Questions for Easy Spindrier Owners

[bobbi]

Hello. I've been lurking for a while doing research to replace my uselss 1.5-year-old front load Samsung wannabe washer. I am considering buying a Spindrier (assuming I can find a decent one) or a vintage/modern top load Speed Queen. I don't really have enough time to work with a wringer washer, but if I did, I would love to have a double tub wringer washer. I really like the twin tub washers as well, but I believe they may be a bit too small for a family of four. Anyhow....

I was wondering if current spindrier owners can tell me:
1.)Do you, or would you, use the Spindrier as a daily driver?
2.)Recommend the machine?
3.)Have a difficult time finding parts?
4.)Find it actually saves you time over a modern washer?
5.)How many pairs of jeans for a 6'2" guy can it hold?
6.)Does it really get the clothes clean?
7.)What is the approximate length and width?

This is a very hard decision, because I can really appreciate that the spindrier was designed to save time and water (why don't they make modern machines like this!?), so I am hesitant to go with a modern, top load washer if there is a less wasteful option. But without ever having used one, I don't really know how viable of an option it actually is, nor can I find one to look at more closely. The finding parts part is probably the one that scares me away the most.

Thank you, Spindrier owners, for your help and advice.

 

[hippiedoll]

i'm not an easy spindrier owner or user but....

looking at the easy spindrier, you can basically say that it is a "twin tub" with an agitating washer, instead of a pulsator wheel, like the hoover twin tub or the maytag twin tub washers. but the workings are basically the same;
washing in the washtub and spinning in the spinner side.
so, it is basically washing twin tub style.

as for "twin tub" washing, i can tell you my experience cuz i've had & used a hoover twin tub washer.

let me tell you, you will DEFINITELY be more involved in your washing process, if you get an easy spindrier. you will be putting the clothes in the washing tub and when you think the clothes are done washing, you have to take them out of the soapy water and put them into the spinner. after being spun out, you will have to put them in either a clean water filled tub (for rinsing) or in a laundry basket until you've washed all your dirty clothes loads.
then, you have to drain the washtub and fill it with clean water for rinsing. and go through the whole process again, but rinsing instead of washing.
and for a family of 4, i have a feeling that with an easy spindrier, you will definitely have your work cut out for you.

i only did my wash, in the hoover twin tub, and believe me, it got old pretty quick. by the time i was finished washing (and i had to be involved the whole time) i was a hot sweaty mess. sure it's fun to use the spinner and see all the water gushing out. but all the involvement in the washing process quickly outweighed the "fun" of using/working the spinner.
LOL.....

if it's water you are wanting to save & reuse, than i would suggest going for a vintage top loading automatic washer with a "suds-saver/return" option. if it's reusing the wash water, that you are wanting to do.

even though i'm not an easy spindrier owner or user, i hope i was able to at least answer you question about using a twin tub washer, which is the exact same process it would take, to use an easy spindrier.

as for measurements and acceptable load sizes to use with an easy spindrier, i have no idea about that. but i would guess that the size of the washtub would be about the same size of either a wringer washer or a "standard" capacity vintage top loading washer. that's just guessing though, i could be wrong???

)

 

[arbilab]

I ran Grandma's (Pittsburgh) Easy and had two of the smaller (Asian) ones. I love them. Complete control over operation, conservative of resources, spinner can cut dryer time in half, washer as thorough as any. It's on wheels, no dedicated space required. But it's really designed for the days everyone had washtubs

The first Asian one was in 1973, I wore mostly surf shorts and t-shirts, washed some towels for the house. The second one is new. I'm not a surfer anymore but retired and still only washing for myself. Easy is larger, closer to family size, 4 maybe 5 jeans at once whereas mine is one maybe two.

Here are the highs and lows as I see them:

Parts can be a problem. You can't call a repairman for an Easy. It was a sturdy machine new but that many years has consequences.

You can't walk away from it for any useful period of time (other than soaking).
As above, every operation is manual. Think of the steps an automatic does for you. Each one of those requires moving clothes by hand in a twintub. Some Easys have a timer but all it does is ring, it won't stop any operation in progress and wait for you to return.

Better than (today's) avg washing and much better than avg (topload) extraction. For 'office' type loads, one or two wash fills may do everything. 'Mechanic' type loads would require more drain/refill cycles. Since the spinner also rinses, only one rinse fill may be necessary. (Some skip fill rinsing altogether, it's optional.)

It will finish a single load 'faster' than a half-hour (or more) automatic. But again, your attention is required virtually the entire time. You can't wander off and get something else done. Just wanted to make sure you understood that.

Wait for several more responses/perspectives. Just because it's 'my' favored washing method doesn't make it right for you.

 

[easyspindry]

I have an Easy . . .

. . . spindry and LOVE it!!! It's the most fun washer to use I have ever seen.

But you must remember, when the Easy was made, it was replacing or in competition with wringer washers. They clean well, and the spinner definitely removes more water from the clothes than a wringer would therefore taking less time for the clothes to dry.

On the spinner side, there is a cone shaped "tube" in the center of the spinner with small holes in it. While the spinner is spinning, you can run water into this "tube" and the water will be spun out of the many small holes into the spinning clothes, thus rinsing them as they spin. The spinner spins at something like 600 or 700 rpm and does a good job of extracting water.

Once you fill the machine and put in the first load of clothes, you're free for 15 or 20 minutes to do other things while the Easy washes. But once it's time to transfer the wet clothes from the washer to the spinner, spin and rinse the clothes, put the next load in to wash, then either hang out your damp dry laundry or put it into the dryer, it's time to start dealing with the second load that has been washing.

On my Easy, there are two faucets on top of the machine. One is for filling the wash tub and, once moved into position, running water into the spinner for the rinse. The other longer faucet is the drain. While initially spinning the washed clothes, you move the long faucet to the wash tub, therefore returning the water spun from the washed clothes to the wash tub ready for the next load. When it's time to spray rinse the clothes, you move the long faucet over the laundry sink so that the water spun from the rinsing goes down the drain.

It is a fun machine to use, but it requires fairly constant attention once the first load is washed and the next load is loaded into the tub for washing.

The only repair work I have ever had to do is replacing the rubber hoses that connect to the two faucets.

There is no suspension on the machine, therefore when the spinner is spinning at maximum speed, if the load is not balanced, the entire machine shimmies. Of course, it is easy to stop the spinner and redistribute the clothes if the shaking is too much.

Good luck with your decision. It cleans well and is fun to use . . . but you can't walk away and except your laundry to get done while you're relaxing with a good book.

Jerry Gay

 

[e2l-arry]

When I was growing up .. . .

A friend of mine's Mother had an EASY. I watched her in action a couple of times. If I remember right, you don't refill the washer with rinse water or use a rinse tub like with a wringer. She'd start the spinner and drain the wash water back into the washing part. Then when that soap water flow eased up or stopped, she's position the faucet over the spin tub and turn on the water. That clear water worked it's way through the clothes from top to bottom. Like Easyspindrier said,that rinse water went down the drain. Once it was clear you turned the water off and let the remaining water spin out. Then the clothes were done.

Also as has been stated here, these were very hands on machines like a wringer. The EASY had a few advantages. You could use it in a kitchen sink because you didn't need laundry tubs for rinsing.Consumer Reports liked them because they were safer than wringers. And spinning did extract about 25% more water then a wringer. Saved drying time. And in those days most people line dried. But Wringer or twin tub, once you start the process you're involved from start to finish.The advantage being I can do 6 loads of laundry in maybe and hour to hour and 1/2 with my Maytag wringer. 6 loads in my front loader would take 4 & 1/2 hours. So there is a trade off. My clothes are cleaner too!

 

[davetranter]

Agitator Vs 'Pulsator' twin tubs

My mother only ever bought a Hoover twin-tub once. she soon sold it!! She found that the 'spinning disc' at the back of the tub, and the water currents which it created just twisted clothes into ropes, and then tangled them up, with the result that they seldom came out clean. She preferred Hotpoint twin-tubs with the 'proper' agitator action - Cleaner clothes with no knots and less hassle. I would recommend one of these to anyone. Yes- they are 'labour intensive', but you can wash and/or spin for as long or as little as you like. Better (IMHO) than ANY 'Automatic'..... ;-)

Feel free to 'discuss'

All best

Dave T

 

[launderess]

Like using the Hoover TT For Loads That Are Mainly

Of small items such lots of napkins or pillow slips, that is when it isn't possible to create a full mixed load for the Miele or Asko. Other than that one just does not have the patience or time to deal with doing normal wash with the Hoover.

According to my copy of service manual tangling is the result of too long wash times. Well that is all very good but cannot see all laundry always coming clean with just one "wash" cycle.

IMO the best twin tubs were those with "H-axis" baskets sold in Europe. If one can ever find one much less get it to the States the Hoover is toast. *LOL*

And Now For Something Completely Different - Miele Twin Tub

Oh how one can dream! *LOL* http://www.ebay.com/itm/251154416938?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

www.automaticwasher.org

 

[abcomatic]

Easy

I have an Easy Spindrier. The sprialator washes clothes very well! You do have to be there though to process the clothes from each load. If you have the center dial format, you do have to make sure things are lubricated under the dials. There are cables that operate the different functions and they have to work properly or problems could arise. One example would be: the same pump is used to drain wash water out and drain rinse water out of the spinner. If the cables and controls are not lubed and or tightened, the diverter will not move far enough to engage one of the sides, thus no or very slow water is pumped from the tub or spinner. Great machine! Gary