Heavy soil

[stan]

The Homemade laundry Soap...

I think Portland has soft water?? (you could check)
I think the problem with these (online recipes) is the dilution they all seem to call for!
The diluted hot water water versions are way too watered down to accomplish anything, and the dry version calls for only 1 to 3 Tbls, again not enough for a wash tub full of of water! The proportions don't make any sense at all!

So if your moved to ever try it, at least put enough in! Like a half cup of the dry version. Dissolve the half cup in some hot water, and add while the machine is filling, clothes last ( top loader) it "might" be O.K with your soft water?
Wont break the bank to try!

 

[zipdang]

From Portland CL

Filter-Flo $149: http://portland.craigslist.org/mlt/app/2928926613.html
Kenmore BD $85: http://portland.craigslist.org/wsc/app/2927824714.html

The GE is particularly fetching.

 

[neptunebob]

Just to see what might be more available, would an Atlantis Maytag also work well?  Or a direct drive Whirlpool/Kenmore?  I was thinking even a Neptune can be a good choice, I never had trouble with dirty clothes when we had one but there may not be many out there by now.

 

[zipdang]

Portland water

And yes, Portland has very soft water. Our usual source (where I live it's from Bull Run) is 1/2-1 grains hardness. Even when the city switches over to the Columbia Southshore well field the hardness only increases to about 3-4 grains hardness, and that's usually only for a couple weeks per year at most.

 

[badgerdx]

WOW! Great responses, you all. Thanks!

The machine I'm currently running, is a Crosley Heavy Duty 20 , which I believe was manufactured by Maytag in '99. (I hope I have that right). It would make sense, as you have to underload it a bit to make it clean properly...although I do say that for a tapered straight vane agitator, it does have pretty decent water movement and turnover. What it DOESN'T have is any Prewash, warm rinse, extra rinse, or MOST IMPORTANTLY, lint filter feature. I shake out all my clothes... (I live in the country, so seeing me in my skivvies on my back step shaking out my jeans is a common feature if rare sight by any neighbors) but I tell you what... lint is a big problem.

The Crosley works fine, but I think I WILL start keeping my eye out for a Norge or GE FilterFlow. The latter, most likely, and stick the Crosely in the closet for the next renter to use when or if I ever leave this place.

 

[badgerdx]

Zipdang...That's hilarious: The Kenmore you linked to is the EXACT matching unit to the dryer I have. One of my clients also has it, as does my duplex neighbor... Funny thing: Both are VERY PRONE to going out of balance in the spin cycle. Has anyone else noticed this, if they have this model?

 

[mikeklondon]

Top Loader ratings

Hi all,can anyone tell me why top loaders always get poor ratings in the UK tests. I would love a T. L but with a G rating for wash and rinse and about the same for spin its not going to cope with my daily wash loads.
Is it they we do not have the right detergents any more? The last one I looked at said use 5/6 caps of liquid persil, that 5 times what I would use in a FL machine. I know they do not heat the water but that not a problem.
My current Daily driver is a Miele washing is perfect, but it is so boring and will need replacing in the next few years.

 

[zipdang]

To Badgerdx

Who doesn't love the woo-woo of a Whirlpool/Kenmore BD? Lol It's possible that the one listed has a manual filter, in which case is a prettier-than-smarter waterfall affair. My convertible Lady K has this type of filter and it catches some lint but falls short of being a washday miracle. For catching lint I always thought a Filter-Flo worked best...until today. My friend has a collection of six vintage machines (1960s-1970s) and this afternoon we ran loads of dog and cat blankets at the same time in a Filter-Flo and in a 1970 Maytag 806 (which has a very pretty chrome-topped aqua blue filter and FS cup). The Maytag very handily spanked the GE at lint/hair removal, much to my surprise. And this particular Maytag features pre-wash and soak cycles. That's pretty posh, except it's a Maytag so no option of an auto 2nd rinse. They don't want you having too much fun.

 

[zipdang]

To mikeklondon

RE: Top Loader ratings

I've thought about this a little and have a theory. In the UK/Europe most detergents are intended for front loaders, even though there are brands specifically intended for top loaders and twin tubs (i.e. UK Persil Handwash). And from what I've learned reading about detergents on this site over the years is that typically European detergents are also designed for washing durations that are much longer (20+ minutes) than a traditional top loader wash phase duration of about 10-12 minutes. American detergents meant for top load use have to work quickly and I can see why results might not be stellar using a 10-minute wash time in a top loader with European detergent formulations that need 15+ minutes to really shine. It's just a thought anyway.

 

[aldspinboy]

I have to say you guy's are right on Smacking Surgilation ! in any form.

John your right on the GE combos..
Paul have one in Cannada and when it washes you here
multible drains and fillings as it purges dirt and and refills correct..
That was a first for me.
Best of luck to you Bob on your journy for the machine you chose or find you.

Here is my 1962 RCA Whirlpool I cant stop using this washer lol
Who would think a one cycle washer would bring such joy.
Thanks Martin again.
and it's not that THING you call it lol.
That thing gives very good washing results all the time for me.
Spinning in belt drives or DD,,,forget it..I would invest in a spinner.
If using top loaders.. I am hooked on high spin speeds for heavy textils period.
<iframe width=420 height=315 src= frameborder=0 allowfullscreen></iframe>

Darren k

[this post was last edited: 3/30/2012-05:13]

 

[mikeklondon]

Hi
I think your right, I would still love to find a vintage machine. Is there anyone in the UK that sell re-cons I have a Juke Box made in 1960s that was re-cond and works perfectly I wish I could find a washer & dryer with the same standard of work and changed to 240 Volts. Or would anyone like to start a business ? I think someone re-cons fridge's in the north of UK but have never seen anyone doing Washers.

http://top Loader rating

 

[rapunzel]

Hi all,can anyone tell me why top loaders always get poor ra

What types of top loaders are they testing? Traditional agitator machines like Speed Queen or regular F&P top loaders, HE washers like the Aquasmart, Bravos and Cabrios - which work with front loader detergent and have longer wash cycles; and do they test Asian impeller machines like Samsung, Hitachi, LG etc. as well?

 

[mrb627]

My Vote!

I am voting for the GE Filter-Flo. Great Filtration, unforgiving turnover, and relatively easy to repair if necessary.

Malcolm

 

[mikeklondon]

Top Loader Ratings UK

The only top loaders in the Uk that I can find are Whirlpool and a Maytag both are traditional agitators as far as i can see. I'm not sure if the problem is more than just the powders in the UK we mainly have hard water. a wash in a FL would be

Pre Wash with cold fill heat to 40C drain about 15 minutes
Main Wash cold fill heat 40, 50, 60, 75 or 95 C 1H 15 M up to 2h 25 m + soak time if selected
The 3,4 or 5 cold rinses and spin.

I'm not sure how well filling a machine with hot water and 10 /12 minutes washing would work in the UK. When we had Twin Tubs and top loaders you would have socked / pre-washed washing in cold warm water 1st then washed in hot, so that ant stains did not set and heavy soil was removed before the wash. Some FL's use a hot fill BUT in reality its only a warm fill due to the small amount of hot water intake.

Having said that I still want a vintage machine even if only just to use for light soiling like towels and dog beds.

 

[paulc]

Mikeklondon.

I think the reason for poor wash ratings for US style T/L in the UK is the EU test they use. Wash ratings are based on a 60 deg cotton wash as you know. As US T/L do not heat I should think that it is unlikely that the water used is at 60deg straight out of the tap, that coupled with the use of EU detergent and not US detergent would probably account for the poor wash rating.

PaulC

 

[mikeklondon]

Tl ratings

PaulC

Would Cosco detergents sold in the UK work ? I've seen here that it rates well in the US. or may be I should just look for a vintage FL machine to use in the UK I loved to old Bendix machines from the 60s. The other problem I recall when I was a kid with Top Loaders is they could be very harsh on fabrics. My aunt called her Thor her shred-a - matic

 

[rapunzel]

Would Cosco detergents sold in the UK work ?

Probably. Another option would be Amway's SA8.

 

[abcomatic]

HI

Have you thought about a wringer machine? Maytag wringers will get the dirt out for sure; so will an Easy spindrier machine. Yes, you may have to fiddle with this type of non-automatic washer a bit more, but clean clothes for sure come out of these machines.
I had a GE automatic once and loved it. If you have soft water though with this machine, you may have to watch the amount of detergent you use as it will foam up a great deal. I had a Kitchen Aid (Whirlpool) and it was a good washer too. An extra rinse feature is always good. I rinse twice even with my Maytags that don't have that button on them. After it washes and spins, i reset the dial for 5 min. of wash; it will then continue on until finished with 2 rinses. Happy washing and tell us what you get. Gary

 

[Cookietaster12]

Norge's Burpilator doesn't so much persuade clothes to become clean as it bitch-slaps the dirt into submission.

Love it lol

 

[mixfinder]

Horse and Ranch Dirt

My father is Frank Beard of Beard Rodeo Company.  We grew up farming, ranching and working in the fields.  In later life after dad became a member of the PRCA and had sponsors like Wrangler, my parents outfitted their crew with matching outfits for pick up men, judges, guys who worked the chutes, the calf roping pens and the undressing pens.  They had matching outfits for the color bearers and the truck drivers.  My mother washed every piece of it in a Maytag washer and starched and ironed it all with a Rowneta iron.  It was a stipulation of the sponsorship fees that all apparel be clean and starched.  Most contractors sent it out to the cleaners but my parents were too tight to spend the money.  I hear talk of Maytags being lightweights requiring underloading and not good at heavy soil yet everything in my 61 years experience has been anything unlike that.  I have four children and ran a successful bakery and catering business when they were growing up.  I had two sets of Maytags to keep up and they ran round the clock without a repair and always giving a dazzling white wash.  Not one garmet ever suffered damage but I attribute that to proper sorting and loading.  I have a 40 year old A608 that performs flawlessly.  My ex wife has a TOL Atlantis set that is now 13 years old which is a Norge with improvements.  I would never disparage Maytags nor would I Whirlpool although Maytag is quieter and tended to run longer without attention.  Enough time, water and detergent will clean anything and if that fails throw in some soaking if you're dealing with grease.  Your Cossley is a Norge for all intents and purposes so you can manually modify the cycles to meet your needs.  I have found in heavily soiled clothes a cool prewash does more for dirt removal than just about anything.  Hot water sets dirt.  I also believe a lint filter performs more in word than deed and the dryer takes care of most lint and hair.  Google Beard Rodeos.  They sold in 2008 but their legacy lives on.