EuroDets

[spiraclean]

Hi Greg,
I totally agree with you regarding the dosing of detergents I feel the washing solution in my Top Loader and when it feels silky smooth there is more than enough detergent to clean the load effectively. British washers tend to need a lot of detergent and long cycle times to get clothes clean this is because of their tiny drums which provide poor wash results. When Dyson engineers were developing the Contra Rotator they shockingly discovered that 15 minutes of hand washing cleaned much better than 15 minutes of washing in “A” grade single drum front load washers. This discovery fuelled the invention of the Dyson Contra Rotator, its contra rotating drums solved the problem of poor wash results and long cycle times, and independent tests have proved that the Dyson outperforms all Front Load washers giving the cleanest wash in the shortest time.
It’s a shame they are no longer being made due to high prices and poor sales.

All the best.
Hugh

 

[lavamat_jon]

Greg;

We have very very hard water here - so much so that washers here can built a thick coat of limescale on the door seals within a week of regular use. I'd love to use less detergent, but using less detergent gives dingy whites etc cos of all the minerals in the water. Have suggested a water softener to my parents but they don't seem too keen on the idea :-/.

Hugh,

I'm sorry but I think I have to disagree with you there. I don't believe the drums on our washers are as tiny as they're made out to be (I can get 10 full size bath towels in my Miele, and considerably more than that in the AEG); and certainly don't think that they give poor wash results. I accept that the Dyson's contrarotating may get clothes cleaner in 68 minutes or whatever that is, but from what you've told me the Dyson only does 2 rinses, no? Not only that but doesn't it only contrarotate for a small portion of the cycle? My Miele can do a 60*C wash and 3 rinses in 1:16h, and gets loads perfectly clean - even heavily soiled whites. In fact it's very very rare that I use a long wash on any machine (only times I do is if I am bored LOL)- I always use the cycles averaging 60-75 mins for 60*C (depending which machine I'm using) and get impeccable results every time. As far as detergent, I only have to use more detergent because of the hard water around here - my auntie down south always uses the quicker washes and only needs to use something like 50ml of detergent with excellent results. So the theory that traditional frontloaders need more detergent is more or less null IMHO.

If you ask me, the only real advantage Dyson had over other machines was the large capacity. Don't get me wrong; I do think the Dyson is a brilliant machine. I just don't believe it's lightyears ahead as Dyson's marketing (and oh they're so very good at that :-D) makes it out to be...

Take care,

Jon

 

[spiraclean]

Wash Capacity

Come come now Jon you just hate Dyson full stop you regularly run down my Dyson despite the fact you don't own one yourself. As for your German washers can you fit a 13.5 Togs King Size Duvet in any of them? I can easily fit a King Size Duvet (Comforter for our US cousins) in my Dyson yet it's the same standard cabinet size as your washers. You also mention my Dyson having only 2 rinses as standard that is correct and the final rinse water is always perfectly clear, I also have the option to select up to 7 rinses for people with sensitive skin but this is simply not required.

All the best.
Hugh

 

[foraloysius]

I was interested in the Dyson until I saw the pricetag of 1799 Euros. No wonder they took it from the market. There was only one store here in my town that had them on display, but they just couldn't sell them for that money.

 

[spiraclean]

Hi Louis,
I have found in my life you get what you pay for and that is the case with the Dyson Washer it is a technically superior design. I have never regretted buying it and if I needed a new washer I would buy one tomorrow without hesitation. I am also extremely proud of the fact that Dyson a British company designed and built such a truly unique machine.

All the best.
Hugh

 

[petek]

Pic plz

Hugh can you post a pic of the Dyson machine for those of us who have never seen one. Dyson has never entered the Canadian market for some reason or another. I've never seen one of their vacs other than pics, still I know I wouldn't want one because bagless aint me and I'm sticking to retro from now on.

 

[spiraclean]

Dyson Pictures

Hi PeteK,
If you check the Deluxe Discussion Forum thread number 2444 (The Worlds only Two Drum Washing Machine) you will find pictures of my Dyson there and also QuickTime videos of it contra rotating.

All the best.
Hugh

 

[peterh770]

Jon and Hugh,

Is there a non-bio, non-bleach detergent over there that is online with Ariel and Persil? Would Fairy or Dreft fit the bill?

-ph

 

[kirk280980]

Peter,

Fairy does not contain enzymes, so would be classed as a non-biological product. Powder and tabs both contain bleach, the liquid doesn't. However, it does still have optical brighteners.

Dreft has enzymes (biological), but no bleach or optical brighteners. At least that was the case a year or so ago when I last used it, and of course, it's always possible that things may have changed since then.

If you're looking for a detergent with no enzymes, bleach or optical brighteners, as far as I'm aware that only leaves the "green" brands. Of those, only Ecover is widely available on supermarket shelves here, the others are usually only available through health food shops or mail order.

Hope that helps,

Kirk

 

[peterh770]

Thanks Kirk!

Ecover... Yuk!!!

I'm hoping that my friends currently visiting the UK have room in their baggage for my requests (Persil Bio, Colour & Aloe Vera tabs). Jon has me rethinking Ariel. I tend to be pro-Lever and anti-P&G.

 

[westtexman]

Lever vs. P&G

Out of curiosity, why are you pro-Lever and anti-P&G?

Tex

 

[spiraclean]

Non-Bio non bleach detergent

Hi Peter,
The only ones that I can think of that meet you requirements would be Fairy Non-Bio Liquid, Ariel Non-Bio Liquid, Ariel Non-Bio Liquitabs, Persil Non-Bio Liquigel or Persil Non-Bio Liquigel Capsules. These products are enzyme and bleach free but they do contain optical brighteners. I have always found Ariel to be the best detergent available in the UK. Over the many years I have been doing laundry I have never found a detergent to beat Ariel for stain removal and whiteness.
I hope this helps.

All the best.
Hugh

 

[peterh770]

Hey Tex,

Honestly, I don't know why I prefer Lever to P&G. Part of it is that P&G is such a behemoth. Part of it goes back to animal testing -- that old chestnut. Part of it has to do with growing up in a P&G exclusive household (our dishwasher reeked of Cascade, the kitchen clean-up sponge reeked of old molding lemon Joy, Era in the washer, Bounce in the dryer, Crest in my mouth, YUK!!!!). I think there are better products out there, or at least just as good ones, and usually at a less expensive price. They are the ones I go for. Lever fits that bill more often than not.

 

[angus]

Well, Peter, that is why I am more of a Colgate man myself...
And speaking of Colgate, today I called the NY headquarters which is directly across Park Avenue from my office. I remembered that there was an employee store in the building and thought that they might allow other office buildings to shop there (like Estee Lauder did when I worikd across town). Alas, no dice. Ajax, Fab powder and Fresh Start not 150 feet away and if I want to buy them, I have to order them at a ridiculous price and pay shipping from Tampa that exceeds the value of the product....