Testing The Speed Queen Like CR Does: Cool Water/Stained Load
- Thread starter frigilux
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Thanks for doing another performance test for us Frigilux 
Greatly appreciated, as always.
(Perhaps time for me to do some Finish Tabs vs. Powder and carry the flag for the powder camp!)
At least on this particular model of SQ, the results of this test would perhaps be the only limiting factor in purchasing if dealing with very soiled objects, and an objection to using LCB in most loads. As you stated, hotter water probably would have improved the results greatly, as would a soak (Although, you really even if soaking for around an hour, you cannot beat the gentleness of an FL machine when tumbling even for such a long time).
Otherwise, this machine and its real timer (No computer-controlled SQ for me, thank-you very much!) would make an ideal purchase.
I think this goes to show that modern detergents benefit from the longer cycles of newer machines (Although I won't add "Eco-Sanctioned," since that can be detrimental to washing performance) - as they are relying on chemical reactions taking place, as opposed to bleaching the crap out of stuff!
Again, thanks for taking the time and effort to stain some whites for us. If you're up to it in the future, perhaps running a load as you would run it would demonstrate the effectiveness of Hot water, soaking and some extra detergent loading for those of us in the peanut gallery
Greatly appreciated, as always. (Perhaps time for me to do some Finish Tabs vs. Powder and carry the flag for the powder camp!)
At least on this particular model of SQ, the results of this test would perhaps be the only limiting factor in purchasing if dealing with very soiled objects, and an objection to using LCB in most loads. As you stated, hotter water probably would have improved the results greatly, as would a soak (Although, you really even if soaking for around an hour, you cannot beat the gentleness of an FL machine when tumbling even for such a long time).
Otherwise, this machine and its real timer (No computer-controlled SQ for me, thank-you very much!) would make an ideal purchase.
I think this goes to show that modern detergents benefit from the longer cycles of newer machines (Although I won't add "Eco-Sanctioned," since that can be detrimental to washing performance) - as they are relying on chemical reactions taking place, as opposed to bleaching the crap out of stuff!
Again, thanks for taking the time and effort to stain some whites for us. If you're up to it in the future, perhaps running a load as you would run it would demonstrate the effectiveness of Hot water, soaking and some extra detergent loading for those of us in the peanut gallery
Super-Concentrated Detergent
Whilst you could do this in a Top-Loader to improve performance, considering that one complete fill is equivalent to what a similarly-sized FL machine would use in an entire cycle, you'd be looking at tripling or quadrupling your detergent loading.
This is a highly-expensive proposition, and could be potentially damaging for your wallet and the environment.
This is exactly the reason why Fisher & Paykel chose a low-water re-circulation phase on most of their washers ("Eco-Active"), as this mimics that FL high-concentrate detergent/soaking action that greatly improves cleaning power when used correctly. The washer then fills completely and gets on with its business, as it should.
(This also explains why machines like the WP Calypso scored very well in Consumer Reports - Using a recommended dosage and warm/hot water means incredibly concentrated detergent, and therefore very good cleaning power in limited amounts of water with the same detergent dosage).
Whilst you could do this in a Top-Loader to improve performance, considering that one complete fill is equivalent to what a similarly-sized FL machine would use in an entire cycle, you'd be looking at tripling or quadrupling your detergent loading.
This is a highly-expensive proposition, and could be potentially damaging for your wallet and the environment.
This is exactly the reason why Fisher & Paykel chose a low-water re-circulation phase on most of their washers ("Eco-Active"), as this mimics that FL high-concentrate detergent/soaking action that greatly improves cleaning power when used correctly. The washer then fills completely and gets on with its business, as it should.
(This also explains why machines like the WP Calypso scored very well in Consumer Reports - Using a recommended dosage and warm/hot water means incredibly concentrated detergent, and therefore very good cleaning power in limited amounts of water with the same detergent dosage).
Detergent Concentration In Washers
To get the same detergent concentration in a new SQ TLer as you get in a FL washer you would need to use 4, 5 or even 6 doses of detergent and remember the cooler the wash water the more detergent you need to use, when you go from 120F to 60F you need approximately twice as much detergent to get the same cleaning results.
This is where using such cool wash water temperatures [ 65F ] is so misguided. In most cases it is not only cheaper to use hotter wash water but more ecological as well compared to using enough detergent to try cleaning in cool water.
John L.
To get the same detergent concentration in a new SQ TLer as you get in a FL washer you would need to use 4, 5 or even 6 doses of detergent and remember the cooler the wash water the more detergent you need to use, when you go from 120F to 60F you need approximately twice as much detergent to get the same cleaning results.
This is where using such cool wash water temperatures [ 65F ] is so misguided. In most cases it is not only cheaper to use hotter wash water but more ecological as well compared to using enough detergent to try cleaning in cool water.
John L.
Frigilux,
I have a feeling you won't be too happy with the Nellie's. Since using it, I noticed some small gray streaks on my dark clothes from time to time. They definitely were't there before I put them in the washer. Even after I started using a warm rinse the problem remained. And my whites were slowly starting to get a bit dingy, despite adding the Nellie's Oxygen Brightener.
I bought some Henkel's Persil (both Universal and Color Megaperls) and used it for the first time a couple of days ago and the above problems seem to have disappeared after only one wash. My whites are now crisp white and the gray streaks seemed to have stopped. The cleaning performance of the Persil seems to be about the same as the Tide Pods I was using in my old top loader (and before that, Tide powder). But I wanted to try the Persil because of its reputation for rinsing a bit cleaner than the Tide products. One day I might also try the Unilever Bio Persil. But first I have to use up my current stash, which should last me a long, long time, lol.
I will probably still use the Nellie's for my less important washloads, but after I've used that up, I plan on keeping the tins to put my Persil in (or whatever detergent becomes my new favorite in the future). The Nellie's containers look so much better than those big cardboard boxes.
I have a feeling you won't be too happy with the Nellie's. Since using it, I noticed some small gray streaks on my dark clothes from time to time. They definitely were't there before I put them in the washer. Even after I started using a warm rinse the problem remained. And my whites were slowly starting to get a bit dingy, despite adding the Nellie's Oxygen Brightener.
I bought some Henkel's Persil (both Universal and Color Megaperls) and used it for the first time a couple of days ago and the above problems seem to have disappeared after only one wash. My whites are now crisp white and the gray streaks seemed to have stopped. The cleaning performance of the Persil seems to be about the same as the Tide Pods I was using in my old top loader (and before that, Tide powder). But I wanted to try the Persil because of its reputation for rinsing a bit cleaner than the Tide products. One day I might also try the Unilever Bio Persil. But first I have to use up my current stash, which should last me a long, long time, lol.
I will probably still use the Nellie's for my less important washloads, but after I've used that up, I plan on keeping the tins to put my Persil in (or whatever detergent becomes my new favorite in the future). The Nellie's containers look so much better than those big cardboard boxes.
