New SQ TL 542: Just One Thing

[tiggerific]

Finally a proud owner of a Speed Queen! I researched on this site, then posted a week or two ago, and after recs from you all went with TOL. Having to wait until the weekend to play with it was torture! I put a clothespin on the back to disable the lid switch, but there's a bungee cord on standby in case it doesn't hold. It's interesting to watch this machine in action. So far I'm thrilled with it, clothes seem to be washed gently on knits setting using FS switch, and they come out clean and smelling great. The spin cycle is amazingly quiet. There's only one issue so far: after doing a load of towels, there were lots of suds left. After doing an extra rinse, there were still some suds visible on the inside of the tub. Only after one more rinse did the suds clear. I used an extra large setting with the recommended amount of regular detergent for the load size (have not yet adjusted the water level to the top row of holes, however-- could not get installer to do it). Other loads of mostly cotton clothing etc did not seem to have any suds left over (although I did use the extra rinse for those after seeing the results of the towel load). If I use less detergent, I'm concerned the clothes not get clean, or maybe I should go with HE detergent? I've never had this issue before. It's a good thing I didn't get the BOL 412 without the extra rinse feature! Any insight is appreciated.

Again, thanks for everyone's help and suggestions!

 

[jeffg]

If you're coming from a front loading washer it's probably accumulated detergent and other residues on your clothes. Try putting your cottons through a wash cycle on either warm or hot (depending on load) with no added detergent, and see what you get.

 

[rp2813]

When we had our '97 Amana/SQ Clone, the same thing happened.  I'd run two or three rinse cycles trying to get the suds out of a load of towels, but it was no use.

 

It only happened with towels.  Loads with any other type of item appeared to rinse out fine.  The machine emptied into a laundry sink so it was easy to monitor the amount of suds.

 

[tiggerific]

Hmmm--

Jeff, the washer I just replaced was a Kenmore Series 80 TL. I've never owned a front-loader. I always use hot water for whites and lights, warm for darks (warm really just comes out lukewarm), recommended amount of detergent for load size, bleach sometimes for whites, often use Oxiclean for lights especially kids' play clothes. I may be guilty of being a little heavy-handed with the Oxiclean in the interest of getting out stains, maybe that's the culprit? I never use fabric softener.

Please post if any other feedback.

Good idea to run a water-only load, I'll try that. Thanks!

 

[yogitunes]

it could be a matter of water conditions as a cause.....

and since you don't use a softener....

how about adding some vinegar to the dispenser to knock some of the suds down.....

 

[billiedyer1954]

suds

I have a top load speed queen 2012, 432 model. I like it, but I have had the same problem from day one. now I use he detergent and use the second rinse for towels. this washer suds up more than any other I have ever had, but I still believe it is a great washer.

 

[huebschman]

Forget the load size...

This will always happen when washing THICK towels. During the spin cycle, the centrifugal force that forces water through that type of fabric (especially 100% cotton) will create froth with any remaining detergent (even very small) in the towels (I beleive the problem would not occur if the tub holes would be funnel shapped). Keep in mind... you are washing something that has been used... not dirtied (unless you are a slacker in the shower ). I use 1/3 of the recomended amount of detergent when washing my towels and haven't had this problem. I do the same for the rest of my laundry. Ask yourself this: Have I dirtied this? Did I swet profusly in this?... or is it in the wash because I wore it for a regular day? Our QC version of CR reported once that TOL detergent will perform equally if you use a third less than the recomended amount and that you will get the same result if you use half of the recomended amount and adding a cup of backing powder.

 

[huebschman]

Forget the load size... Cont'd

P"S":
By the way, though very little discussed on this forum... Backing powder is one of the most unexpencive detergent booster on the market. It augments water's fluidity making more water move through the clothes.

 

[huebschman]

Correction

Backing = baking... Forget the mistake

 

[tiggerific]

Great suggestions--

Thanks all for your help! Feels like I've been pointed in some good directions.

I'll try vinegar-- I often use that in the rinse when my husband leaves washcloths and kids' potty accident clothes crumpled up and I need to get rid of the musty/yucky smells

Will also try other suggestion… except, it's baking soda, not baking powder, right?

Good point about detergent needing some dirt to react with. Makes sense. My dishwasher repair guy told me the same thing, said I was using too much detergent and rinsing dishes too well before putting them in the dishwasher. Will experiment with using less detergent.

One followup question: can Oxiclean cause more suds? Forgive my ignorance, I'm not a laundry expert, but I am interested in clean clothes. Also learned a long time ago that persistence will carry you far sometimes (some might call it stubbornness!)--

 

[rp2813]

I don't know if Oxiclean creates more suds, but borax tends to reduce suds.

 

[frigilux]

The SQ's dirty little secret: It is not great at rinsing, despite using well over 20 gallons of water to do so.

 

[washman]

Reducing detergent

when washing all cotton towels is key here. I had to learn the hard way, even with the plastic fantastic GE, to cut by 50% the amount of liquid detergent.

Same thing applies the the SQ. I live in the same domicile, same water, same everything and yes, if I turn off my brain and dose a full cap of A&H, it'll be suds city.

At any rate, congrats on joining an ever growing family of discerning launderers. You will find this old school machine just the ticket to simplicity and clean laundry.

Laundry comes clean when done in a Speed Queen.

This concludes yet another shameless plug for Speed Queen. We now return to our regularly scheduled broadcast.

 

[frigilux]

And as resident Patronus Absolutus for SQ, you are free to plug away as often as you like, Ben!

 

[huebschman]

Great suggestions--

Yes... baking soda was what I meant. I guess baking powder would also do the trick... but it would make you look waaaaay too fancy. But then again... to each load it's recipe