Should I Reduce?

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for this much laundry...

two pairs of shorts, couple of T-shirts, some undies and socks, and gym stuff

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1/2 cup is the ticket!

Thanks Rich, that is a better explanation, I forgot to mention you could only do that with a solid tub washer.

Mike there has never been a book written on the history of the automatic washer. I'm sure if there was one out there, one of us would have found it by now. Jon keep typing LOL.

So tonight I used 1/2 Cup of Foca in the Super Unimatic with MUCH BETTER RESULTS! Thanks guys for your advice, I could probably even get away with using less. My goal here is for heaping suds in the wash and NO suds during the rinse and 1/2 cup seemed to have achieved this goal. They did look nice and clean after the cycle was completed. Of course I took pictures of my wash. This picture though is my favorite, it illustrates why I like to have suds in the Super Unimatic during wash…. The rest of the pictures are in the link below. By the way, I’m going to bring this machine to the Omaha wash in, so anyone who is at the VCCC convention will get to see it in action.


7-25-2007-21-23-53--Unimatic1140.jpg
 
Robert,

I'm torn between fascination and disgust at all that dog hair floating on the suds... black labrador? LOL.

Anyway, that reminds me of another reason you've told us a solid tub is better: during the drain/spin, the lint (dog hair etc) flows up and over the top of the solid wash basket, not through the load as may happen with a perforated tub. The result may be less lint left on the fabrics and more lint down the drain. Some machines add an "overflow rinse" where excess rinse water is added during rinse agitation so it can help flush suds and lint out before the drain/spin action is started. Nowadays, I suppose, such a feature would be abhorred by conservationists where every drop of water must be accounted for. But I gather it worked rather well for rinsing!
 
Hi Robert. Some machines are ok when I use Viva such as the
Norgetag and the '79 center dial Maytag because they do not
have as vigorous agitation as the Kenmores or 1-18.
And Viva sure does clean. I once did a load in Tide powder,
then re-washed in Viva which got out the dirt that
Tide did not.

Ross
 
I use the green scoop from the box of Fab powder. Makes no difference to me whether I use Viva (for whites), Paloma (for towels), or Ariel (for colors), A heaping scoop for a full load----a level scoop if I plan on adding Clorox. Of course, certain machines are off-limits to the Mexican stuff. Any Whirly/'Kenmo,or the 1-18. I agree that the Viva seems to make more suds then the others. I've managed to lock up the '69 SQ and the Maytag A612. However, the '64 Highlander seems totally immune. Go figya.
 
Great Pictures Jeff, is that all the suds you got in the Maytag? I suppose there would be a little more with Viva?

Anyway, that reminds me of another reason you've told us a solid tub is better: during the drain/spin, the lint (dog hair etc) flows up and over the top of the solid wash basket, not through the load as may happen with a perforated tub. The result may be less lint left on the fabrics and more lint down the drain. Some machines add an "overflow rinse" where excess rinse water is added during rinse agitation so it can help flush suds and lint out before the drain/spin action is started. Nowadays, I suppose, such a feature would be abhorred by conservationists where every drop of water must be accounted for. But I gather it worked rather well for rinsing!

That is exactly true Rich, but adding a 15 gallon a minute recirculation to the wash cycle is like a Solid Basket on steroids while only adding 2 extra gallons of water to the system to keep the pump a full pressure. That is why by the end of the 20 minute wash and soak all the dog hair (yes she's a black lab) is stuck in the outer tub suds layer. Solid Basket GE Filter-Flo's are the same way, except you need to clean the filter. But it's the best way to remove dog hair, lint and other schmootz.
 
dumb question here...

do I want more suds than that?

I want to know where you guys buy the Foca and other stuff too!
 
do I want more suds than that?

I don't think so Jeff, which the exception of Geoff's Maytag, the others I have seen do not produce that high of a suds level. It probably has to do with the long slow stroke of the agitator.

I bought those Mexican detergents here at a local Mexican grocery.
 
Mexican Detergents

I would love to try some 1-2-3, Viva, which we can't get here. I have and like: Ariel, ACE Regular and Limon( THANK YOU VENUS!!)and foca<--which I haven't used YET, and have some "Real" which has hardly any smell to it. Cleans ok, but I'll use it for Rugs.

I use the first line of the green scoop for all detergents, or 1 scoop from a pail dishwasher detergent if the load is light soiled.

Rich
 
spanish

Robert, if there is a way you could copy the directions and email them to me I will be able to tell you what it says.

michael
 
do I want more suds than that?

Jeff, that looks like plenty of detergent for that load. and Tide IS very powerful.

my mom always used to say i tended to use too much detergent. ive been doing my laundry since i was about 10 y/o, and i now realise she was right.
 
also

i got some mexican and chinese detergents at the local gathering last year and am ALSO completely confused by the dosage instructions!
 
Jon, buy Foca, Ariel, Roma and Blanca Nieves at K-mart in Somerwille, Assembly Square.

Toggles, Roma and Foca have very mild scents. You wouldn't be able to pick anyone up in a club with just fresh washed clothes.

Danemodsandy, Boston water is only fairly soft. It doesn't leave that slippery feeling after you wash. No comments, anyone else.

Jeff, good Lord, clean that bleach dispenser! What will people say?

Bobby in Boston
 
Foca is like Ariel as it has a bit of bluing to it, although I prefer Ariel for washing colors. Roma is made for those who pound their clothes on rocks, so the sudsing issue doesn't matter.

Funny to see the differing opinions on the amount of suds we each prefer. I'm usually not big on a lot of suds. Fab has certainly proven to me that a layer of suds is not necessary for good cleaning. However, I am willing to make the trade-off when using Viva as I find it the most powerful of all the detergents I have tried and I love the fragrance. I also find the fragrance rinses out well even if the rinse water appears murky.

Paloma, on the other hand, is my favorite for towels, as the fragrance does not rinse out and leaves a wonderful fragrance on the towels. (I don't like fabric softener in my towels anyway).

Now, I know a certain person who believes a foot-high sudz- cake to be an essential element to proper cleaning. Fun to watch in a Kelvinator, certain torture to a poor 1-18, or BD Whirly-'Kenmo.
 
Robert, if there is a way you could copy the directions and email them to me I will be able to tell you what it says.

Hi Michael, thank you for your offer, I didn't realize you know spanish. Actually now that I take a second look, most of the instructions are in english as well, but I have no idea what these measuring cup sizes are????? It is alos interesting that Foca and Roma have NO dosage instructions on the bags!

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