The TechnoSonic Mini Washer

[westytoploader]

I didn't really intend to get this...you'll read why. I was browsing eBay and came across an ad for a Cyclone WashMate. I wanted one but they always ended high. Near the end of the auction nobody bid, and I placed a bid in for $10 or something like that. Much to my surprise I won! Well a few weeks later I get the package, and I opened it up. To my surprise there was an NIB TechnoSonic washer inside, a cool Cyclone WashMate clone. The (stupid) seller advertised it as a Cyclone WashMate! I couldn't believe it! But since it was NIB and had a larger tub I really didn't have any reason to complain or leave a "neggie". After all, the "blender-like" shape is cute!

Earlier that day, my mom picked up a box of Trend detergent for $1 and wanted me to see what it was like. She grew up with Trend (oh my...I don't know how she survived because, honestly, this is the WORST detergent I have EVER used...it doesn't dissolve fully and left grainy specks in the Maytag's lint filter that I had to flush out which was a pain) and thought it would be cool.

So I hooked it up and proceeded to dry-run it. Very cool spring-wound timer that you can hear (doesn't sound like an egg timer either if that's what you're thinking...), as well as a reversing impeller. The motor has a neat, breadmaker-like sound. I filled it up, ran it with a full tub of water, and then decided to wash some towels. I put in 1/2 cup of Trend and washed away! Very strong action; 2 towels (1 bath, 1 hand) is a "capacity" load, but I could also wash my thick, heavy hooded sweatshirt with no problems. Everything seemed to get clean, and what was really convenient about the machine was the fact that the "bucket" was removeable and had strainer holes in the lid for draining the water. I found that 12 minutes for the wash and 6 minutes for the rinse is plenty of time. I'm going to have to test it with Purex and Tide as well and see what happens!

A picture is worth a thousand words--here you go!! Maybe if I could get it on the plane I could bring this to the convention with me, clean it out and we could make giant-sized milkshakes...LOL!

--Austin

http://www.automaticwasher.org/cgi-bin/00ShowCollectionGETD.cgi?photoshow=14@TechnoSonic%20similar%20to%20Cyclone%[email protected]&dir=/COLLECTIONS/WESTYTOPLOADER

 

[Designgeek]

Interesting! I've been intrigued with this design for a while, particularly in terms of its practical capacity. (All tools are useful as long as one uses them within their actual capabilities.)

In fact all of these, Cyclone included, are clones of an original Panasonic product called the "Electric Bubble Bucket," because it was intended simply to replace hand-washing in buckets (whic is apparently common in Japan for washing a few small items even when people have regular washers at home).

Panasonic brought this out in June 2001. The Cyclone is nearly identical (the only visible difference is the orientation of the water-draining slots in the top lid). Then the rest of 'em followed along.

The asymmetrical division of the impeller in the unit you got (i.e. not equal "thirds") is probably intended to introduce some irregularity into the whirlpool flow in the tub.

I've seen another clone that has a similar layout to a food processor (motor located on pedestal behind container), and with a drain hose. Apparently some of the clones are quite clever in terms of slight differences in features.

These machines could become popular in the USA for specific applications. One use suggested on the Panasonic website was washing hand-towels and such in office break-rooms. This in turn could lead to reduction of paper towel consumption and associated waste output. Also think of washing cloth napkins, thereby doing away with the need for paper napkins.

Anyway, have a look here:

http://panasonic.co.jp/appliance/global/products/washing_machines/products/bucket.htm

And here, for the story of how this thing was invented:

http://panasonic.co.jp/appliance/global/products/washing_machines/quality/index.htm

I think current-production models have two controls: one for the timer, one for normal/gentle action.

If anyone knows where to find one of the Panasonic units new (probably under the National brand in Japan), please let me know.

 

[jasonl]

There's something about small washers that I love. It would be really cool if it was an automatic that could spin like a Haier. Those little Stir-O-Matic machines are neat. Like a toy Harmony :-D

 

[doityrselfguy]

Austin, I have a Cyclone WashMate. The impeller on your TechnoSonic is identical. Besides the outer design, here are some other differences: The WashMate has an additional knob that allows you to adjust the impeller speed (high or low). Its impeller moves in only one direction, in bursts. It runs for about 3 seconds, pauses for a second, then continues in the same direction and so on. I think the WashMate could be improved by adding reversing action, but it does a good job regardless. I find that a second rinse gives best results. Enjoy your little machine!

 

[Designgeek]

The TechnoSonic is apparently sold via Sears, so Sears quality-control may have stepped in and insisted on the reversing action to minimize tangling, or chosen that manufacturer because their machine already had it. I have direct knowledge of instances where Sears went back to a manufacturer and said, in essence, beef up your product here and here, and add a safety thingie there, etc.

Westy, do you get any tangling with that machine?

Best of both worlds would be something like 3 - 10 sec in each direction, with a 1-second pause between reversals, and of course the normal/gentle switch.

Jason, if those things had spin capability, they'd probably scoot around the kitchen counter when offbalanced, and in some cases fall onto the floor and die with a splash. Though if you have a twin-tub, you can use its spinner for this purpose, and in fact that combination might be very efficient: micro-washer for tiny loads that aren't enough to justify running the twin-tub washer function, and then use the TT spinner for dry cycle. Hmm. This gives me an idea...

 

[Designgeek]

Hey Westy, could you help with a research project here, using your new micro-washer? And, anyone else who has one of these machines, of whatever brand?

After Launderess posted something about e.coli being "all over the wash", this got me thinking about sanitation issues with laundry. One of which is the potential need to handle socks and underpants *each* as separate loads, and separately from other garments.

This in turn suggested that machines of the micro-washer type, such as the one you've just gotten, could be ideal for this purpose, especially for small households where the weekly quantities of socks & underwear don't justify handling as separate loads in a larger washer.

So this gets us to a specific question: have you tested that machine on socks and underwear? And would you be willing to do a bit of research testing for us?

What I'm thinking of is, run loads of socks, and loads of underwear, to see how they come out. Also, how many pairs of socks make a complete load in that machine? And how many pairs of jockey shorts or boxer shorts make a complete load?

By "complete load" the criterion I have is that the socks or underwear should be able to turn over properly in the wash process, and should not come out tangled by the impeller/pulsator action (I suspect that there are certain load sizes that encourage tangling, and slightly different load sizes that discourage tangling).

Also could you let us know the number of gallons or liters of water used to fill the machine, and the brand and quantity of detergents and/or bleaches etc. you use in each test load?

Anyone who's interested, please say so here, and I'll write up a standardized method you could use for doing the project and reporting the results.

 

[bpetersxx]

found a cyclone washmate

But are they better than the other models of bucket washers
you can buy

Pardon Our Interruption...

 

[Designgeek]

Very interesting! Except for one problem, it appears this one is for 220 volts, not 120. So it might be a foreign version that somehow got into the US, or a misprint in the ad. Best to contact seller so they can clarify their listing.

The previous smaller version of the cyclone used a pulsator/impeller action consisting of three seconds on, three seconds off, repeat; and no revesing-direction. I wonder if this is the same or different.

Water capacity is 14 liters, or approx. 3.5 gallons. That means the full bucket weighs about 29 lbs. plus laundry.

If you get one of these, it would be cool if you could post pictures including the interior and in-operation shots.

 

[partscounterman]

Mini washers are a PITA!

While I find these mini washers to be fun, they are all pretty much worthless in my (not so) humble opinion. You can do what these machines do just with a (clean) toilet plunger in a bucket of water. To me, washing is the easy part- the hard part is extracting and rinsing. These little machines leave you to wring out the water yourself. I don't see much point to these, other than the fact they make great toys for all of us here.

 

[arrrooohhh]

Parts counter man,

I think that a CLEAN toilet plunger and a bucked of water would be even MORE fun than one of those oversized blenders!

If it is to be motorised I think the most fun would be a Hoover Cadet from the early 80's, only 21 inches square and fully automatic.

 

[doityrselfguy]

Hi Partscounterman,

I have the smaller version of the Cyclone Wash Mate, not the one shown above. I use it on small chlorine bleach loads, (chlorine bleach is not recommended for use in my front-loader), or for brand new t-shirts with too much dye in them to be thrown in with a regular load.

I have a different point of view. I find it convenient because there are no hook-ups to deal with. When the wash stops, you dump the water through the slotted lid, which is locked in place, then refill for a rinse or two. The bucket has a handle, which makes it very easy to walk to my Bosch for a spin-only.

Pete

 

[Designgeek]

Partscounterman, I tried the "plunger" system as an experiment in college. 20 gallon drum, with lid, with hole cut in lid, with clean plunger head attached to a mop-handle with compatible threads. It didn't work. Clothes would ball-up under the plunger. No roll-over, no generalized mixing.

Doityrselfguy: What you're doing is exactly the kind of thing I was thinking of: using the micro-washer as an adjunct to a larger laundry system overall. Come to think of it, I might just get one for one of the applications you suggest: bleaching small loads or portions of larger loads, rather then putting bleach in the primary washer. Seeing as I just got a twin-tub, having a micro would allow me to split loads for rinsing, to insert a "bleach" sub-cycle in the micro for part of a larger load, e.g. underwear, before the regular rinse in the twin. Interesting idea...