For the small oddball loads

[qualin]

Hello everyone.

I was curious...

On occasion, my wife and I like to wash those "oddball" clothes that you can't wash with anything else due to strange or oddball washing requirements. (ie. Delicates with cold water wash) Or, there is one shirt with a stain on it that must be washed NOW or else it could set. Or maybe I just want to do some dyeing.

My wife usually likes to handwash these items in the sink using Tide Sink Packets, but in all honesty, it really bothers me.. only because I know a machine could do it.

So, what would be the "Speed Queen" of small compact washers? The Haier 1.0 cu.ft top load washer was recommended to me a long time ago, but that might even be a little bit of overkill for what I need to do.

Those vintage pot-style top-agitator washers look a little dangerous and awkward to carry around.

Opinions? Ideas?

 

[launderess]

Just ask the lady who owns one.

Hoover Twin Tub or small vintage compact/portable top loader.

 

[combo52]

Use The SQ Built Front Load Washer

Your new washer is very efficient with water, far more so than a Hoover TT or a vintage portable TL washer. It is very easy to manipulate the controls on the SQ to get it to do anything you need it to do all without ever getting your hands wet or harming any clothing.

 

[rapunzel]

That's the great thing about top loaders. Just throw in that single item that needs washing, select the (smallest) fill and it's done. If I were to hand wash and rinse the item in a bucket, I'd probably use about the same amount of water anyway. Though, sometimes, something does get washed by hand, but I can always just do a spray rinse and/or final spin in the washer.

 

[golittlesport]

Pardon Our Interruption...

I came across a mini washer at a garage sale for $10! I don't think it had ever been used. I would never pay the full price -- they go for about $80 plus shipping on Ebay. (See link)

But for the $10 I paid, it has been great for soaking and stain treating items. The mini washer fits on the floor in front of our big washer on a pedistal, and I can still open the big washer's door to throw the items in to spin them. (The mini washer does not spin.) It's like a pail with a pulsator agitator. It's been handy, especially when soaking, as it keeps the big washer or the sink from being tied up for hours.

Pardon Our Interruption...

 

[thomasortega]

Other possibility is the Eco Egg machine...

Here it's sold under Brastemp Brand.

It's OK, not a wonderful machine, but does a decent job and it's automatic (but it doesn't spin).

 

[pulsator]

Hmmm....

I thought that's what the Mini-Basket on the GE Filter-Flos was for! 

 

[launderess]

For Most Front Loaders Unless Using Delicates or Wool

Cycles one small item such as a blouse or shirt does not wash well. The thing will roll/slide from paddle to paddle for much of the cycles. Then there is the problem of the machine trying to balance for spins. Not saying it cannot be done, just IMHO it isn't worth the bother.

 

[MrX]

I'd just chuck it into a front loader on an express / fast wash cycle with a good quality liquid detergent added straight to the drum.

Our machine does a quick wash cycle in about 15 - 17 minutes at 30°C

It's ideal for small things.

Balancing can be an issue if it's something like a very absorbant material, but for most things it seems to work fine.

The worst case scenario - just throw in a clean towel with the item and put it on a seperate spin and it works just fine!

 

[MrX]

Also, for delicates / wool wash, I absolutely love the wash action on our Hotpoint Aqualtis.

The machine fills with a small quantity of water, then rotates to a speed where the clothes are stuck to the side of the drum, like a very low speed spin.
This prevents them from tumbling, yet forces a lot of water through them.

The machine can keep the clothes gently stuck to the side of the drum for the whole wash. It's quite impressive!

As wool-washes go it is a really effective, fast cycle.

Found this video on youtube (possibly from someone on here) that illustrates it quite nicely!

 

[whirlykenmore78]

I'll second John

Use the SQ its low water levels will allow the item to tumble well even by itself.

Nick    WK78

 

[qualin]

Ok, thanks for the advice everyone.

 

[revvinkevin]

My wife usually likes to handwash these... but in all honest

 

 

Why is that?   You don't like your wife doing "manual labor", don't like her getting her hands wet or don't think she does a good enough job washing what ever it is?

 

[yogitunes]

GO VINTAGE!!!!!

with the GE FF and the Mini-Basket....plus its own Mini-Quick 15 minute cycle....your done in a jiffy

 

[qualin]

Yogitunes, I like that idea a lot.

I've always loved Filter Flo machines. I also love how they have that very aggressive agitator action you don't see in modern machines. (At least, it's great for heavy fabrics.)

To RevvinKevin...

I think that if I can get an automatic machine, she shouldn't have to do it manually. I'd rather have an automatic machine do it better and easier than having to do it by hand.