I remember my grandmother's Maytag 50s or 60s washer having a suds saver feature. I don't know how common this was and if such a thing is still made on any modern machines. Any help would be appreciated.
Maytag Suds Saver?
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Many washers from that era had suds savers---Kenmore/Whirlpool, GE, Maytag, Kelvinator, Frigidaire, among others. They seemed to fall out of favor by the 1980's and I don't know that any US toploaders have the feature in their new machines.
On our block (when I was a kid, in the 1960's-early 70's), 4 out of 5 houses had machines with suds-savers. All those machines were in basements that had big laundry sinks to hold the saved wash water.
On our block (when I was a kid, in the 1960's-early 70's), 4 out of 5 houses had machines with suds-savers. All those machines were in basements that had big laundry sinks to hold the saved wash water.
easyspindry
Well-known member
Sudsavers were a big thing in the 1950's and 1960's, especially with families that lived on farms or out in the country and were dependent on wells for water. Something we possibly should be considering now.
polkanut
Well-known member
When my wife and I purchased our current Maytag set in '98, we had to special-order the washer because we wanted the suds-saver option. Two years later when my sister wanted to buy one, she was told that they were no longer being made by any US washer manufacturer.
When
washers were most often found in basements, the laundry tubs were either there already, or there was room for one tub or a pair.
Nowadays, most laundry "rooms" aren't rooms, but closets or alcoves....
My grandmother jury-rigged a holding tub from a sturdy stool and a clean/new galvanized trash can for her suds-saver.
I think most people these days would rather go front loading rather than suds-saver.
Lawrence/Maytagbear
washers were most often found in basements, the laundry tubs were either there already, or there was room for one tub or a pair.
Nowadays, most laundry "rooms" aren't rooms, but closets or alcoves....
My grandmother jury-rigged a holding tub from a sturdy stool and a clean/new galvanized trash can for her suds-saver.
I think most people these days would rather go front loading rather than suds-saver.
Lawrence/Maytagbear
Suds saving washers, like twin tubs were popular when there were plenty who remembered washing with wringers, or at least had seen family members doing so. Today most people would rather die than reuse wash water for another load of clothes.
L.
L.
Would I want to reuse the wash water from a load of diapers? Of course not. But if I have, say, two loads of dress clothes to wash, I certainly would have no problem reusing that water. Don't know why people are so freaky about it.
Actually, Robert's '47 GE washer has the best water-saving idea: Reuse the rinse water. Of course, this was back when rinses were warm. But it would work well for me even if the rinses were cold; I wash in cold water anyway.
Actually, Robert's '47 GE washer has the best water-saving idea: Reuse the rinse water. Of course, this was back when rinses were warm. But it would work well for me even if the rinses were cold; I wash in cold water anyway.
Suds-savers in Texas are like hens' teeth!
You would think that suds-savers would have been popular here in Texas, but I have yet to run across one!
I agree with you Frigilux...I would not have a problem using wash water from coldwater clothes or rinse water. The diaper thing....YUK. Really, the whites/undergarments deserve their own wash and rinse water, just to be on the safe side!
Venus
You would think that suds-savers would have been popular here in Texas, but I have yet to run across one!
I agree with you Frigilux...I would not have a problem using wash water from coldwater clothes or rinse water. The diaper thing....YUK. Really, the whites/undergarments deserve their own wash and rinse water, just to be on the safe side!
Venus
aquarius1984
Well-known member
i once asked my nan what Suds Return was on her hotpoint liberator twin tub was for and she replied: cheapskates! I never asked again.
geoffdelp
Well-known member
I come from a home that always had a Maytag suds saver. My mother had her Maytag for many, many years and was quite efficient with the suds saving feature. She taught me that it was not so much as being a "cheap", but that certain loads of laundry could easily have the water reused. That's probably why I like my wringers; I'm very careful with what I'm washing and when to let the water go. My mother never reused wash water more than a couple of times and we were always "clean kids" growing up. She, too, would always wash white underclothing (and diapers) in their own separate hot wash and never saved the water. But with a steady stream of sheets, bedding, towels, personal linens coming from a family of five, she knew what water could be reused. It helped with her household budget by conserving detergent, too.
For example, my bedsheets are white and I sleep alone; why not resuse good, sudsy wash water? The clothing I wash in that water gets clean and I've never embarassed myself by feeling that I'm wearing dirty clothing.
I agree it is a more "frugal" approach to laundry but if you're careful, why not? I take the time to separate my clothing not only by colorfastness, but by degree of use. I also soak my clothing if they are really dirty and start the wash with fresh water and never skimp with rinsing.
I'm not afraid to use water; it's one of cheapest commodities we bring in our homes but why not reuse some of the water, if it is reusable, instead of letting go back down the drain?
Thanks for letting me put in my $.02
Geoff
For example, my bedsheets are white and I sleep alone; why not resuse good, sudsy wash water? The clothing I wash in that water gets clean and I've never embarassed myself by feeling that I'm wearing dirty clothing.
I agree it is a more "frugal" approach to laundry but if you're careful, why not? I take the time to separate my clothing not only by colorfastness, but by degree of use. I also soak my clothing if they are really dirty and start the wash with fresh water and never skimp with rinsing.
I'm not afraid to use water; it's one of cheapest commodities we bring in our homes but why not reuse some of the water, if it is reusable, instead of letting go back down the drain?
Thanks for letting me put in my $.02
Geoff
I would bet that using a front loader conserves far more water than a top loading suds saver ever could. I think suds savers are a cool obsolete gizmo for washer enthusiasts like myself.
And I agree with Laundress: I think suds savers were an evolutionary step in automatic washer design to comfort customers who were switching from trusted old wringer washers to the new fangled automatics on the horizon.
Women like my grandmother who were used to going downstairs to their basements where their wringer washers drained into huge sinks had all the infrastructure already there for the suds saving feature on those washers. I still remember the battle my mother had with her as she got older to bring the new automatic washer upstairs so as to avoid the treacherous trip to the basement. She had to adjust her thinking. For a lot of old timers, wash was done in the basement with the sinks and the wash water was used more than once. Habit trumps everything else.
And I agree with Laundress: I think suds savers were an evolutionary step in automatic washer design to comfort customers who were switching from trusted old wringer washers to the new fangled automatics on the horizon.
Women like my grandmother who were used to going downstairs to their basements where their wringer washers drained into huge sinks had all the infrastructure already there for the suds saving feature on those washers. I still remember the battle my mother had with her as she got older to bring the new automatic washer upstairs so as to avoid the treacherous trip to the basement. She had to adjust her thinking. For a lot of old timers, wash was done in the basement with the sinks and the wash water was used more than once. Habit trumps everything else.
I will drain water from one top loader directly into another for a second load. The instructions on old detergent boxes and in old washer manuals concerning wringer washers and suds savers, were to add half the original amount of detergent with each reuse of the water. It can be a great savings on energy to heat the water, especially in the winter. In the early days of suds savers, most washers rinsed with warm water and if multiple loads were washed one after the other, the hot water tank would not keep up. With the suds saver, if the machine was filled with really hot water like was used back then, you could wash two white loads in hot water starting with dish towels, the dish cloths and the table linens. The next load or two could be sheets and maybe dress shirts, underwear and towels. Towels were smaller then and were used all week in many cases. By then the water would be down to a temperature safe enough to wash colors like play clothes, pajamas and house dresses. Cleaning rags, blue jeans and over alls were last. Only colored rugs could follow them. When you had to heat the water in a boiler on a stove, you did not change it after a couple of loads. Granted homes with an automatic washer usually had a water heater, but for many of the people using suds savers, the routines established with wringer washers still held true. That's why it was rare to wash just one load and why you kept an eye on the washer so that as soon as the first load was finished, the second load could be started before the water cooled more.
Now most of my washing is done in the front loaders so there is not much water to save.
I think the Save Suds knob on a twin tub would pump the wash water spun out of a load back to the washing chamber before the rinsing started. You could do that with Easy Spin Drier washers.
Now most of my washing is done in the front loaders so there is not much water to save.
I think the Save Suds knob on a twin tub would pump the wash water spun out of a load back to the washing chamber before the rinsing started. You could do that with Easy Spin Drier washers.
It's funny but I'll be showing off my old machines to friends and describing certain features they have and when I mention "sudsaver" and explain the feature they all just throw up their hands and screw up their faces in disgust! I do realize that they are not coming from the same mindset that I am so I explain further and usually get them to turn their thinking around somewhat.
I do believe that using a sudsaver just requires a little common sense. I use mine on white sheets and towels which are NEVER used for more than two dry offs. I might use it for two loads of colored clothes depending on the color of the wash water from the first load as clothes get real dirty real fast out here in the dusty, windy desert. If the water is fairly dark I can always find throw rugs to throw in. At times used wash water is saved in 5 gallon pails to presoak rags used for dirty jobs and then washed in specific machines set aside for rags and dirty mop towels only.
I also at times when the wash water needs to be drained will switch the hoses and save the warm rinse water and then use it to wash in. I love the sudsavers.
And the word "cheapskate" never enters my mind. I just believe in using this precious commodity to the fullest extent. I even then use this water for my boxed and barreled trees and shrubs and schedule my washdays around their watering schedules.
Dick S.
I do believe that using a sudsaver just requires a little common sense. I use mine on white sheets and towels which are NEVER used for more than two dry offs. I might use it for two loads of colored clothes depending on the color of the wash water from the first load as clothes get real dirty real fast out here in the dusty, windy desert. If the water is fairly dark I can always find throw rugs to throw in. At times used wash water is saved in 5 gallon pails to presoak rags used for dirty jobs and then washed in specific machines set aside for rags and dirty mop towels only.
I also at times when the wash water needs to be drained will switch the hoses and save the warm rinse water and then use it to wash in. I love the sudsavers.
And the word "cheapskate" never enters my mind. I just believe in using this precious commodity to the fullest extent. I even then use this water for my boxed and barreled trees and shrubs and schedule my washdays around their watering schedules.
Dick S.
Some commercial/industiral washing machines, and most dishwashers save the final rinse water for use with the next wash cycle,thus saving water.
Americans are just too "germ scared" to believe in anything but fresh water for each load, no matter how "clean" the load they are washing. Considering many people wear things not even a few hours, then chuck them into the wash.
L.
Americans are just too "germ scared" to believe in anything but fresh water for each load, no matter how "clean" the load they are washing. Considering many people wear things not even a few hours, then chuck them into the wash.
L.
Should I find myself with lots of bed linens that need doing quickly, then will drag out the Hoover TT. Using warm water and a good detergent is the key to being able to zip though tons of wash with perhaps only one or two changes of wash water. Again, it is worth repeating one needs a good detergent that will keep muck/soils and grime suspended and away from laundry. Usually add a tablespoon or a bit more after maybe two or three loads, depending upon how dirty the linens are.
Just cannot run the Hoover too long, my ears cannot take the racket.
L.
Just cannot run the Hoover too long, my ears cannot take the racket.
L.
"Some commercial/industiral washing machines, and most dishwashers save the final rinse water for use with the next wash cycle,thus saving water. "
Not only that, but a lot of the new resorts, particularly in the southwest, are starting to reclaim ALL their "grey water" and are using it for general landscaping and for the golf course.
Even Boeing - who usually has to be either legislated or shamed into doing environmental things - is starting to reclaim water for industrial applications, and are even talking with the metro water system about other sources of reclaimed water.
Not only that, but a lot of the new resorts, particularly in the southwest, are starting to reclaim ALL their "grey water" and are using it for general landscaping and for the golf course.
Even Boeing - who usually has to be either legislated or shamed into doing environmental things - is starting to reclaim water for industrial applications, and are even talking with the metro water system about other sources of reclaimed water.
Big difference between Dick S in Palm Springs and those of us in more wet climates...you are right it is precious out there...much more of a burden here. BTW good luck Florida, hope u ride this one out!
If I rinse in a top loader, I have a way to drain the water into a container with a submersible pump that pumps the water outdoors through a garden hose that goes through an unused dryer vent that is stuffed to prevent animals and air from getting in. I use it to water trees.
