Maytag wringer washer N2L gooseneck/wash time/detergent questions

[cleaninglady]

Hi everyone! I am very new to the idea of wringer washers and I just purchased a Maytag wringer washer model N2L in fairly good condition for $75 after my front loader from Sears broke. I am intrigued by these machines, and love retro things, but I hope I didn't make a mistake in purchasing it- they are so different from what I am used to. I have a couple of question for whomever can answer them.

The machine came with gooseneck but the base of the long part of the gooseneck is broken off the part that screws on the hose, right at the base where it connects to it. I could try duct tape or some type of tape to hold it on securely and see if it doesn't leak but I would really like to try to obtain a new gooseneck. Does anyone have any ideas where I can find one?

Also, when you rinse your clothes in the wringer washer, do you feel you need to do it twice, or does it seem to rinse well with the agitator after, say, 10 minutes? Also, how much detergent should I use, and how long should the wash time be in general in this size tub for an average load of wash? Any thoughts?

Thanks,
Carol

 

[mr-maytag]

Hi Carol. You can email Phil Hornyak at [email protected] for wringer parts - I'm pretty sure he will have a gooseneck for you.

There are a few methods (and lots of opinions) for rinsing: in a laundry sink (one rinse), or double laundry sink (two rinses), or some rinse right in the machine. You shouldn't have to rinse more than, say, 2-3 minutes. Just use soap like you would in an automatic, remembering that you can always add more. You'll have more control of water, soap and agitation time, which makes a wringer washer pretty user-friendly. Agitation time varies - just adjust as you see fit. I think the recommended agitation times in the manual are pretty short - I can't remember for sure, but I think maybe 3-5 minutes. I probably do about 8 minutes on most things. Maybe someone else on here will chime in with their ideas on this. Have fun and enjoy your new washer!

 

[akronman]

Wringer

Congrats on your new find. For less leaks and long use, someone here can advise a supplier for a new hose, or you can get a variety of them at Home Depot or Lowes. A new clamp will give better results than duct tape.
In my wringer washer, I usually use about 2/3 cup of detergent, or a bit less. It's roughly 1/2 size of most front loaders, so go from there. Hopefully you'll keep the hot sudsy water and load in a second batch, or 3, before changing the water for rinses. Add a 1/4 cup more detergent for each new load.
Most clothing will need 2 rinses, maybe 4 minutes each. 2 rinses will do a better job than one rinse at 10 minutes. Some extremely thin cloth will rinse clean with only one rinse, but the vast majority will need 2 rinses, especially towels, denim, heavy stuff. If you've already saved water and energy by using the hot soap water for many batches of washing, then go ahead and maybe change the rinse water halfway thru the second rinse, you'll be able to judge by sight. And a small dose of fabric softener in the final rinse always help kill detergent and pull chemicals from the clothes.
Have fun! It's a hands on system, but you'll have clean clothes.

 

[cleaninglady]

Thank you, both of you, for your help. I will check with Phil Hornyak for a gooseneck. I am curious now, considering double rinses and the amount of time the wringer rolls have to run, in addition to the wash time, if anyone thinks that these wringers save on water/electricity as opposed to the new front loaders which hold more clothes and use much less water than top loaders. I am just wondering if I am getting a savings on using this machine as opposed to buying a front loader. (I realize many think that these clean clothes better than the new machines, but I haven't had a chance to really see that yet) Any thoughts?

 

[mr-maytag]

If you used each tub of water for 3+ loads, it would save water over a standard top loader - probably not a front loader. I'm not so sure about the electricity...technology has changed some of that...

 

[yogitunes]

the gooseneck can be found at Lowes for about 3.00....but that is just the pipe, I just added a new auto heater hose, usually a 3/4 size works best...a few new clamps and your good to go....a simple fix....

enjoy that machine...some work, but fun to use

 

[cleaninglady]

Thank you everyone for your help!

 

[abcomatic]

HI Carol, Welcome to the wonders and joys of washing with your new Maytag wringer!
I have 7 wringer machines and they are used all about the same way.
Imo, it saves money to use the wringer as opposed to spending hundreds of dollars to buy a new front loader which will require a longer washing time and will break down much sooner than you wringer will. Modern washers don't seem to have the reliability and built in quality that older machines had.
Watch those fingers when wringing! Other than that, you clothes will be cleaner ( my opinion too) and water will be saved. Happy washing. Gary

 

[tomturbomatic]

Congratulations!

If you have not used a wringer before, you must be made aware of the safety considerations for using one. Do NOT wear long sleeves. If your hair is long, it must be put up tightly. Both of these points are so that hair or limbs don't get pulled into the wringer. Clothing should be held up TO the wringer with your hands several inches behind the leading edge or pushed up the sloping feed board to avoid finger contact with the rollers. As you get proficient at feeding the wringer, you will find that you can lay the leading edge of the next item on the tail of the item that is going through the wringer and form an almost unbroken line of laundry going through the wringer. Be familiar with hitting the emergency release bar on the front of the wringer and relocking it by twisting the handle on top of the wringer. If you look on eBay, you will often find the manuals for these machines for sale. It would also be wise to find a Maytag dealer to check out the machine to make sure it is still in good working order and properly lubed. You need to get yourself a "wash stick", a short piece of wood, like a broom handle, maybe 15 inches long. You will use this when you wash clothes in really hot water to lift them up to the wringer, AFTER YOU STOP THE AGITATION. NEVER REACH INTO THE WASHER OR STICK THE WASH STICK INTO IT WHILE IT IS AGITATING. The action looks deceptively gentle from the top of the water, but the fins on the Gyrator can break hands and fingers and sprain wrists.

Do you have set tubs for rinsing? That is the most efficient way to do rinsing because you can wring the clothes into one tub then add a second load to the washer and, while it is washing, you can give the first load its first rinse, then position the wringer between the rinse tubs, wring the clothes into the second tub, rinse them for a second time, move the wringer once again and wring them into the laundry basket. A wringer does not remove as much water as spinning so you generally need more water changes for rinsing with a wringer and drying time will be longer.

There is a tilting tray underneath the wringer that tilts in the direction from which the clothes are fed into the wringer so that the water wrung out of the clothes returns to where the clothes are coming from. For example, if you are feeding in clothes from the washer it tilts to drain the wash water back into the washer. If it is not lubricated properly, it won't tilt right and water can wind up on the floor.

Fold buttons and zippers inside garmets before putting them through the wringer to prevent button breakage and to keep zippers from damaging the wringer rollers.

When you are through washing, drain the machine, rinse it out with clear water, turn on the wringer and with the rollers turning, let clear water flow onto them. Lift the Gyrator (agitator) out and rinse it thoroughly. Apply some petroleum jelly to the metal drive sticking up at the top of the transmission. Unlock the wringer so it can dry and so the rollers won't stick together.

Using these machines is a lot of work and if you do several loads, you will be tired. This process will consume more of your time, but will process more laundry in a shorter amount of time than when using an automatic. If you don't have a lot of laundry and have the set tubs for rinsing, it is something you might enjoy for a while, but you will probably soon long for an automatic, especially if you work outside of your home.

Have fun and play safely.

 

[wringer]

Hi Carol,

I use an E2L as my daily driver. I agree with all that has been written above about using a Maytag wringer washer. I have learned a huge amount from Ted (mr-maytag) and took his information about Phil and put it to good use. I have bought both castors and a motor from Phil. He is very reasonable on both parts and shipping. Had I not written in here with my questions I would never found out the answers. Ted knows his Maytag's and he has a BRAND NEW Maytag E2L that has never been used (wish I could break in and have it for my own LOL). It still has the paper on the wringer rolls. Good luck and have fun Maytaging.

Jim

 

[abcomatic]

HI Carol, This is how I do buttons. Take the garment that has buttons on it and make sure all of the buttons are facing up. Stat at the collar, put the tip in the wringer and gently pull the garment so that all of the buttons are facing up and are going through the wringer one at a time, sort of like in a row. This will prevent the buttons from going in sideways and thus not popping off. When doing garments with zippers, make sure they are folded in and are wrung through. Have fun.
Gary

 

[bradross]

Owner's operating manual on eBay - don't miss it!

Hello Carol,

I came across an eBay auction for a Maytag wringer washer owner's manual. If you're interested, I've attached the link.

Hope you're having success - and fun! - with your Maytag wringer washer!

Regards...Brad

http://www.ebay.ca/itm/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=200659734218&ssPageName=ADME:B:SS:CA:1123