Maytag A806 very hard on clothing

[floyde]

I think I know what happened

I have a feeling the pillow case got caught under the fitted sheet and was at the bottom of the agitator and really took a beating. I love my Maytag and have about $800 invested in the matching pair between the cost of them, delivery, and a once over maintenance so I definitely want them to work well for me.

I'm just using the washer as the dryer is electric and have not got a setup for that.

I will keep updated on any further damage. I felt the tub and it's smooth although doesn't have a shine to it. But I figured after 36 years that would probably be gone. Am I not correct.

This group is wonderful!

 

[hippiedoll]

hey floyde...

did you know what size of load you had before filling the washer??

Here's a suggestion, to try avoid damaging clothes and if you want to use borax again;
put the clothes in the washer first, to see what size of load you have. Select the correct water level. Take the clothes out of the washer, and fill the machine with water and add the borax. Let the machine agitate to dissolve the powder borax, and then add the clothes back in to the washer filled with the water.
This way, you'll know you have the right amount of water for the load.
Just a suggestion....

I hope this helps
;o)

 

[yogitunes]

I usually pull the filter out and dump the detergent and additives down the center, then replace the filter.....

this was always the suggestions of using a Maytag at a Laundromat.....

note: commercial/Laundromat machines never used a lint filter, just a trim cap on top, and hollow down through the center.....yet, did anyone complain of linty clothing?...

 

[murando531]

I can attest to the power of that Power Fin agitator. My aunt on my dad's side had a lower end A-series I believe, can't recall any actual model number because I was very young, and she replaced it with a KitchenAid similar to the one we had growing up. I remember her complaining about certain garments getting stretched in places, but I don't remember if anything tore. Her problem however is that she and all of that family of four have absolutely no care at all if things like laundry or dishwashing are done right; as far as they're concerned, if you pack the washer with clothes and dump a scoop or cap of detergent in, and the washer has run, the clothes are "clean". She would overload it every time I ever saw the machine run, and the load would slowly, but surely, roll, but with a lot of rocking back and forth. The transmission ended up giving out on the poor thing. Not sure what ended up happening to the KitchenAid either, because she hasn't had it in years, in place of the Maytag Performa with a straight vane agitator that they have now. I myself have already replaced a belt and the pump on that specific machine, and I honestly don't give it very many more years to run.

 

I can also attest to the Load-Sensor agitator that my Atlantis, currently powering through loads upon loads of my father-in-law's family's many clothes, and its success. I think the low-profile fins on that machine in addition to the broad spirals on the upper-agitator are what does such a good job with rollover and gentle performance.

 

[floyde]

I usually do put the soap in the middle of the agitator. I bought some Tide powder and wanted to see how it sudsed up as well!LOL!

Christina your A806 is as old or older does the porcelain tub still have a shine or is it dull?

Thanks, Floyd

 

[beekeyknee]

I knew John couldn't resist letting this one go by. Lol. I'll give you a call sometime, John. It's been a long time.

B.

p.s. Don't discredit yourself too much, Christina. You've been hanging around AW for awhile now.

 

[DADoES]

 
Ran into a family friend some years ago during a haircut appt.  I don't know how washers came up as a topic (maybe something was already being discussed in that area before the friend came in).  Anyway, Linda said she always wanted a Maytag so bought one and it stretched her knit sweaters all to hell so she demanded the dealer take it back for something else (I don't recall what).  Previous washers I know she had were a 1960s FilterFlo followed by a 1974 Whirly.

 

[tolivac]

I can remember a demo years back of a Maytag Load Sensor agitator-was at the Wards store in Manassas,Va.They showed that the agitator could safely agitate light bulbs without breaking them!But clothes aren't light bulbs!I used to have fast short stroke Maytag and it did a great job of shredding some of my clothes.Like the DD KN traded it in at the swap shop for a BD KN or WP-no more clothes shredding!Those fast stroke machines work more like blenders than washers!Well,if you need to clean your light bulbs-maybe the Load Sensor is for you!

 

[hippiedoll]

thanks beekeyknee....

But I am definitely still in the learning stages, Roger can be witness to that. I am just not mechanically-gifted. And sometimes me & Roger get a good laugh at the questions I come up with when we're talking!
Hm hm hm...
but I'm learning
;o)

floyde...
My 806 tub is shiney but, to be honest, there are some dull looking spots on the bottom of the tub. At first I thought it was like a dried on residue of soapy water or something. But I couldn't wipe the spots away. So im not sure what those dull-looking spots could be from? Maybe from the previous owner soaking clothes with bleach??
/

 

[beekeyknee]

Christina,

We all start somewhere. I'm glad Floyde is near by to help you. I would love to share the things I've learned with others and vice versa, but Columbia is a small place comparatively. If I knew someone near by with the same interests and a good workshop I would jump at the chance to learn more.

I would like to spend more time on other brands of washers as well as stoves, refrigerators, etc. I'd love to work on old Frigidaires and Kenmores. The small place in my garage isn't very satisfactory and my utility room is small so I wouldn't get to take advantage of machines I restored. Maybe some day, if I'm lucky.

Brian

p.s. The dull spots on your tub may be hard water deposits. They may come off eventually, depending on what they are. Try laying some terry cloth towels wet with vinegar over them to soak or rubbing the spots with some light cut swirl remover.

Sorry, I ment Roger, not Floyd.

[this post was last edited: 3/28/2015-11:12]

 

[tomturbomatic]

PLEASE

DO NOT SOAK WITH VINEGAR IN A PORCELAIN WASHER TUB! The most vulnerable part of the porcelain coating in a washer tub is at the edge of the tub holes. Vinegar will damage that in no time and then you will get orange spots on loads when you use chlorine bleach or if you allow clothes to remain in the tub after the cycle is finished.

If you want to see if those spots might be mineral deposits, wipe them with a vinegar-soaked cloth and instantly rinse them.

 

[brucelucenta]

Actually, if a washer has NEVER had anything but REGULAR soap and bleach designed for washing machines put in it and nothing else, the porcelain tub should still shine like a mirror. I have seen tubs that people have used their own concoctions of vinegar, baking soda, ect...and the tubs have completely lost the shine and some have actually had the porcelain eaten away down to the bare metal. The tubs were like sand paper inside and would ruin clothes.

 

[bajaespuma]

Now that I've read this thread and reflected on it, to the best of my recollection, I never saw any clothing damage when we had GE machines; the edges of the Activators in our machines were very rounded and there weren't any extra "ears", fins or other protrusions to catch clothes. Also, the Bakelite was very hard and wore down very slowly. Another possible factor is that, if you've ever watched an early FF with the spiral activator do its thing, the first, hard stroke is a very short back stroke that pulls the load downward. The majority of the force is from the "body" of the activator; not so much from the three fins on the bottom.

 

When I first owned a Maytag, it was an orbital model with the newer version white poly agitator with lots of ridges, four little auxiliary "ears" attached to the post and sharp corners on the bottoms of the "Power Fins". After a little while I noticed holes in sheets and shirts that seemed to increase in number over a long period of time. I changed the agitator to the earlier blue Power Fin version without any ridges or protrusion which improved turnover and seemed to decrease the incidence of damage, but I noticed that the soft polypropylene nicked very easily and left sharp small tears and edges that could catch fabric. One of the things I love about the LG front loader is how gentle it is on almost every material that goes into it. Doesn't generate a lot of lint either; I imagine that was one of the general flaws of any machine with an agitator that oscillated back and forth.

 

[hippiedoll]

thank you.....

Beekeyknee/brian:
For the advice about the vinegar.
And yes, I am very greatful for Roger; for being so kind & for living close by & for always being willing to come over & share in my enthusiasm & help me.
And I am also very greatful for all of you members here & this OUTTA SIGHT group!

Tomturbomatic:
For chiming in to let me know not to soak but to just wipe with vinegar & rinse immediately. I will be sure to do that.

brucelucenta:
For chiming in to give your insight about other washer tubs that you have seen where others have used their own concoctions other than laundry detergent & regular clothes bleach.
I'm afraid I'm guilty of washing a couple of my own concocted vinegar, baking soda, bleach, and laundry detergent loads in some of my past maytag washers.
/
But NOW, I no better!!

Thank you guys for sharing your insights & experiences.

)

 

[beekeyknee]

Well, you guys. I've never known vinegar to harm porcelain...but if you say so. What about Lemishine? Or is that too strong? I would have told her to wash clothes in softer water to see if the dullness disappears, but most people don't have a way to change the softness of their water. She could buy a water softener but those are pretty expensive. I think they're worth it but some people don't want to spend the money. She could buy a 50lb bag of STPP and wash in that for a year and see what happens. Looks like it's around $100.00 now. Personally, I'd go for the water softener. Salt is a lot cheaper than STPP. I would imagine the water's probably pretty hard in Tucson.

And by the way, porcelain tubs will loose their shine over time from rubbing, especially from metal zippers not being zipped and metal buttons, among other things.

Oh, I forgot. Remember all the posts about old Maytag washers with the bakelite agitators rubbing off the porcelain around the bottom of the tubs from the vigorous action from the fins that didn't flex on those old agitators. It was just wear and tear over the years.[this post was last edited: 3/30/2015-03:29]

 

[behzad]

This is just my idea,

First I'm so sorry to hear such a bad news, but it totally depends on so many factors.
you can check the whole basket and agitator carefully, just gently rub a piece of towel or woolen cloth and check it for something like chipped or cracked edges of agitators's vanes or alike, do the same for the basket, if the washer has cloth guard-ring on the top of the basket check it too, double check every thing like Miele experts!
just one more, take more care to which garments you'r washing with your shirts. it seems to be such an odd and unusual thing, but I think the hard metal object such as jean's zipper or piece of metal which attached to garments could be the source of trouble!

run it again and again to find the problem.
BJ

 

[tomturbomatic]

vinegar and porcelain

An acid on glass will definitely have the potential to injure it. I remember the use and care manual for GE ranges used to warn users to line the broiler pan with foil before marinating or cooking anything with an acidic marinade or sauce.

 

[beekeyknee]

All of those poor canning jars my Mother used to can pickles and tomatoes in are all but recognizable now. But maybe that's a different kind of glass. I don't know.

 

[kb0nes]

Hmm not sure about the concern with acids and glass. Seems to me that with the exception of Hydroflouric acid, glass is pretty impervious. The concentrated Acetic and Hydroflouric acids I have purchased came in glass bottles. I never had any of my glass labware get etched either and that is at elevated temperatures too. Yes it was Borosilicate glass but I don't believe the addition of the boric oxide greatly alters the chemical resistance of soda lime glass. Of course porcelain may not be pure glass so perhaps there is some damage caused by long term exposure. Still low concentrations of vinegar for relatively short duration seems unlikely to cause damage.

I do know that Hydroflouric will harm porcelain in a HURRY. I learned this the hard way when I spilled a little rust remover on our old Whirlpool range top. In the second before I wiped it up I destroyed the gloss...

 

[floyde]

Using vinegar in the rinse cycle

Sometimes I use vinegar in the rinse cycle on whites. Will that harm the tub? What about Arm and Hammer Washing Powder?