Testing The Speed Queen Like CR Does: Cool Water/Stained Load

[frigilux]

This is a test of the Speed Queen AWN542 more than it is for the detergent, which is why it's in the Deluxe and not the Super Forum as was a similar test performed with the Frigidaire front-loader (which was a more of a detergent test than a washer test). 

The load: An 8-lb. load of stained white mixed cottons.
Detergent: All Mighty Pacs Oxi (1 pac was used)
Controls: Warm water; Fast Agitation/Spin Speed; Regular Cycle, Heavy Soil (12 minutes agitation)

Photo #1: A pac of All Mighty Pacs Oxi

Photo #2: Control panel of SQ AWN542

Photo #3: Dry load

[this post was last edited: 7/24/2014-21:08]

 

[frigilux]

Photo #1: Here's the load at the beginning of the wash cycle.  I actually dialed back the water level a couple of clicks, as this was enough water to keep the load moving steadily without diluting the detergent any more than necessary.  The water looked milky and was slippery to the touch, so I felt OK about using only one detergent pac.

 

Photo #2:  My water heater is set fairly high, so I closed the hot water tap partially.  Water in the tub was 76.3 degrees.  CR tests at 75 degrees so we're spot-on!

 

I was surprised that the wash time, when set to Heavy Soil, was only 12 minutes.  My manual (printed in 2011) says it should be 15 minutes.  Both this load and the rewash of items with stains that weren't removed timed the same:  12 minutes.

 

For the curious:  Cold rinse temp was 61.7 degrees.

[this post was last edited: 7/24/2014-21:10]

 

[frigilux]

Results:  I knew from results in the prior test (front-loader) that this detergent's weak spot is removing grease+tomato combo stains in cool water.  All other stains were removed in that test.  A few more stains remained in this load, as shown in the photo.  

 

Stains not fully removed:  Barbecue sauce, enchilada sauce, spaghetti sauce, mustard, dirt/grime, Worcestershire sauce.

 

Stains fully removed:  Tomato, peach, blueberry, ketchup, coffee.

 

Note: Five additional items had stains remaining on them, but they were repeats of the stains shown so I didn't include them in the photo.

 

[this post was last edited: 7/24/2014-21:11]

 

[frigilux]

Step two:  As I did with the front-loader, I rewashed the items whose stains were not fully removed the first time.  I used hot water (132 degrees in the tub), one All Mighty Pac Oxi, and added 1/2 cup liquid chlorine bleach during the last four minutes of the wash agitation.  Cycle:  Regular, Heavy Soil (12 minutes of agitation). 

 

The lowest water level was used for the rewash load.

 

Photo #1:  Beginning of wash agitation (Action stopped so I could take the water's temp)

 

Photo #2:  Houston, we have a suds cake!  The lower water level really made a difference in suds production.  The load required a 2nd rinse.

 

[frigilux]

Three items had very light traces of stains remaining after the rewash:  Dirt/grime, and two of the grease+tomato combo stains.  Stains on all other items were completely removed.

 

Final thoughts:  The Speed Queen is a great washer, but its relatively brief 12-minute wash agitation using 75-degree water on a heavily-stained load is simply not going to produce the same results as HE machines, which have  far longer wash times (40-70 minutes on most new machines' Normal cycles) and super-concentrated detergent solutions (especially with front-loaders).

 

This is why the SQ's cleaning scores are not great in CR's tests.  Add to that demerits it receives for water/energy use and smaller capacity (remember that CR's machine isn't adjusted to fill to the top of the tub, thus reducing capacity even further when compared to a jumbo HE top-loader).

 

The SQ is a traditional top-loader.  Had this load of heavily-stained whites been washed in hot water with some liquid chlorine bleach, results would have been far better.  A 20-minute presoak (or perhaps an extra 12 minutes of wash agitation) would have improved results even more.  

 

We all know the washer does a great job of cleaning.  Being a traditional top-loader, it simply has a few requirements that are different than those of an HE machine.  I've washed big loads of stained whites a number of times with excellent results when I added some soak time mid-wash.  The machine has a Soak cycle for a reason!

 

Unfortunately, it (and probably most other vintage traditional top-loaders) will never do well in Consumer Report's tests against washers with far longer wash cycles and super-concentrated detergent solutions.

 

And with this completed, I'm hanging up my tester's hat for the foreseeable future.  Thanks to everyone who has had a look at them!

 

 

 

[this post was last edited: 7/24/2014-22:26]

 

[washman]

No worries Frig, I will continue

to carry the freight with sporadic detergent tests.

I can assure you it won't include PODS though! I reserve those for the GE dishwasher.

However, should I come across something off the beaten path, I will grab it and give it a whirl.

That being said, given my water temp, hardness, and the SQ, I have found that Tide liquid performs best. Same thing when I had the GE although the GE had more issues with oversuds due to the whach-whack-whack lower agitator looking like it was on steroids.

Problem is, as most know, Tide is expensive.

Roughly 90% of my wash is using some flavor of A&H liquid. Not the absolute best, but for the money, it does well enough for my needs. The worst cleaning is the rags I use to do housework with. They really do get nasty and will sit for weeks until I have them all dirtied up, ready to wash.

Those rags always get a dose of bleach in with the detergent and no matter what I use, even Sears, they come clean.

I like to really push a detergent and see how it does on its own, sans any boosters or additives. Again, Tide stands alone in this rather severe test.

I won't be using Sears again. No matter, it has disappeared from my local store. Same thing for Oxydol liquid but I MIGHT give the powder a go if I can find some.

On the horizon is Nellies if I can score some for a decent price. Once in a while when I feel nostalgic, I'll get some A&H powder and pour it in my measuring cup, put on some KC and the sunshine band, and have a cup of Sanka whilst I do the groovy boogie.

 

[frigilux]

I'm still waiting for my Nellie's detergent to arrive! An e-mail from them said it should land here sometime before July 30. Can't wait to give it and the dishwasher detergent a try.

 

[washman]

Why am I not surprised

you went with nuggets?

 

[aldspinboy]

That is one heck of a experiment !
This is what I ment Eugene, with the 5 kids household majority of people throw it in one tab maybe warm water ...
green eco people think there so on top of things.
With a attitude that they got it going lol.
REALLY !

There is NO QUICK way of washing
particularly WHITES fabrics/cottons for sure.
Now do that with extra soil laundry with eco
temps and more clothes in a basket thats not rolling over and look at those results.

I have witness these acts and I just say to myself unbelievable!
Even when you tell them so.
Hey would not be my kids lol.

I was at the Dentest the other day ..
three young girls comes in with there farther ,
then nasty mom.
Every uniform shirt was so dingy I literally
was going to pay to wash them and give them back to her .

Just a fantasy but its really bad today like 9
out 10 ..but they say they dont have time.
Some maybe but I dont buy it.

My mom did it ,my aunts, did it with 9 kids,
cook, clean and did dishes and but them to
bed .
But they had pressed cleaned clothes period.
I just thank people are diffinetly are losing skills.

Your washer is very very nice and how long is the soak cycle in the SQ..?
Thanks for your time and effort !
I took this picture a month ago and forgot all about it lol.
I liked the colorful front loader pic had no idea about the new pod packs ,,,will what do ya know.
Darren k

 

[frigilux]

Darren--  You're right:  People are generally less mindful about pretreating/presoaking than they were when I was a kid.  I suppose this is why detergent boosters are so popular today.  Like your mom and aunts, mine ironed every shirt and pair of pants.  

 

The Speed Queen's soak cycle is about 20 minutes long, with some agitation at the start and end of the soaking period. Then it spins out the water.  I've only used it once.  Here's how I wash a load of heavily-stained whites in the SQ:  I use the Regular cycle (Heavy Soil), letting the washer fill (hot water) and agitate for a few minutes.  The machine is then stopped for a 30-60 minute soak.  Then I reset the control back to Heavy Soil and allow the cycle to finish on its own.  It really works well, as today's detergents are designed to suspend soils in the wash water far longer than vintage ones did.  There's no reason to use the extra 20+ gallons of water for the Soak cycle.

 

I usually wash those tough whites loads on the Sanitize cycle in the front-loader.  The gradual heating of the water from warm to around 155 degrees ensures that every stain is fully removed.  I add a few tablespoons of liquid chlorine bleach and an extra rinse to loads of kitchen/personal whites, so the cycle clocks in at 1 hour and 47 minutes, 70 of which are the wash tumble.

 

Ben--  Of course I ordered the nuggets!  The dishwasher detergent comes in nuggets, too, but they are packaged in a bag; the powder comes in a tin, so I opted for powder. I have no idea why it takes over a month to receive them, though.  

 

[combo52]

Cleaning Tests

Thanks for the great testing Eugene I hope you will do additional tests in the future. Your tests validate what many AW members [ and about 1/2 of the public that already has an HE machine ] have already found out that the new HE machines actually work better if used properly compared to traditional washers.

I have said many times that the whole concept of a TL agitator washer came from wringer washers and the only way to justify their use was if you used them with a Suds-Saver so the expensive wash water cold be reused just as 98% of people that had WWs did, this is the only way you can justify using the quantities of hot water and detergent they require to do a decent job cleaning. For many years now this is about the only way I use my traditional-classic TL washers.

Eugene I just washed my extra dirty household load of cleaning cloths, white socks etc last night in my Calypso. This machine is amazing, with good detergent, bleach in the dispenser it cleans everything in under 40 minutes and rinses so well that there is virtually no sent of bleach when the clothing is done.

Hopefully you will get a chance to come visit some day and do some washer testing as we get more machines connected both old and new.

Thanks John L.

 

[mtn1584]

A couple of comments.........

1. I always have and will wash whites in HOT water with bleach.
2. I saw a man come into work today with with a white polo shirt that was wrinkled beyond compare, I knew it was washed in a front loader.
3. WASHMAN, try WISK!! I left Tide a long time!! Works as well as Tide.
Mike

 

[jetcone]

Great Thread

Eugene,  love laundry lab science!! Keep up the good work.

 

Jon

 

 

 

[frigilux]

Thanks for the comments, guys. PLEASE understand why this CR-clone test was done: To help the baffled and angry understand why this fine machine scores so low in CR's tests. To me, it has always been perfectly understandable, and its score certainly didn't stop me from purchasing one.

In a test whose score is based on these parameters... 

1) Cleaning Performance:  Using maximum wash time time on a machine's Normal cycle in 75-degree water, it competes with machines whose wash period is <span style="text-decoration: underline;">four to six times longer</span> and whose detergent solutions are far more concentrated. 

2) Energy Efficiency: It competes with machines that use less hot water; whose final spins are much longer and at 1100 rpm.

3) Water Efficiency: It competes with machines that use substantially less water per pound of clothing.

 

4) Capacity:  CR does not alter the maximum water level set at the factory, so its usable capacity is smaller---especially when it competes with these new behemoths sporting 5+ cu. ft. tubs. (Most of us at AW have adjusted the maximum water to the top of the tub, increasing capacity.)

 

5) Cycle Time:  While cycle times are clearly listed, time efficiency is not factored into the overall score.

 

6) Reliability: Listed, with SQ taking the checkered flag, but again, not factored into the score.

 

...why would anyone be even remotely surprised that SQ scores substantially lower than most HE top-loaders?  That doesn't mean it isn't a great traditional top-loader, and one that many people (including me) are choosing to purchase over higher-scoring top-loaders.  I am not a fan of  impeller agitation, hanging suspension systems, or lid-locking, so that automatically strikes most new top-loaders off my list of contenders.

 

Ben:  Mike is right; Wisk Deep Clean is a great detergent that's less expensive than Tide.  You should try it.

 

 

 

 

   

 

 

[this post was last edited: 7/25/2014-10:37]

 

[danmantn]

I've noticed in my Speed Queen that the line on the selector switch isn't very accurate--try setting the line or "pointer" just a bit before the actual "heavy" line on the control panel...that's probably where your missing 3 minutes are hiding.

I am in love with BIZ. Put in your detergent, BIZ, run through wash time. STOP (cause you can), reset for another 15 minutes (might wanna another dab of detergent), and those stains will be ancient history.

 

[frigilux]

John:  I think Calypsos are great fun to watch, and they appear to be very effective cleaners.  However, I do recall that when they first came on the market and shot to the top of CR's ratings, quite a number of people who purchased them were disappointed by the machine's reliability.  CR even wrote about it after receiving many complaints.  

 

What was the Calypso's problem?  Could it have been corrected by the manufacturer, or was there some inherent design problem that had no feasible solution? Whirlpool seemed to abandon the bouncing wash plate system fairly hastily in favor of the impeller-based model.

 

Danmantn:  I actually tried that, but there's a "dead" spot immediately before the Heavy Soil line. If I set it right before the dead spot, it engages the spin portion of the Prewash cycle.  Maybe I need to tinker with it a little more.  In fact...maybe I'll let it take itself from Prewash to the Regular cycle and see if the missing three minutes show up.

[this post was last edited: 7/25/2014-10:52]

 

[DADoES]

 
Whirlpool did make numerous engineering changes to the Calypso throughout production.  My opinion, without data from a bunch of customers such as John will report, is that much of the Calypso's problems were consumer misuse and carelessness, and misunderstanding of how the machine works.  I recall one or more reviews/complaints stating that Calypsos rinse with the wash water.  A review on Epinions (or somewhere) said that her serviceman told her so!  Which is ludicrious.  One need only listen to the machine operate to determine how many times it drains and refills through the course of a cycle.

I've been using mine, bought used and refurbished by me, as my daily-driver since Nov 2008 without any trouble occurring thus far.

 

[pierreandreply4]

What would help as well

Have you ever tough about doing a double test even do i do not like front load washers maybe you should do half of a stain load in your front load washer and the other half in your speed queen washer and then when the load is dry you make a comparison? just a tough here.

 

[launderess]

Tide Is Expensive

Oh I don't know.

Local Rite Aid store has various sizes of Tide liquid on sale at least every other week. Indeed this has been going on for over a year now. Usually $11.99 for the 100oz (now about 940z) and $5.99 for the 50oz. A few weeks ago the smaller size was buy one and get one free. Since they were out of "Free and Gentle" got a rain check.

In fact as one has often stated have given up asking otherwise for rain checks because the stuff is always on sale. Looking around NYC Tide liquid (always the liquid never powder it seems) is one sale somewhere on any given week.