New! Speed Queen v. LG: nagging questions

[mattl]

Well to take this thread even more off topic than it already is ---- the secret to a low flow toilet is to get a properly designed one.  I have a 1.3g Toto toilet and I have never had to multiple flush it in the 6 years I've had it.  Once again you get what you pay for. It works just as it should, and I have no idea where my plunger is, have not used it in a decade or more.  Never could figure out why people have plungers in their bathrooms, just seems disgusting.

 

Sort of back on topic I can't comprehend  why anyone would buy one of those crappy wash plate top loaders, total joke.  I'm totally sold on FL machines, my water bill is happy, my detergent bill is happy and my clothes are happy so that makes me happy.

 

[launderess]

Impeller top loading washing machines

Are some manufacturers way of offering the capacity and gentleness of a H-Axis washer with the ease of top loaders. This supposedly comes with no reduction in cleaning or other performance measures.

Leave us say the concept has not quite fulfilled its promise.

 

[panthera]

Laundress,

You're right about the wash plate systems. I've seen them work fairly well in compact models, but those used lots of water and good design, two things the HE TLs are totally missing.

 

Toilets: Same topic, really. I know some of the newest models (including one of the cheapest on the market, a Homeless Despot brand) have top ratings. Great. It's 2016. How long did we have to put up with the awful ones? Even when they cost a fortune? You do not always get what you pay for, not when everything on the market is worthless shit.

 

 

[mrboilwash]

I have only limited experience with those new extremly water stingy toilets in the States, but I really cannot understand the complaints about increased water use if one has to flush twice under certain conditions.

I mean how often a day do people usually wipe their butts vs how often it`s just # 1 to flush?
I suppose at the end of the day the water bill is still considerably lower with a modern toilet even if one has to flush twice or even more on certain occations.

 

[rapunzel]

Low flow toilets are the absolute shit and, yes, having to flush thrice to send a turd on its way isn't being green. In addition, these toilets are now causing problems with sewage systems that were designed to require larger volumes of water to keep them patent. More blockages and sewage backups are the result of the low-flow trend.

As for climate change, the way I see it, it is 50% important scientific inquiry and 50% absolute bullshit driven by crazy ideologues, politicians, (big) business and other opportunists who are pushing this issue for personal gain. Some people have described modern environmentalism as a reinvention of communism. I think that there is something to that. Former communists became disenchanted with their political movement and its demise left them searching for a suitable alternative. Militant environmentalism offers itself as the perfect replacement ideology, especially in Europe.

 

[henene4]

So you call enviromentalists communists?

 

[launderess]

In advance of possibly aquiring a wringer washer

Have been doing the off loads of linens using tubs and a mangle, and have to say there is something to using lots of water for washing.

My whites certainly looked a bit brighter and things smelled fresher. Am thinking it is because one is lifting laundry out of water rather than allowing it to drain through. That and used enough water to make a tree hugger sit down and weep. *LOL*

Did discover all the laundry products one has had problems with over sudsing and or rinsing did fine via the tub method. Even (vintage)Biz presented no problems. Know this because after mangling put things through the spin dryer to get out the rest of water. What came out was clear.....

 

[panthera]

Environmentalists are not communists,

But I sat through too many idiot lectures back home in Munich from 'Greens' who drove 180 on the Autobahn, ate meat and smoked cigarettes about how my dishwasher and tumble-dryer were 'destroying' the planet earth to have any patience with the holier than that bullshit of too many environmentalists. Especially the German greens who stabbed gay men in the back all through the '80s and '90s, courting our votes but never doing SHIT to advance our cause.

There's a reason I stuck in out in the SPD all those years.

 

 

[lordkenmore]

>Am thinking it is because one is lifting laundry out of water rather than allowing it to drain through.

I'm not an expert, but I have to think lifting laundry out would work better...

As much as I like the old BD Kenmores, one thing that gets me about that design is the neutral drain. It seems like you just spent 10 minutes removing all the crud from the clothes, just to potentially redeposit it on the clothes as the wash water drains through the clothes.

Although I will admit in practice the best washer I've used the last 10 years was classic WP BD. Although that "best" is partly due to the nature of the competition. It probably doesn't take much to compete with a WCI Frigidaire. And both BD machines I used in the last 10 years at different times probably had good lint filtering, which probably helps.

 

[lordkenmore]

>My whites certainly looked a bit brighter and things smelled fresher.

The "smelled fresher" part raises one interesting thought...

I have zero experience with front load machines, past what they have in the coin operated laundry. (And it's been a good while since I went to a coin operated laundry. Not quite my goal of "never again", but it's been a few years.)

But...it seems like the arguments I mostly hear about modern front load washers (and also detergents used in cooler/cold water) talks mostly about stain removal. Understandable, because it does give a reference about something easily visible. But what about freshness?

Interestingly, I recall one person here--I think it was Danemodsandy--who noted an increase in freshness going from WP DD to classic Maytag...

More practically, it's more of an issue for me than stain removal. I don't have huge loads of terribly stained laundry these days. Most of what I need, in fact, is freshening. Indeed, I find myself doing what I'd never have thought possible 10 years ago: I'm using Tide somewhat regularly. Not because it fights stains, but because unscented Tide seems to get stuff fresher than unscented All. At least in my laundry room.

 

[rapunzel]

There is a hole in your bucket

Dear Henrik.

Did I call environmentalists communists? No. I called militant environmentalism a 'replacement ideology'.

Is that idea so inconceivable? Many former communists have done a complete 180 and joined the ranks of dyed-in-the-wool capitalists. Why is it so unthinkable that environmentalism is a new vehicle for old communists to rebirth themselves via this political medium? Modern environmentalism, especially in relation to climate change, is politics and very much about economic and social structures. The political vernacular of militant climate change advocates does smack of leftist dogma. Of course I could be wrong, as inconceivable as that is. [this post was last edited: 5/25/2016-18:50]

 

[rapunzel]

John,

I find Costco's Kirkland detergent leaves my clothes smelling fresh. You should also check out the Aldi range of detergents. They rate very high in CR reports and I use the Trimat brand for my top loader. Just like the Kirkland brand, it has a lovely light fragrance, doesn't suds too much and rinses out really well.

 

[lordkenmore]

Thanks, Olav!

Aldi is out--no locations in my area, although if I ever go someplace there is an Aldi I'll probably check it out, including the detergent aisle.

Kirkland is possibility in my area. Years back, I heard of a local animal clinic that used some type of Kirkland (a powder is all I recall), and apparently did extremely well even on their nightmare loads.

 

[askolover]

I used to buy Kirkland's detergent years ago along with their softener.  At that time, CR said it cleaned as well as Tide.  Don't know about now and I no longer have a Costco card.

 

[rapunzel]

In my estimations the Kirkland powdered detergent brand cleans very well. It is probably a tad strong for some delicate fabrics, but quite fine with regular stuff. I try not to overdose by adding a conservative measure to my wash. On the packaging it states that the detergent powder is a multi-purpose product that can be used for other cleaning tasks as well. I have used the powder on my tiled floors and find that it does a good job there also.

I've never purchased the softener - don't use such products in my laundry anymore.

Kirkland is a straightforward product that does not include gimmicky packaging and dosing, it comes in a big plastic tub; and I like its fragrance.