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badgerdx

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Mar 1, 2012
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Ok... here's a question for you all. Thinking of starting the search for a vintage machine, something with a lot of character that will stand up to being a "daily driver"... In your opinion, what machines clean really heavily soiled clothing the best? I work horses, and professionally, I am a stone mason and garden designer... we are talking DIRT!

Also curious if anyone has ever made the "home-made laundry detergent" recipe you see on youtube, with the bar soap, washing soda, and borax.

I look forward to the responses and opinions.
 
The homemade recipe is crap, especially if your water is not very soft and you have heavy soil to wash out of fabrics. For heavy clay-type soil (garden type dirt) Consumer Reports says you need a good powder detergent. Most of us would add that it should be augmented with STPP, Sodium Tri-PolyPhosphate. Oily soils are best cleaned with liquid detergents.
 
Welcome

Regarding the homemade laundry "soap" found on the Interent, yes it has been discussed here before. You can do a search for various posts but the upshot is basically unless you are willing to do quite allot of extra work (pre-soaking, stain pre-treatment, etc..) it is better to go with a TOL detergent like Tide and be done with things.

I do use soap and soap based "recipes" at home for my linens and lightly soiled laundry. But anything with heavy soils or stains gets modern detergents.
 
For your washing machine search...

look for a Norge or Montgomery Wards 20 lb. machine. Nothing, I repeat, nothing I've ever seen can hold a candle to those machines for cleaning. When I was last in Portland, a truly great city IMHO,I noticed lots of used appliance stores with lots of vintage machines around. I believe this one belongs to Mr. Nunn.

bajaespuma++3-29-2012-06-17-26.jpg
 
It was my machine, poor thing didn't even make it to a water test though - was completely shot.   For lots of heavy soil, the Norge brands are good.  Lots of thrashing action and lots of water.
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A large capacity Whirlpool with the Super Surgilator agitator is also a good cleaning washer, I've been pretty impressed with those for grass stains and lots of dirt many times.
 
Although those Norges are good....finding one could be a bit of a task......

one I was never very fond of, and this site has changed my mind, is a General Electric Filter Flo......

Heavy Duty....Great Scrubbing and Cleaning, Excellent filtering, and Superb Rinsing...some may argue about being a water hog....but this is exactly what you need to clean and rinse out sand, grit, and soils effectively.....thats why I noe have 6 of them......Endless cycles and speed, temp, water levels, and options...its endless, you could not ask for more from any one machine

also, these may be a little easier to find, search Craigslist, or maybe we could build one for you......and consider keeping one for spare parts into the future....

yogitunes++3-29-2012-08-42-19.jpg
 
You can't go wrong with a belt drive Whirlpool. Built like tanks, they'll run practically forever, and will wash anything you throw in it with great results. The Super Surgilator agitator is one of the best out there.
 
I'm thinking Filter Flo

Horse, stone masonry, gardening-------I'm thinking Filter Flo. While Norge and Whirlpool do some great washing and rinsing and lint filtering, many Filter Flo's also have a button for extra rinse and/or various soak/pre-wash cycles, they often seem to offer more flexibilty in the many knobs and buttons. But a Norge or Whirlpool/KM belt drive would do you  pretty darn well, and each brand has some basic models versus some highly accesorized models. One of the problems with our vintage machines is you buy what you can find, you can't choose to "find" the models with extra cycles or extrra dispensers, you take what you can get. Don't even consider Maytag. They are built to last, but also built to wash clothes from the indoor office, not the yard or corral.

 

 
 
Don't even consider Maytag...

smiley-laughing.gif


 

You've never owned a Maytag with a Bakelite Gyrator... They do not give he mercy of the PowerFin. So powerful that it will wear the porcelain off the tub. Actually, aside from having to underload the machine, the Tag's do OK at nasty stuff, but not so well at shear debris like sand and little bit of gravel and gardening stuff. The FF machine I have has washed for a sick dog and his outdoor fleece blankets and the like. It's seen straw, dog hair, puke, poo, urine and dirt and fine sediment from the yard. 3 fleece blankets could fill the ex-large filter pan completely up. I couldn't fathom trying that in a Maytag, if nothing else the dark porcelain in the GE's hide the wear and abrasions much better than the gloss white in the Tag would.

 

Yes, while I love my Maytags, I've fed my poor old GE things that no washer should ever have to see.

 

-Tim

 

 
 
NORGE!

No comparison...I still think old Philcos Frigidaires and Kelvinators are tops too, but are too rare for daily drivers, if you cant find the Norge, I would say GE or Whirlpool.
 
With all due respect to the Norge fans, I think the fact that they really thrash things around is exactly why the machines don't hold up.  They work themselves to an early demise.  If you want a machine that won't pee oil, break down, shake the house during spin or require earplugs, go with a GE Filter Flo or Whirlpool/Kenmore.  Maytags are built like tanks, but many here insist that their agitation & turnover leaves something to be desired.  I think if you don't pack your clothes into a Maytag, it will provide decent results and provide lasting trouble free service.
 
Norge

I think I agree with Ralph on the Norge comment. They are GREAT performers, but mechanically they self-destruct. Also at least around here, they are very rare even in MW drag, I've yet to come across a working one locally. BUT... if you did find one, it would certainly do some hardcore dedirtofying for sure.

 

-Tim
 
Norge...

I never understood why they get a bad rap, almost everything about them is heavy duty, the one thing that will break, is the brake...if you open the lid to see how quick the tub will stop, you are asking for trouble, let it stop on its own and you wont have much trouble at all...a Maytag is just about everlasting, but not, to my mind, well suited to work clothes, too gentle and wont handle nearly as heavy a load as most other washers.
 
Norge's Burpilator doesn't so much persuade clothes to become clean as it bitch-slaps the dirt into submission. The classic GE Filter-Flo has the great advantage of a super-easy to clean and very effective lint filter (not the same as the filter on similar Hotpoint models). It's considered by many to be the best filter for pet hair problems.

 

Kenmores and Whirlpools can't be beat for availability of both machines and parts; the better Surgilators are effective to the point of roughness in the opinion of some, but my clothes have been surgilated most of my life and I've never noticed undue wear. Although the DD (direct drive) Kenmore/Whirlpool models may never have quite the "old-school" appeal of the previous belt drive models, the earliest DD machines are now 25 years old and are excellent examples of the best in traditional American top loader machines in that they are both effective and very, very reliable. A late '80s or '90s DD would be my choice for a daily driver unless I just had to have a shot of '60s or '70s chrome and color.
 
I also have to reccomend a GE Filter-Flo,

they do a great job at cleaning and rinsing, and the filter pan will catch all gunk, they are also very sturdy and reliable.

Growing up my grandmother had a 66 Filter-Flo as well as a pair of early 70s coin-ops for her rentals, I felt it always out performed our Kenmore
 
Best washer for really dirty clothing

If in addition to dirt you want to get rid of lint and sand and floating bits if mulch etc, the clear choice would be any WP built TL washer belt drive or direct drive. Norge would be the next best choice but they fall down a little on lint removal and sand removal, and I wouldn't even go to the reliability question. 3rd choice would be a GE FF washer but this machine falls down on sand removal and is not the best on lint removal as the tub does not have enough holes in the bottom or even the sides. And on the GE FF because of the extreme amount of water used you need to have an endless supply of soft hot water or this machine will cost you plenty to operate in detergent costs alone.

 

I would skip all solid tub machines and all MTs. One classic FL machine that does a GREAT job are the GE Combos they use plenty of water and flush huge amounts of sand, soil and lint away. You just need another machine to do a final spin and another machine to dry them in.
 
I'm going to have to go with John

For sure. I've seen both belt and direct drive Whirlpool/Kenmore machines wash amazing amounts of dirt grime grease or whatever out of clothing. The components of these machines are rugged enough to handle the heavy work load as well. I would guess you wear a lot of heavy fabric and denim so a Dual Action agitator would be helpful.
Nick WK78
 
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!
 
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.
 
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.
 
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.
 
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?
 
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.

mikeklondon++3-30-2012-01-46-23.jpg
 
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.
 
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.
 
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.
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Darren k

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

mikeklondon++3-30-2012-04-17-30.jpg
 

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