Fast spin speeds rips, tears, and knots clothes?

[hreodbeorht]

"(CBS 5) What if your brand-new washing machine ruined your laundry instead of cleaning it?

Kathy and Tim Dorr bought a new, top-loading Whirlpool washing machine - a machine with an unusually fast spin cycle.

“It's fast, and it twists the clothes into knots and ropes,” said Kathy Dorr. Laundry sometimes comes out of the machine looking deeply wrinkled, twisted, and even torn apart.

Dorr said, “we have holes in things we didn't have holes - holes in…it damages the clothing, it damaged new towels - tore the binding off of them.”

After numerous repair attempts, the washer still didn't work properly.

We talked to Whirlpool, who agreed to buy back the Dorr's washer.

Newer washing machines have faster spin cycles to help wring out more water, which may have caused the problem. To avoid a similar problem, look for machines with a slower spin cycle - indicated by lower revolutions per minute, or RPM's. Also, front loading machines are sometimes gentler on clothes than top loaders."

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[jasonl]

They're probably talking about the Cabrio. I have the Kenmore Oasis (same machine) and I've never had any problems with clothes ripping. I shake most of the wrinkle out of them before i put them in the dryer. Fast speeds take alot of time off of drying and the Europeans have been using high speed spinning washers for years.

Maybe they're overloading it?

 

[lavamat_jon]

Never had any rips at all and I often use the 1600rpm spin... if anything gets ripped in a washin gmachine it's usually caused by a nick in the drum, or not doing zippers up.

Jon

 

[frigilux]

My frontloder (a Frigidaire) spins at around 1000 rpm and I have never had so much as a button come off a shirt. Tangling is only an issue if I wash more than 2 chef's aprons in a load of whites, and even then it's not like the whole load comes out in one long rope or anything...

 

[maytagbear]

Could be any number of things,

and too much detergent, or thermal damage or even chlorine damage spring to my mind.

I'm not saying that the scenario couldn't happen, I just think it's unlikely.

Lawrence/Maytagbear

 

[peterh770]

Unfortunately, the video shows the standard, everyday DD WP washer. My guess is that they are talking about a Cabrio and by the time the camera crew got to the house, they show the replacement DD washer, thereby giving the DD machine a bad name rather than the Cabrio.

If they had the DD machine to begin with, then the salesman should be shot for telling these people that this washer has a faster-than-most spin.

 

[nmaineman36]

Well isnt that funny that they think that it was the spin cycle..sure the hell isnt that. Its the agitation as many here know...way too fast. My Whirlpool washer has begun ripping holes in shirts and towels. And I dont overload so thats not the issue. I ended up moving the Whirlpool out and putting the Maytag A613 back in place to use. 2 good shirts ruined and a few towels makes me kinda not want to use it. Not to mention that my clothes are wearing out faster since I got the Whirlpool. I kept the dryer in place since its pretty fast but one thing I did notice is that the Maytag is much faster cycle wise. I can get 2 loads done with that washer compared to the one in the Whirlpool.
Plus the clothes dont look so tired now since I have been using the Maytag.
The other thing is that the agitator is still smooth and soft feeling like the day I got it. I do close up the zippers and buttons on jeans so that helps.

 

[DADoES]

I'm always surprised at how people are so not-understanding of how a washer works as to think spinning could shred clothes in the way they describe. As we all know, spinning simply compresses the clothes against the basket by way of centrifugal force. Cabrio and Oasis machines have a neutral drain, so there's no spinning until the water is completely out and the clothes have settled to the bottom of the basket. Opportunity for twisting, roping and knotting directly related to spin is non-existant.

 

[DADoES]

And then the reporter recommends front loaders as being more gentle, but fails to mention THEY have HIGHER spin speeds than toploaders.

The media is seriously confused and spreading misinformation.

 

[tomturbomatic]

I emailed the news director and brought his attention to the mishmash of terminology and general product ignorance in the report.

 

[pulsatron]

Fast spinning damaging clothes??

I find that a bit hard to believe ,as my Twintub spins a lot faster than any other washer I have ever owned and I don't have any problem whatsoever.
I do concur with nmaineman 36 about Whirlpool's agitation method we owned one for about 3 years and also noticed rips in towels shirts and so forth and to tell you the truth,I couldn't wait to get rid of it, then we went to the Bosch F.L. and I won't detail that saga again and so have settled for the T.T.,and although I do admit it is not as gentle as the F.L., it is no where near as rough as the T.L.
I learnt through trial and error, that 6-8 minutes washing is plenty to clean the clothes and I only spin for about 3-4 minutes, or 2 minutes for delicates.
Cheers.
Steve.

 

[appnut]

Mike, sorry to hear about Mr. Whirly doin' those dasterdly things to your towels & shirts. I figured you may have learned your lesson form the DD Kenmore y'all had when you were still living at home many many years ago--the one that dind't last too long cuz of the motor. Glad ya put the maytag back in service. See folks? I"m not crazy when I called my DD LK the Shredmore. Me, happy washin' with my Fridgemore!!!

 

[nmaineman36]

Wow good memory Bob. The first Kenmore didnt wear holes in clothes. It had the Dual Action Agitator. I put the Dual Action back into the Whirlpool and took the Surgilator out since that was the agitator that was doing a number on my towels. Now the DAA is ripping shirts and pulling buttons off.
The slower 63 stroke wash action of the Maytag moves more water and doesnt kill my clothes like the Whirlpool does...and yeah I am disappointed since the Whirlpool is bigger than the Maytag but I can live with it.Plus the Maytag is much quieter than the Whirlpool and it gets the job done fast.

 

[nmaineman36]

Frigidaire washer

Bob the other thing is that make sure you use an HE detergent in your front loader. The bearings in the back of the drum somehow get loud if you use regular detergent since the suds get into the bearings. Thats how my Front loader failed. Sears told me that they knew about the problem and it was a defect yet they wouldnt warranty it. Maddening I say. The reason I got was that since my mom used a high sudsing detergent we were at fault...how that is I dunno but I do know I wont buy another washer from Sears. Makes alot of sense eh.

 

[vintagesearch]

whirlpool washer rips and tears?

is that true i was always told tangling and ripping comes from the agitator,mixing things like sheets,towels,jeans which i was taught should ALWAYS be seperated and wash things on the right cycle some regular/normal or delicate/gentle and so on. maybe there right maybe the washer is crap. well were whirlpool belivers lololol my mom swears there the washing machine gods lol! why is everything made nowadays just crap all together?

 

[appnut]

Mike I use Sears HE detergent (the one with enzymse). The only exception is I will put a tablespoon at most of Biz when I need just a bit of extra enzymes for a load. It's not very often. I knew about the excess suds and the bearings issue from the laundry forum. But I'm glad you reminded me. Luigi in the Netherlands is always amazed at how well I remember cycle sequencs of appliances from 40 years ago.

 

[frigilux]

I run a pretty high suds level in my frontloading Frigidaire all the time and have never had a bearing issue. Appnut, I'm glad you like yours. Except for not having the cavernous capacity of a Duet or Cabrio, they are a great little machine. No time wasted with load-balancing protocols, an old-school control dial to make cycle-customizing easy, enough water used to get some good splashy wash action---I love it!

 

[foraloysius]

Luigi in the Netherlands is always amazed at how well I reme

Indeed I am Bob! LOL

 

[mattywashboy]

the 850 spin in my front loading whirlpool doesn't cause much creasing or wear. I give them a good shake and hang them on the line carefully and i don't need to iron them. I haven't ironed one thign since getting this whirlpool, even my white business shirts came out crease free.