New Speed Queen washers and dryers!

[laundrynut]

SQ FL size

My SQ stacked FL is supposed to be 2.84 cu/ft. Works out well for me because I don't do huge loads. Just a lot of smaller ones. I can wash an entire set of Queen-sized sheets and pillow cases and still have extra room. Could probably do 2 full sets in one load. I noticed that the stats for the residential machines say 3.3 cu/ft. Mine is the OPL version. I thought they were all the same. Maybe there are different standards of measure in play here.

 

[ronhic]

I have no idea how the cu ft measurement works ultimately, but...

Miele's W3000 series is 2.53 cu ft. The same basic machine here is rated at 6.5kg which is now at the lower end of capacities but still large enough for most.

The majority of front load machines here are now rated at 7kg or more. Some makers have smaller machines, such as Miele (all), Bosch (about 50%), indesit and random offerings by Aldi (Stirling)...There are also larger offerings from Electrolux (8kg), LG (up to 10kg), Samsung (up to 10kg), Fisher & Paykel (8kg), Ariston (8 or9kg), Whirlpool (8.5), Maytag (8.5kg)

3.3 cu ft sounds like it would be around 8kg which is not exactly small.

 

[sudsman]

As a general rule

6 to 6.25/lbs per cu ft is how rating is determined.
2.84 would be about 18/lbs
2.53 would be about 16/lbs
3.3 would be about 20/lbs

Any Questions class?

 

[ronhic]

mmmm......

Well at 6lb per cu ft, that still makes it a LARGE machine.

Tell me, does anyone ever use the FULL capacity with the exception of washing a comforter.

iheartmaytag commented that there are some machines with 4.7 cu ft capacities...that is at least 28 lb of dry laundry (or 12kg+) which is a HUGE amount to wash in one hit and I can understand why machines are not coping from a 'spider' and/or bearings perspective. Or washing properly for that matter if the cycles are short...bearing in mind that 'short' for me is 55min (2/3 capacity and cold - yuck - or 68min warm) and my maximum capacity is about 1/2 that. Surely short (and effective) for a machine of that size would need to be much longer even at 2/3 capacity?

 

[launderess]

Well According To Miele

At least with their older washing machines, use of full capacity (normal cotton cycle) was encouraged, indeed that is what the machine was built to withstand.

However full capacity (about 11lbs), did not and does not today mean over filled.

The wash action on many good front loaders actually is best at or just below full rated load. This also uses energy and water to the fullest as it takes as much energy on average to heat water for 5lbs as 11lbs (give or take).

IIRC, SQ is one of the last if not only front loaders sold for American domestic use still having SS inner and outer tubs, along with non-unit tub and bearing assembly. Therefor like their commercial counterparts, when or if a SQ front loader should need a bearing replacement the job can be done. If a consumer would be willing to pay is another matter.

 

[ronhic]

I agree with you Landeress.

Machines should be engineered to work at full capacity all the time.

The reality is that most of us (well in Oz and the UK) tend to wash around 4.5kg or 10 lb at a time. This is why I commented at 2/3 capacity...a 'normal' load i.e. average washed is about that in my machine.

I am a firm believer that washing at LEAST 2/3 capacity gives the best results in my machine, and I gather in the Miele too....it also lets the machine distribute and balance correctly.

As I mentioned before in an earlier post,

1989
'......I was told by the specialist retailer to 'fill it until the drum moves back and forth and I mean right to the top of the drum - that is FULL. Now remove 1 medium sized item, say a polo shirt. You're ready to go.' The drum should only start moving back and forth (as opposed to rotating) if you are putting too much in...or forcing it in.'

 

[laundrynut]

Your rating figures are right on.

My 2.84 cu/ft machine is rated at 18 lbs. I've never weighed what I was putting into it. Perhaps I've found another use for the bathroom scale other than keeping a 1 sq/ft area of tile dust free. Will have to experiment with full capacity loads and adjusting detergent amounts, etc. Worried I'd run out of clean uniforms before reaching the 18 lb goal of dirty laundry.

BTW: What type of system is used to measure pH in washer applications? I've been using a powdered enzyme detergent (pH (1:10) 11.5 - 12.0) on some 600 TC Egyptian Cotton sheets, plus a teaspoon of concentrated liquid sour/softener. The sheets come out of the tumbler clean and white, but feeling a little scratchy to the hand. The care tags say wash in cold water, no bleach. I stayed at an upscale Inn recently that used the same sheets, and they had a much nicer hand and smelled pleasant. Mine come out smelling like a new dryer. Any suggestions?

 

[sudsman]

Easy to get test kit for home use would be

a pool test kit. you can test the bleach left in the load and the ph. Ideal ph for most laundry work is 5.50 to 6.0 Yellow to yellow green on ph indicator. use of white vinegar will do the job nicely. And in a pinch I have used it in place of commerical sour. Not that much is need in a FL machine either. depending on the water 1/4 to 1/2 cup will most likely be plenty..

 

[ronhic]

Now I'm confused.

I've read the term 'sour' used...

Can someone please put into a context for me?

 

[laundrynut]

a teaspoon here...

a half teaspoon there... a 1/4 cup white vinegar. It's a cooking class, don't you know.

Didn't the term "sour" evolve out of the word "sourcide?"

 

[sudsman]

Sour

sour = nuturalizer. Got the term Sour as many of the older laundry managers soured the load to taste.If the final rinse water had a sour taste then there was enough sour in the load. Usually a finger was dipped in the rinse water and actually tasted. I have never done it that way but have known many older LMs. that always did. Two that I worked under years ago did.

 

[iheartmaytag]

Capacities

Thanks for the info Guys & Laundress
From what I deduce then is the 3.3 cu. ft. should be about equeal capacity to my current TL machine. Guess I would still have to take the king-size comforter to the laundry and use their big-honking-machines. If it weren't $4.00 a pop, I could sit and watch that triple loader all day.

I was looking but didn't see anything on the website. Does the SQ FL have an internal heater? And I know someone asked, but I don't remember seeing the answer; Is the door reversable? My laundry has the washer on the left.

 

[everythingold]

Yes, SQ offers a FL with a heat boost. matt

 

[iheartmaytag]

I just contacted the SQ dealer in our area, Lytton's Appliance. He told me that the doors are not reversable, but that you can order a left hinge or a right hinge when you order. He said that they don't stock the FL machines because they are also a Whirl-crap dealer and that some people will buy the space ship styled machine over the plain Jane workhorse most of the time. Also the Whirl's are priced less, and most people look at the price tag and perceive price/value without considering the workmanship.

He said that 99% of old Maytag owners are attracted to the SQ because they like the quality. He said the machines for home are, like what was said in an earlier post from someone else, the same machines as in a Laundromat without the coin slot.

Cost? He said that it would be around $2,000.

 

[laundrynut]

The SQ FL with heat boost

is available only on the FL with the rear controls, if I'm not mistaken. Was checking that out while shopping for my SQ.

Don't forget that when you're talking about cu/ft on a TL, you have to take into consideration the big honking agitator.

iheartmaytag:
I hope the $2000 isn't for just the washer, because my stack set came to just a little over $2000.

 

[favorit]

I still can't get used to see ..

...a Zanussi washer with a Westinghouse badge

Here in IT the White-Westinghouse badge is used by Smeg for BOL, non-design appliances.

 

[favorit]

LCB : which bath is better ??

here in EU LCB is dispensed in a separate bath (usually 1st or 2nd rinse).
If i'm not misunderstood, US household machines add it in the main bath along with the detergent. If that were true, doesn't LCB & detergent "cancel" each other ??

 

[ronhic]

In Australia....

...Westinghouse is a part of the Electrolux group and from a white goods perspective they are mid-range machines...or they were until Electrolux stopped importing rebadges machines as Westinghouse.

Effectively, we had Simpson as basic machines, Westinghouse as Mid-range and Electrolux as top of range when talking about Fridges, washers and dryers.

For cooking, you can add Chef between Simpson and Westinghouse..

The washing machine pictured has an amazing amount of versitility compared to some.

 

[mysteryclock]

Lefty or righty?

Really, you can order a left-hinge door for the washer? I had no idea -- I don't their web site is clear on that either. I take it the dryer doors are reversible?

 

[iheartmaytag]

Dryer doors are reversable per website

I am still doubting the salesman, but he told me you could order the washer doors left or right hinge, but they were not user reversable. I stopped by the laundromat last night and all the machines there are right hinged. Me thinks the salesman was goofy.

 

[laundrynut]

LCB

is not supposed to be used with enzyme detergents in the same bath, as it will cancel the affects of the enzymes. I understand that oxy bleach is OK with enzymes.

 

[yogitunes]

BIG QUESTION....

do these have enough water use per fill up for good washing results....or can we tweek them?

I hate my frigidaire, there's just not enough water and you can't even make adjustments.....just wondering!