Is it just me, or do direct drive washers perform better just slightly overloaded?

[ryner1988]

Mine seems to work better this way, or at least loaded right up to capacity if using the highest water level. If it's even a smidge below that, I go one level lower on the load size selector.

I have two twin sized blankets, one that goes on the bed and one on the couch. I needed to wash the one from the bed this morning and then I noticed that the cat had puked on the couch blanket. I normally wash these separately for fear of overloading but I thought what the heck and put them in together, one on one side and one on the other set on the highest water level. And guess what? It did just fine -- in fact, spin was much more balanced than it is when I wash them separately. I would never do this with blankets that are any bigger but with the twin sized ones it worked like a dream.

I have also started combining loads like towels and cottons such as pajamas, socks and underwear since we only have three or four towels at the end of the week. Again, the machine seems to do better this way.

I now believe that especially on an old top loading washer, with the exception of something like a Maytag that does best slightly underloaded, if you load any less than to the lip of the tub you probably should drop down the water level.

My family thinks I overload majorly but my belief is that Americans vastly underload their washers and it's a waste. The only machines I've ever felt the need to underload are certain high efficiency TL's because I don't think the impeller doesn't do a great job in many cases.

So, what do you guys think? Am I correct, or does my family have a point in that my loads should be smaller?

Ryne

 

[DADoES]

 
Surely. Direct-drives are underloaded in many of the videos I see on YouTube and the auger doesn't have much substantial to do.  I consider one set of typical queen-size sheets and a couple/three/four pillow cases as between a small and medium load. Three sets (possibly four depending on the fabric weight and number of pillow cases) can easily be done in high-level load.

 

[ryner1988]

Yes I agree with this completely. After the blankets, I washed two full-size sheet sets (two flat, two fitted) and six pillow cases. It went in easily on the setting one notch below highest water level.

One thing that has helped is loading the washer with dry clothes to get a more accurate picture of things, rather than starting the water first as I used to do. These days, I put detergent in at the bottom, then add clothes, then start water. I know some people say this causes liquid detergent to seep through the holes of the inner wash basket, but I've never had this issue as far as I am aware or if it does it flows right back out once agitation starts.

Now the VMW machine I had before this I didn't feel could handle nearly as much. I could hear the motor noticeably straining if I put too much in there, so I generally filled that machine about half to three-fourths of the way full.

This is why I'll probably buy a front loader if I have to replace my machine. Today's top loaders just can't handle much and they don't do a very bang-up job to boot.

 

[combo52]

Direct drive washer’s and capacity

The direct drive washer with the dual action agitator is a very powerful machine and will handle more clothing than any other American top loading washer ever built.

They do like to be slightly overloaded.

On machines with a pump that runs all the time during agitation, like a direct, drive, washer, Maytag, etc. you don’t have to worry about the detergent draining out into the outer tub. It will be blasted right back into the wash water as soon as the agitation begins.

This is something to be concerned about on machines that have electric pumps you should not pour liquid detergent in the tub first some of the detergent will run down into the sump and will never get into the wash water, this also happened on Maytag Neptune front loading washers , which really lowered their cleaning ability.

John.

 

[ryner1988]

Yep John I figured you would agree with me as I think I've read posts where you've spoken on this

I've done my laundry in many direct drive machines and have always had a tendency to make them work for it a bit LOL if I was doing laundry at someone else's house they would lecture me beforehand and be like now don't break my washer!

In my opinion it's not overloaded until you are literally having to press down on the clothes to make more room.

I had read that about electric pumps so I did indeed always place my detergent on top when I had a VMW machine.

 

[combo52]

Heavily loaded washing machines

Washing machines within reason are designed to be heavily loaded, you do far more harm by doing three loads instead of doing two big ones.

Like automobiles the washing machine will last a certain amount of time and a certain number of loads the more loads you do the faster most parts of it will wear out. The timer the inlet valve, water, level switches, etc. etc. do not know how much laundry is in the machine. The water seals ware out based on the number of loads not by the size of the loads and all washing machines Ultimately fail when water gets where it’s not supposed to be.

On a car its longevity is determined mainly by age and how many miles you drive it.

John

On a car. Its longevity is determined, mainly by age and how many miles you drive it.

John.

 

[ryner1988]

Agree with all these points John. My in-laws have a 25-year-old handicap van that they use to transport my wife home for holidays. They don't let anyone else drive it for leisure or anything else because each time it's driven, it gets a little more worn out.

Last night was a typical load in my 3.2 cu. ft. DD washer. It consisted of:

Two bath towels, two washrags, one hand towel.

Six pairs of pajama pants (four flannel, two fleece).

Four wife beater-type sleeveless shirts.

Two men's t-shirts.

Three women's cotton nightgowns.

Fourteen pairs of underwear.

Ten pairs of socks.

It filled the machine to just at the top row of holes in the wash basket and was washed on the highest water level.

Many would consider this an overload but it certainly wasn't.