines with Clarus control.

 

[rayjay]

Hi Thomas. So far these machines have been getting excellent reviews by Consumer Reports, meaning the reviews were by the consumers who bought the machine. I have a whole new kitchen of these new Electrolux appliances, Electric Stove, Side by Side refrigerator, Over the Range Microwave and Dishwasher in Stainless Steel. The dishwasher had a minor change where they put in a new filter assembly basket, and the refrigerator need a part/gasket on the chiller meat drawer because the items were freezing on the left side. Also, the top panel of the microwave was dented, and they had to replace. But...I must say that Electrolux must put the technicians through a good training, because they do know what they are doing. Although...the part for the refrigerator was so new, that the tech had to call E_lux for instructions. When my wife set up one of the service calls, she told them she like the appliances, but complained to them about why we had the 4 service calls. The apologized and told her for her troubles that they were sending her a $150.00 check. Now that was nice. I think Electrolux wants to be on top. As soon as I see the way clear, I am going to get my credit for the LG washer which gives me problems and put it toward the Wave Touch.

I bet this makes you happy to hear such nice things about these appliances.

Ray

 

[suburbanmd]

georgect

I have an "Americanized Miele", my only Miele purchase, that's great but not perfect, and I've never owned anything Electrolux. So I have no reason to be a rabid Miele partisan, or anti-Electrolux.

I'm pretty sure that the Electrolux would not wash for me as well as my Miele, because of wash temperature and cycle length:

Wash temperature: My house has a very long hot water lag, so an HE machine is going to fill with mostly tepid water, more or less basement temperature. As described in posts above, the Electrolux will heat the water, but not extend the cycle until the target temperature is reached. Given the wash cycle lengths and my incoming water temperature, I don't see how I'd ever get a decent warm or hot wash.

Cycle length: In my experience with the Miele, an extended wash (approx. 1 hour wash time, plus any timer hold while water heats) cleans better than a non-extended wash (approx 30 min. wash time plus timer hold). The Electrolux maxes out at less than 30 minutes wash time, so I'd be missing the choice of a long wash that gives the detergent and oxygen bleach more time to work.

Also, I like hot washes, and the Miele has more choices for hot -- 122degF, 140degF, 158degF, all boosted with timer hold as necessary.

 

[thomasortega]

"As described in posts above, the Electrolux will heat the water, but not extend the cycle until the target temperature is reached."

Electrolux DOES extend the time until the temperature is reached.

But you can also bleed the pipes. Don't you have a hot tap next to or near the machine?

 

[rayjay]

suburbanmd

Hi, Rayjay here. I too was looking at the Miele 4840. I was just a little worried about the amouth of water it uses, so I am leaning more toward the Electrolux now, but still....not counting out the Miele yet.

Do you really like the way the MIele washes and rinses? Do you have the 4840 Model?

Thanks so much

Ray

 

[suburbanmd]

Thomas, re the heater, I meant for cycles other than sanitary, and was referring to these posts:

Post# 360591-6/30/2009-08:57 ||| thomasortega (Brazil)
Post# 360611-6/30/2009-10:45 ||| georgect (Connecticut)

As for bleeding the hot water pipes, there's a nearby powder room that would bleed part of the path to the washer. But it's a flow-limited faucet, and takes a long time to run hot, like minutes. (When we redo that room, we're putting in a warm-water version of an Instant-Hot, basically a point-of-use heater and faucet in one). Could also run the bathtub upstairs. Far from ideal, and fortunately I (and my wife and kids) don't have to do it. And it's nice to know that the Miele will guarantee the temperature no matter what you do or don't do.

Rayjay, I have a W4840. Very happy with how it washes, and the rinsing seems fine, no stiffness or apparent residue. For the first few months I never did an extra rinse. Then my wife started doing them (just because she believes in them), and now I do an extra rinse when I add something extra besides detergent, like oxygen bleach. Actually I do have one rinse complaint: The comforters cycle doesn't spin after the wash cycle, just goes right into rinse fill, which I don't understand. Now I do an extra rinse on comforters, though the result seemed fine without it.

There are setup menu options for extra rinse and water plus. I've never used those. Did you ever see the 2007-ish threads by crooks101 on THS about his Miele complaints? One thing I seem to remember, is that the water plus setting doesn't affect the Custom cycle. That's unfortunate, because the Normal cycle doesn't use the heater, and you'd use Custom instead. This might matter to you; it doesn't matter to me, because I haven't felt the need for extra water. If I read enough discussions here, I might start to think I should need more water But like I said, my results are great. My point of comparison is the DD Kenmore we had for 9 years before; really no comparison at all, the Miele is so much better.

 

[supremewhirlpol]

HHEEEYYY!! That's the same model Kenmore I have.

 

[logixx]

The Miele has a hidden option of raising the rinse water level to "Maximum Water Level". There's also an "Allergy" mode, which gives you more rinses.

That Electrolux washer looks very cool! However, I wonder why the wash times are so quick. Considering the amount of laundry this thing can cope with, I'd expected the main wash to be a little longer. Also would have loved to see the famous Jet System (recirculation the wash/rinse water via the top nozzle in the door boot) being incorporated in these washers like most of the Euro E'luxes have. Only LG seems to have that.

Would love to hear more of the dryer, too!

 

[electron800]

I wonder why the wash times are so quick.

I wonder this on US machines too, 20mins of wash tumbling is not a Heavy Duty cycle, thats a quick wash lol.

I don't care what people say ,a load of filthy dirty whites will not be clean after 20minutes of washing in any machine of any kind.

It makes me feel quite lucky that we have the A-G wash grading, it's really made sure machines have good long washes and clean brilliantly, espeically without the need for tons of additives, especially chlorine bleach, lol.

Not trying to dig at american washing habits here, but you can't complain that you're washer dosen't clean very well, but also that it takes too long to wash.

Matt

 

[launderess]

Wash Times

One has to understand, at least from an Amercian point of view, front load washing machines with long cycle times are seen as a disadvantage. This is one of the reasons they pretty much died off on this side of the pond in the first place.

Americans by and large tend to do laundry the way it has been done for ages. Large amounts of wash done once a week (or even longer), and that requires a machine with a decent capacity and cycles fast enough for Madame (or anyone else landed with the job), to get the thing over with quickly. The idea of doing wash every day,no matter how small the load, as per some European households is something that for the most part would drive Amercian housewives up the wall.

As for wash results and cycle times, commercial and laundromat front loaders get very good results indeed with wash cycles under 15 minutes. However for the most part such front loaders use much more water per cycle,and are designed to process laundry quickly to enhance turnover (not laundry, but allowing a machine to do more loads per day).

As one has repeatly stated, proper laundry practice is the sum of four main variables: time, temperature, chemicals, and mechanical action. If the last three, more importantly the final two are properly adjusted, one does not need hours of wash time to get the job done.

If one is laundering a grossly filthy laundry, a pre-wash or soak followed by a main wash cycle is vastly better than one long main wash cycle. Hence the reason most if not all laundromat and commercial washing machines have either a set pre-wash or it can be added by user/owner. Far better to have a change of water and detergent to carry off the loose and some of the heavy soil, then attack what remains in another cycle, then to have the lot stewing in one main wash cycle. Indeed results from this system (which is how laundry was done for ages anyway, even by hand)are better because there is less redeposition of muck onto textiles because the two short cycles allows muck to be kept away from laundry and goes down the drain. With non-phosphate detergents becoming the norm, this even more important.

Finally with domestic front loaders using less and less water for wash cycles, long wash times with so little water increases wear upon textiles. This is because textiles are now rubbing against themselves and the wash drum more harshly due to a lack of "extra" water to cushion the reaction. Of course drum movement (mechanical action), can be adjusted to compensate for this, but then you are back to those four variables again. Hence the long wash times because you have reduced mechanical action.

L.

 

[georgect]

Launderess...Hit the Nail on the Head!

Every word Launderess said (typed) is SO TRUE!

Another reason I love the Electrolux is, wash times are not outrageously long. In America, a top loader can finish a load of laundry within 30 to 45 minutes (no extra spin or rinse depending on the brand).
We also don't do laundry every day. We have one wash day a week...for the most part, (sometimes every other week).
We want a big machine that can do all of it in one shot fast and we want it CLEAN.
(Of course I separate my whites from my colors so I have two loads a week and that still adds up to a lot of laundry).

European wash times just wont cut it here...hence Americanized BIG capacity machines with shorter wash times.

I think Electrolux studied their American consumer very well.

 

[favorit]

The Affinity now is about to be sold in Europe

Here the REX-Electrolux italian version

http://www.euroelettrica.it/cgi-bin/public/dettaglio_trovaprezzi.cgi?id_prodotto=.5410424202

 

[georgect]

Larry...status of WaveTouch?

Larry, we haven't heard what's going on with Sears and the re-delivery of a new WaveTouch.
Will you be receiving one this week (July 12-18)?
Looking forward to your posts, here and on Youtube.

 

[cleanteamofny]

Things are quiet on this end, plumber and electrical work being done in the garage and laundry area.
The wave touch still fills like the IQ washer when loaded.
Very little differences in the wash cycle, but the rinse cycle uses more water.

 

[cleanteamofny]

Plumber finished his job, but the plaster is taking freaking too long for a small job. WTF!

 

[brastemp]

Affinity on Cold Europe??
Ok, I have a Affinity and this washer have little washer time ans inneficient heating element.

On Whirlpool Duet they change washer time and add a 95ºC program.