My brand new twin tub washing machine.

[unclejohn]

Bought one Mini Space portable and compact twin tub washing machine ...

8 Ibs wash tub capacity with spin dryer that can accomodate 5 lbs loads

Washer Model XPB36-1288SA

Item weight: about 30 pounds

Seems that this kind of twin tub washer is gaining in popularity, being of special considerations for appartments or dorms with limited space, camping rv's or summertime cottages... Lightweight and easily portable compact design. Sold under various brand names and models, with quite a few little differences in performance or size. Glad to see the heirs of that good old Hoovermatic method of washing and spin drying. Although more, obviously, the direct heirs of the japanese Sanyo or Hitachi designs popularized in the 1970's and 1980's. The impeller type of agitator, located at the bottom of the wash tub, reminds one strongly of most japanese models which began to surface on the local (asian) and, soon after, international market, starting in the late sixties.

http://https//www.amazon.com/Mini-Washing-Machine-Portable-Capacity/dp/B07BF2QRMH/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&qid=1531854711&sr=8-8&keywords=mini+space+washing+machine

 

[unclejohn]

Ooops! Thought i was posting this thread in Deluxe, instead ...

These are no vintage machines by any means ! : |

Anyone on here ever used them ?

Please, share your questions or comments.

(anyway, more photos and details will follow sooner or later)

 

[unclejohn]

Some more photos, including money shots :

Basically, marketed under several brand names (original overseas companies?)

 

[unclejohn]

'Modern' ...

... Twin tubs !

Largely made of rigid plastic, except for internal parts of the spin can and, of course, the motors and mechanicals, etc.

A quick look on the net shows the extent and huge variety of those kinds of machines. Seems, actually, that there is some sort of a 'rebirth', to some degree, of the old twin tub washer design. Cool ! - : )

Still, encore probably more popular (and 'in use') in some specific countries. Here in Canada, I can tell, the little twin tub does not appear *much* as a viable alternative to the ever popular compact, full-load, automatics.

Nonetheless, the twinnie is a sought-after design for particular reasons which I've already mentioned (condos or flats with limited space, cottages, camping). Or, for the nostalgic--as myself--of a long lost era of twin tubbing...

 

[ea56]

I used a Maytag A50 twin tub exclusively from 1977 till 1981 and I loved it! I believe the A50 was a bit larger than your new machine. And it had twin, reversing impelllers on the back of the tub. I could do a full weeks wash in about an hour. This machine was a joy to use. I hope that you will enjoy using your new twin tub as much as I like mine. They are the perfect solution for anyone that doesn’t have plumbing connections for a full size washer.

Eddie

 

[unclejohn]

Maytag A50

Thanks Eddie !

I believe this is the famous Maytag 'Porta Washer'. I would have liked to buy one of those great little machines but, alas, either i missed the ones on offer or the unit for sale was located way too far from my vincinity. I noticed the impeller of the new machines runs on reverse as well, much like the A50 or most of the vintage japanese models used to work. I've had a 1971 Sanyo from Japan (sold by Simpsons-Sears as a Kenmore product), which I used quite a few times in 2015. The impeller (placed with an angle at the bottom of the all-aluminum tub) created impressive currents of water, even more powerful than the Hoovermatic principle. I did not receive my new machine yet, but tracking nr shows it should arrive soon from an Amazon warehouse located in CA. Can't wait to get my new TT !

 

[hippiedoll]

CONGRATULATIONS!!

On your newest twintub.

The Simplicity is still my favorite, of all your collection!
)

 

[arbilab]

Loved the TT principle since grandma let me work the handles on her Easy roundabout 1952.  Had a Panasonic in the 70s; splendid engineering and operation. 

 

Now have Panda XPB45.  Going on 5yrs (light use) no problem.  It's no Panasonic though.  Have to cycle impeller on-off/soak.   Little too aggressive, shredder.  Also knots badly.  Spinner pretty admirable in operation, towels come out dry enough to use (if you don't mind clammy).  But if I run it too much without resting, something electrical smells hot.  Stretching the overall chore. 

 

Does 'soft' alter the speed, or only the duty cycle like mine?  Are those dimples in the spin drum?  Should work incrementally better than the plain cylinder in mine.  

 

Plus, the kind of OCD custom operation and results I like.  Minus, whole operation demands attention but I have that to spare. 

 

[unclejohn]

Oh, Christina !

Hope you're doing great ...

Thanks for the comments and, btw, found your Frigidaire 1-18 washer affair very interesting (thread from 2017)

Unfortunately, (believe it or not) I no longer have the Simp ! Sold to a very kind couple last year--sadly I had to depart from the great Simp and one of my vintage Hoovs as well (the 0617 model with plastic tubs from circa 1980). I do really miss those, you know, but i absolutely needed to make space for my quite a bit increasing collection of Hoovers (washers plus vacs).

I still have my 0632 as a 'daily driver', but now entered the world of the new twin tubs as you can see on this thread. For very small loads, perfect machine.
Those minis are so compact and portable, yet at the same time efficient and practical for the more modest laundry as regards quantity. And i truly like the fact that the good old twinnie principle is still alive and kicking ! Thanks to a new generation of affordable small-size spin drying washing machines such as the one shown on this page.

 

[unclejohn]

Rick (arbilab),

Thank you.

Seems many of us have fond memories in connexion with one or another of the many twin tub machines used by mom, grand ma, the aunt or the cousin of our childhood.

Yes, indeed, see what you mean, a now vintage Panasonic--which was part of the 'japanese invasion' of the 70's--along with the likes of Toshiba, Sanyo and Hitachi. All great twin tub washers, of course. My mom used a Hoover model 0500, bought in 1965, while my grandmother did her laundry tasks with the far more quiet Hitachi (quite possibly model PS310).

Your Panda t.t. is a very nice machine, which also looks efficient. Yes, the spin drum has small dimples and the interior of the basket is kinda metal finish (alot like the full automatic, although portable, Panda washer a friend of mine uses regurlarly for about three years now without any problem). Yes, 'soft' reduces the agitation speed significantly. The impeller rotates both clockwise and in reverse, doing this repeatedly 'til the end of the cycle. Fun machines to use, but one has to be careful also not to put too much soap in there--or else ! ... ... ...

 

[unclejohn]

A couple of things I've noted: The motors for those new twinnies (at least in the case of mine's) look of very good quality, just as does the internal wiring. The spin motor, which is direct drive, sits on three large rubber mounts that remind strongly of the ones used under the spin motor assembly of my old Hoover washing machines. The wash motor is relatively sturdy, in view of the size of such a 'small' machine, and moves the impeller thanks to one v-belt identified here as Jihua O-600 E.

So, I've been pleased by what i saw inside--just after removing a (plastic) back panel fastened by three cruciform metal screws--must not be heavy handed with the screwdriver as virtually everything is made out of a thick plastic...

I've been very surprised to notice the diameter of the spin container being exactly the same as in my noticeably larger Hoovers (in both cases, about 7 inches in diameter)... The two spin mats are identical in size. Never thought such a small design would be able to utilize nearly the same volume in spin basket as in the older--and bigger--sisters. With that impeller 'at the bottom' design, think of a scaled-down version of the vintage Sanyo twin tub I've used back in 2015. Pretty much of the same basic designs with, also, the beltless spinner while using a v-belt for the wash motor.

Overall, the unit i bought (from Amazon.com) is very quiet, either during the wash cycle or the spin. On the downside, this baby ain't no giant and won't be able to carry large loads--such as bedsheets or multiple pairs of jeans. However, what the machine does it does it well. Very well, i'd say. In fact, i feel so enthusiast vis-a-vis these new little twinnies that i managed to order another one which i will keep as a BNIB spare !

 

[arbilab]

Yes, I would be much more satisfied with a low speed impell.  Stir rather than thrash. Your styling is more alluring too.  Should I wear this one out I would buy another.

 

This 'Panda' company seems one of the more serious players.  Broadening and updating product lines.  Looking to compete with Haier.  And from (memory of) my research buying this one, either somewhat more reliable or the sample was too small to be valid.  At the time, the larger one was only avail from ebay.  A'zon wasn't going to stand still long for that.    Suggests their buyers perceive value.  Bezos didn't become a 150-billionaire by being wrong a lot.

 

With a standard scoop of Tide and tablespoon of STTP concentrated in the small tub, powerful cleaning.  Remarkably, no standing suds.  Our water is quite laden with calcium though.

 

[hippiedoll]

NOOOOOO...

No you didn't sell the Simplicity twintub Jean!?

You said that was your favorite out of the whole bunch? I thought for sure you would never part with Queen Simplicity!

I hope you are well & doing great my friend.
And I'm so glad you are happy with your new modern twintub.

Lots of love
♡

 

[simpsomatic]

Rinsing

What is the effective process for rinsing the wash load when you have a twin tub.I know that years ago I used my aunts Hoovermatic twin tub. Rinsing process was to spin out wash water and then fill the spin canister with cold water. Close the lid until completely drained and spun dry. Repeat process but I do remember that the clothes in the center of the spin can were still warm from wash water which meant that some of the load was never really rinsed.

 

[ea56]

When I owned my Maytag A50 I would do all the washing first, starting with the whites, light colors, darks and so on, spinning out each load and holding the washed loads in laundry baskets. Then I drained out the wash water rinsed out the tub, refilled it with clean, fresh warm water and rinsed each load in the same order in which they had been washed and spun them out. I usually only agitated each load for rinsing for about 2-3 mins. I could get four loads done this way in about an hour.

I have read that some of the twin tubs would allow for adding fresh rinse water to the spinner to rinse that way, but the directions for the Maytag A50 were to do the rinsing as I’ve outlined above.
Eddie

 

[launderess]

IIRC British Consumer Magazine

Rated most twin tubs "poor" for rinsing which IIRC included the Hoover that used the spin can for said process.

Probably best results in Hoover or similar are with a load of small items that one can move about and saturate with water before spinning. Large items and or heavy loads tend to have poor results. At least in my experience this is because water cannot get every where.

Then you have to consider repeated extraction in that small can often leads to washing that is dreadfully creased.

For larger items or loads treat my Hoover TT like the Maytag wringer; things are washed, extracted then moved to bath tub or some other container for rinsing. After two or more deep rinses, load is bunged back into spin can for final extraction.

 

[unclejohn]

Thank you, Christina

Yes, Christina, had to let go the fantastic Simp ...and one of my Hoovers! No less. And, btw, in the past i would have never considered the acquisition of one of those 'nasty plastic twin tubs' about which i think i had misjudgements. For sure, i was reluctant at first: Still, when you 'get stung' you know a lifelong relationship has begun with your new twin tub. That being said, these are obviously small capacity machines and, for the heavier loads of laundry i will always go for the much bigger--and tougher--coin-operated Maytag MAT12PD that costs 75 cents per wash, less than the price for a cup of coffee chez Starbucks !

The discussion about 'rinsing in a twinnie' is interesting. I noticed that the new twin tub (such as pictured above) has also a water inlet on the spinner side, which can be used to make for some 'spray rinse' by allowing a streak of fresh water in the spin basket. Didn't they cribbed that idea (not quite really 'automatic rinse' a la Hoover 3314 but still close as a concept) from the Servis/Simplicity/Speed Queen stables?

There are people who will prefer a method of rinsing clothes in the wash tub, and that is ok. For me, i know i've always preferred to rinse things in the spin basket. But, yes, Launderess is quite right: To make sure all your stuff is impregnated with water you have to displace things quite a bit inside the tub, in order to let some more water go through. Even with a spray rinse of some sort, i will put some water manually in the spin tub--with the filler hose--prior to rinsing (of which the duree isn't as long as a spin, say one min. max). And, yes, a twin tub means a LOT of work, but many of us know, indeed, that part of the fun comes with the USAGE of the machine.

 

[rolls_rapide]

Twintub rinsing

As Launderess says, the twintubs tested by UK Which? in the 1960s/70s were generally given a poor rating for rinsing, with a footnote along the lines of: "May require a sink rinse", which meant just that - you rinsing the laundry in the sink. Mum and Gran certainly did this.

Someone else commented on here ages ago now, that their mum span the suds out of the laundry, removed the garments from the spin-can, then manipulated the individual articles under the fresh water flow as the spin-can was filling, dropping them back in a few at a time, until the spinner was loaded again. Then, replace the spin-mat, close the lid and spin. I have done this in the past.

However, it depends on the machine. Some machines had proper sealed outer tubs surrounding the spin-can (Hoover, Hotpoint, Servis). Others had not, thus you risked flooding the floor (Rolls, Duomatic).

 

[launderess]

Have said it before, and am doing so again.

*LOL*

One's heart goes out to those poor UK housewives and mothers saddled with just a Hoover or some other TT on washing day. Yes, know many loved them, they were better than some other alternatives and so forth; but the work involved to get though a family wash just seems tiring. Not to mention the noise......

After doing just a few loads in my Hoover TT one wants to have a lie down with a cold towel on forehead. *LOL*

Owing and having used both, would take a Maytag or any wringer washer over a TT. If anything maybe adding a spin dryer to get more water out after final rinse.

Now the Easy "SpinDrier" with that fancy cone in center of spin tub is something different.

All this being said have found if one uses a good "HE" detergent (low to nil suds, it is possible to whizz through laundry in a Hoover TT with far less effort. More so if one uses a large basin, tub or other container for rinsing.