Suds Saver?
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cehalstead
Well-known member
suds saver
A suds saver was a washer that pumped the wash water into a holding tank, usually a laundry tub, instead of down the drain. The rinse water went down the drain. For the next load, the "used" wash water was pumped back into the machine for the next load. The "used" wash water could be used until it was deemed too dirty to use again. These machines had two sets of hoses for draining water. Re-using the water was an option, not a requirement. IMHO....women (most people who did laundry then were women...not trying to be sexist) who were used to a wringer machine used these very happily as well as people who lived in areas with limited water or very high rates. I know Maytag made one as recently as 1996, and may still make one, but am not sure. I don't think any other brands offered them much past the 70's...(might be wrong here..someone correct me if I am).
A suds saver was a washer that pumped the wash water into a holding tank, usually a laundry tub, instead of down the drain. The rinse water went down the drain. For the next load, the "used" wash water was pumped back into the machine for the next load. The "used" wash water could be used until it was deemed too dirty to use again. These machines had two sets of hoses for draining water. Re-using the water was an option, not a requirement. IMHO....women (most people who did laundry then were women...not trying to be sexist) who were used to a wringer machine used these very happily as well as people who lived in areas with limited water or very high rates. I know Maytag made one as recently as 1996, and may still make one, but am not sure. I don't think any other brands offered them much past the 70's...(might be wrong here..someone correct me if I am).
A suds saver washer, usually a top loader, will have a couple of extra buttons and an extra timer option. The following is based on the Maytag A606S, which was produced in the 60's. One button will be "Save Suds", the other will be "Drain Suds". The timer option is "Return Suds". The machine will also have two drain hoses. One is the regular drain hose, the other the suds saver hose.
When "Save Suds" is pushed, at the end of the wash portion of the cycle, the machine will divert the drained soapy water into the suds saver hose. If this is placed in a large stoppered sink or basin (20 gallon or more capacity), then the soapy water will be "saved" there for future use. The rest of the cycle will proceed normally, with rinse drains going out through the regular drain hose.
At the start of the next wash cycle, if the timer is placed on the "Return Suds" area, the washer will suck the sudsy water out of the basin instead of adding new water (although more new water may be added to make up any difference). If the "Save Suds" button is still depressed, these saved suds will be saved again for yet another re-use. If the "Drain Suds" button is pushed, then the suds will drain normally, as will the wash water for all subsequent loads.
In times when hot water and soap or detergent were much more expensive than they are today, the Suds Saver option was an economical way to conserve resources.
I think I've heard that Maytag may still offer on special order a Suds Saver washer version of one of their regular washers, but you'd have to check with your appliance dealer, or call Maytag.
There's a thread I started about the A606S or A606 that has some photos of the dual hoses, the valve that switches draining between them, and the result of Suds Return.
When "Save Suds" is pushed, at the end of the wash portion of the cycle, the machine will divert the drained soapy water into the suds saver hose. If this is placed in a large stoppered sink or basin (20 gallon or more capacity), then the soapy water will be "saved" there for future use. The rest of the cycle will proceed normally, with rinse drains going out through the regular drain hose.
At the start of the next wash cycle, if the timer is placed on the "Return Suds" area, the washer will suck the sudsy water out of the basin instead of adding new water (although more new water may be added to make up any difference). If the "Save Suds" button is still depressed, these saved suds will be saved again for yet another re-use. If the "Drain Suds" button is pushed, then the suds will drain normally, as will the wash water for all subsequent loads.
In times when hot water and soap or detergent were much more expensive than they are today, the Suds Saver option was an economical way to conserve resources.
I think I've heard that Maytag may still offer on special order a Suds Saver washer version of one of their regular washers, but you'd have to check with your appliance dealer, or call Maytag.
There's a thread I started about the A606S or A606 that has some photos of the dual hoses, the valve that switches draining between them, and the result of Suds Return.
scott55405
Well-known member
- Joined
- Oct 26, 2004
- Messages
- 1,831
Yes Fixerman, a member here who works for Whirlpool had told me at one point that it was offered into the mid 90s I believe it was. You must have had to know you wanted it and specially ask for it in later years, because I never noticed it mentioned or being touted by anyone in the stores, which led me to my original belief that they were discontinued when they went from belt to direct drive.
Maytag offered one into at least the late 90s, not sure about now.
Maytag offered one into at least the late 90s, not sure about now.
Maytag
Maytag discontinued their sud saver back in 01' or 02'. I believe they were the last to make one. The most recent kenmore i've seen with a sud saver was a 95' model year.
Maytag discontinued their sud saver back in 01' or 02'. I believe they were the last to make one. The most recent kenmore i've seen with a sud saver was a 95' model year.
Suds Save
Hi Guys,
The Whirlpool DD machines had SS in Australia up until last year. It only stopped when the last of the white control paneled machines were phased out. None of the plantium controlled machines offer the function.
Our domestic Westinghouse and Simpson machines still offer it on some models, however its called Water Recycle and the system works differently to the automatic way of the earlier models. You now usually only have 1 hose.
With the new ones, the process is as follows:
Put the hose in the trough and put in the plug.
Load clothes, soap.
Set the option dial to Suds Save
Start the washer.
At the end of the wash the machine will pause until you reset the option dial to Normal.
Then you watch the machine empty, and once complete and it starts spinning, you then transfer the drain hose to the standpipe and let the machine complete as normal.
To return the water to the machine you do as follows:
Shift the drain hose from the standpipe, back into the trough.
Set the dial to suds return.
The machine then fills with about 2" of water, then pumps the water out.
Once the machine has drained, it switches off, and the water then syphons back into the machine.
Once the trough is empty, you can then put more clothes and soap in, and reset the dial.
Its a user involved process, however they eliminated all of the moving parts that were necessary to do Automatic Suds save, and thus cheapened and actually made the machine less fault prone. (The suds divertor valves on the AU machines were prone to leaking after a few years.)
Hi Guys,
The Whirlpool DD machines had SS in Australia up until last year. It only stopped when the last of the white control paneled machines were phased out. None of the plantium controlled machines offer the function.
Our domestic Westinghouse and Simpson machines still offer it on some models, however its called Water Recycle and the system works differently to the automatic way of the earlier models. You now usually only have 1 hose.
With the new ones, the process is as follows:
Put the hose in the trough and put in the plug.
Load clothes, soap.
Set the option dial to Suds Save
Start the washer.
At the end of the wash the machine will pause until you reset the option dial to Normal.
Then you watch the machine empty, and once complete and it starts spinning, you then transfer the drain hose to the standpipe and let the machine complete as normal.
To return the water to the machine you do as follows:
Shift the drain hose from the standpipe, back into the trough.
Set the dial to suds return.
The machine then fills with about 2" of water, then pumps the water out.
Once the machine has drained, it switches off, and the water then syphons back into the machine.
Once the trough is empty, you can then put more clothes and soap in, and reset the dial.
Its a user involved process, however they eliminated all of the moving parts that were necessary to do Automatic Suds save, and thus cheapened and actually made the machine less fault prone. (The suds divertor valves on the AU machines were prone to leaking after a few years.)
Well, my '67 A606S seems to work just fine - the valve is controlled by a powerful solenoid, and you can hear it slam (with a little ringing at that) as it changes from one drain pipe to the other.
But I could see that it might be a source of both electrical and hydro-selaing issues. I just happen to think that Maytag did it right.
But I could see that it might be a source of both electrical and hydro-selaing issues. I just happen to think that Maytag did it right.
Live and learn, LOL.
Luckily it's not my only washer!
Luckily it's not my only washer!
polkanut
Well-known member
Yes, Maytag discontinued making suds-savers in the mid to late 90's. When my wife and I were married in '98 the local Maytag dealer had to special order our set. This was our wedding gift from my parents. I remember the sound of the suds-saver engaging on my Mom's "67 & '84 Filter-Flo's. Our Maytag makes the same sound, reminds me of simpler times.
WP DD Suds saver attachment
For a while, there was no suds saver for the DD machines. Then WP offered this very plastic valve thing that stood in a corner of the laundry tub. Since the machine had only one hose, this external valve had a float and when the set tub was full of water, the rest, including rinse water, was diverted down the standpipe. In Theory, it was an interesting, inexpensive and Very low-tech way to accomplish this task. However, being that its operation depended on moving parts that were subjected to detergent, dirt & lint laden water and, like the suds valves of old were not flushed by the rinse water, crud built up and, in this case, dried on the valve sitting in the sink and caused its marginally dependable action to be further impeded. Even John, Mr. SudSaver of all time, had to admit that it was not a replacement for what KM had offered with the BD machines. One of his brothers has had better performance with his.
A far better way to save suds & time while eliminating the cooling while the cycle runs on to completion is to pump the wash water into one of your other washers and start the second load immediately.
For a while, there was no suds saver for the DD machines. Then WP offered this very plastic valve thing that stood in a corner of the laundry tub. Since the machine had only one hose, this external valve had a float and when the set tub was full of water, the rest, including rinse water, was diverted down the standpipe. In Theory, it was an interesting, inexpensive and Very low-tech way to accomplish this task. However, being that its operation depended on moving parts that were subjected to detergent, dirt & lint laden water and, like the suds valves of old were not flushed by the rinse water, crud built up and, in this case, dried on the valve sitting in the sink and caused its marginally dependable action to be further impeded. Even John, Mr. SudSaver of all time, had to admit that it was not a replacement for what KM had offered with the BD machines. One of his brothers has had better performance with his.
A far better way to save suds & time while eliminating the cooling while the cycle runs on to completion is to pump the wash water into one of your other washers and start the second load immediately.
magic clean
Well-known member
- Joined
- Oct 15, 2004
- Messages
- 511
Maytag flood
My moms Maytag had a suds-saver. After several years of use, one day the machine flooded the laudry room and adjacent family room. We later learned that there is a spring the assists the movement of the diverter valve from the save suds to drain position. The spring rusted and fell off due to a small valve leak. Subsequently, the washer saved the full amount of hot wash water & continued through the cycle, filled for the rinse and when the rinse agitation began it sucked the wash water back into the machine causing a major spillover!
My moms Maytag had a suds-saver. After several years of use, one day the machine flooded the laudry room and adjacent family room. We later learned that there is a spring the assists the movement of the diverter valve from the save suds to drain position. The spring rusted and fell off due to a small valve leak. Subsequently, the washer saved the full amount of hot wash water & continued through the cycle, filled for the rinse and when the rinse agitation began it sucked the wash water back into the machine causing a major spillover!
harvestgold
New member
Maytag suds saver
About a month ago I bought a Avocado Green Maytag Model 606S with a suds saver option i could never figure out how it worked or din`t work !! so i took off the front cover and found that the solenoid valve was missing and the wires were taped up, along with the drain hoses re-routed i was real disappointed !! But i guess it was a probmatic system from what you guys are saying, are those valves still available i would love to put this machine back to it`s original state and have this option working
About a month ago I bought a Avocado Green Maytag Model 606S with a suds saver option i could never figure out how it worked or din`t work !! so i took off the front cover and found that the solenoid valve was missing and the wires were taped up, along with the drain hoses re-routed i was real disappointed !! But i guess it was a probmatic system from what you guys are saying, are those valves still available i would love to put this machine back to it`s original state and have this option working
filterflo
New member
This is the unit that Tom is describing. Never have tried it out but have been told it did work very well. I saved it as a conversation piece since its so peculiar looking and operating. I was just about ready to put it on ebay with some of the rest of my in the way stuff, if anyone has any interest in this let me know! BTW, Im a big fan of suds-savers to having grown up with my Mom's 1956 GE Wa755n. She used the suds-saver quite often.
filterflo
New member
another view
filterflo
New member
complete assembly
filterflo
New member
back view, with mounting hook.
