The amazing and gentle Gyrafoam action of my Maytag E2LP

[bradross]

Thought I'd just share my laundry experience with ya'll today! I recently received from a cousin a very old, woven jacquard bedspread that belonged to my great-great grandmother in Iowa. I had seen it in old family portraits dating back to the 1880s, when it was used as a backdrop for photography. Well, it REALLY needed cleaning, but as you can imagine, I was a little hesitant, given its age. Well, I decided to use the old wringer washer, as that way I could closely monitor the wash time, and the "gyrafoam" action of the old Maytag seems fairly gentle. I also feared the spin cycle on an automatic could damage it. Well, it turned out BEAUTIFULLY! It's amazingly soft and clean. Seeing it now, one would never imagine it's about 130 years old or more!

 

[rp2813]

Brad, I would love to see pictures of the clean bedspread.

Ralph

 

[qsd-dan]

All of these recent Maytag wringer posts are really making me anxious in finding a decent machine. I have had thoughts of using a variac on a wringer for precise agitation control, especially on delicate fabrics or awkward loads, like shoes. Can't use a variac on an automatic without pissing off the timer, as well as other controls that rely on at least 110v for proper operation.

 

[launderess]

Have No Room For Another Washer

Wringer or otherwise, but am keen to find a good mangle in working operation.

Why? Well for just the sort of item spoken of above. Large bukly but yet delicate items such as bedspreads, quilts and even some older wool blankets. Such items may or may not fit in the Miele, but even when or if they do their weight when wet can lead to damage. Know of one domestic front loader that literally bashed itself to bits trying to spin a heavy quilt.

One could always take such things to the laundromat and use the 50lb commercial washer but there we run into several problems. One, am getting leary of public wash houses what with the plague of bed bugs that seems to be infesting NYC at the moment. Then there is the lack of control one has over coin operated washing machines. Once the money goes in/machine starts that is it until the program is over. Should the item begin to ball up, colours start running, or you can see seams starting to break via the window, you are out of luck. Well suppose there is asking the attendant to some how cut power/stop the washer, but what does the good of that? You still are stuck with a wet heavy, and now maybe damaged item.

 

[strongenough78]

Ooooooh!!

Please share some pictures of that blanket!!! Would love to see a before washing and after washing. I'd even be afraid to run it through the wringer on the Maytag after washing and rinsing.

 

[electronicontrl]

Nice

So how long of a wash time did the bedspread receive?

 

[polkanut]

Reading this thread makes me sorry I sold the E2L that my wife's uncle had. It originally had the rubber footpad to operate the wringers, but Uncle Edmund put a screw in to disable it. Sold it for $45 dollars to a young couple that wanted to save on laundromat costs. DAMN!!!

 

[electronicontrl]

Bypassing the foot pedal

When Mom got a Model J2L in 1969 I remember the Maytag man telling my Dad how to bypass the wringer control foot pedal by using a 5/8 bolt.

 

[cmlrobison]

Wringer Washers

Hello, I'm a recent member and I'm fascinated with these wringer washers. I too would love to see the before and after pics of your family heirloom. Can anyone comment on how large or bulky an item may be successfully washed in these machines? Thanks much!

 

[JaredH]

This Is NOT 130+ years old. probably approximately 40.

 

[bradross]

reply to JaredH's comment ...

It appears there might be a little confusion to the reference of "130+ years old". I'm not referring to the machine (which is a 1977 model), but rather, the bedspread, which is precisely that ... at least if my arithmetic serves me correctly, 1880-2010 is 130 years.[this post was last edited: 1/16/2011-18:26]

 

[polkanut]

Brad,

Did you happen to take before and after pics of the bedspread?

 

[bradross]

Bedspread pic # 1

As requested, here are a few shots of the bedspread. As a jacquard/damask weave, the pattern is the same, but reversed colors on each side.

I didn't think to take before pics, but not sure if anything would have looked that different. There weren't major stains - just dingy in general, with a smell of mothballs.

 

[bradross]

Bedspread pic # 2

another shot

 

[bradross]

Bedspread pic # 3

And here's the reverse side, showing the white background.[this post was last edited: 1/16/2011-20:00]

 

[rp2813]

Very nice bedspread.  Thanks for posting!

 

Ralph

 

[polkanut]

Very pretty, and definitely worth preserving.  Congrats Brad!

 

[autowasherfreak]

That's a beautiful bedspread, and the washer isn't to bad either

 

[stan]

E2LP

Hi all. To answer cmiribison s question, I would say about half the amount that you would put in an average size top loader, I have a Maytag E2LP and thats how I do it? I have washed a heavy wool blanket in it (by itself of course) and it worked out fine.