Toploader advice

[lavamat_jon]

Right.

As some people probably have read, here on my campus I have coin operated Maytag toploaders. Now I do have the option of 2 local launderettes nearby with frontloading commercial washers which do a decent job, however sometimes it's not convenient to go there and I have to use the on-campus laundry with Maytag toploaders.

My only beef with this is that I just can't get clothes clean, gently. If I use the colours setting, with maximum agitation, things come out somewhat clean but snagged and bobbled up, and with some of my clothes I pay good money for I'm not willing to put up with this. The delicate & knits cycle gets round this, but cleaning results suffer even more. I've also tried permanent press, but that seems to be no different to the standard colours cycle. Not just this, but I'm getting powder marks left on darks which, when dry, to put it bluntly looks like a certain bodily fluid all over my clothes. Rinsing is poor and I'm also having to use sensitive skin washing powder, something which I never had to do at home before (even though on the standard cycle our machine only uses 45 litres of water!). I'm trying to keep loads to the recommended size (the instructions say loosely to the top row of holes, which I do) and paying £2 for each wash I'm not going to underfill it.

The worst thing I've noticed is whites... even with a hot super cycle, I can't get whites white, and stains aren't removed at all. I've use both Ariel and Fairy washing powders, more or less the best you can get on the market here, and still having problems with stain removal - even with 3 times the recommended dose (I normally use 1/2 to 3/4 the recommended dose at home), as well as 2-3 times as much fabric conditioner. I'm getting to the point where I'm probably going to have to buy a tub of Vanish oxi bleach... something which I would never normally do!

Is there any advice from people on both sides of the pond on to what I can do? Obviously I can go to the local launderette and get a decent result but to get my moneys worth I have to save my laundry up all week there and it hurts my back carrying all the laundry there and back so it's not really a feasible option, not just that but ht elocal laundries are only open in the day where the on-campus one is open until 10 or 11 at night. Not just that but I can get a wash and dry done at the campus laundry for £3 - the washers alone cost anything from £4 at the launderette. How do you get whites white, and clothes clean without damaging them at all in a toploader?

Not wanting to cause a frontloader versus toploader war here, but I'm really beginning to miss our frontloader back at home :-(.

Jon

 

[rapunzel]

Pre-treat stains the night before, either using a pen or doing a bucket soak with oxygen bleach. Don't use three times the recommended dose of detergent. Use a liquid instead of powder if powder residue is a problem. Don't wash regular and heavy articles with delicates. Zip up your zippers, hook up your hooks and button up those buttons. Another thing that may be useful is to buy a washbag for your dainties. That way you can launder them safely with the rest of your clothes.

Hope this helps.

Cheers

 

[peterh770]

Jon,

You are stuck with the machines. It appears they work exactly in the UK as they do here in the States. My guess is that they are set for a 10 minute wash with a 1 minute cold rinse. The hot water is tap hot and probably not hot enough lest they scald students in the shower. I also guess that the "super" wash feature is disabled.

Do like we do here in the States: use liquid detergent and Clorox.

I take it that the launderettes have frontloaders that are US based also. You might have better rinsing there, but wash results will probably be the same.

 

[mrboilwash]

My experiance with toploaders is rather limited but I always had similar problems as you have.
Cleaning performance seems to be poor compared with European frontloaders, but if you pretreat all visible stains it should be much better.
Perhaps its worth a try to use a high sudsing handwash-twintub detergent instead of overdosing a standard one.
I also found TLs very hard on clothes, its amazing how much lint a fast stroke Maytag shreds off a load which would be normally almost lint free after a 2 hour cycle in a FL.
The remedy might be to turn insides out whenever possible.
I found most TLs rinsed better than I had expected, at least clothes never felt soapy at the end.
Toploaders are so much fun to use so that makes up for a lot, doesnt it?

 

[lavamat_jon]

Hi,

Thanks for your replies... looks like I'm doomed really then. Already zip up zips etc, wash things inside out etc so looks like I can't do anything more in terms of the abrasion. I don't really want to use liquid detergent as I either take a sachet of tablets with me or a tupperware container of powder, so don't wnat to be lugging bottles around but if it's going to help I may do. Handwash/twin tub powders aren't available in my local Sainsbury's, either.

Peter - these tops actually have quite hot water (the water steams out of the lid during hte wash), and I always use the super cycle (it only costs 20 pence more and gives an extra rinse), this gives a 36 minute cycle in total. The wash drains at 19 mins, so it's getting a good 15 minute wash or so.

The frontloaders in the local launderette are Electrolux-Wascators (aka Wascomat's) and Ipso's, both of which do a much much better job than the toploaders - whether this is because they do a prewash I don't know.

I really don't want to resort to havign to bleach laundry - in my mindset (and culture) it seems rather drastic and unnecessary, but now I can see why it's used so widely in the states :-(.

Jon

 

[lavamat_jon]

In response to Jeff in the Ariel thread;

"Jon, start with the most common mistakes:

-- Using too much detergent

-- Using too little detergent, and/or not using bleach when it's needed

-- Oversized loads

-- Undersized loads (this can be more of a problem than oversized loads)

-- Inadequate wash time

-- Inadequate water temps

-- In many front loaders, inadequate water levels.

You won't have control over some of these things in a coin-op machine."

Jeff;

As I've mentioned earlier, my loads are as recommended by the machine (loosely filled to the top row of holes), I've upped and upped my detergent dose and still nothing has come clean, cycle time is 36 minutes in total, and of course the tub is full of water. I don't want to resort to having to use bleach on laundry - it's an unnecessary additive which no doubt will harm my eczema even more, not to mention the environment. Water temps aren't that inadequate (though without a heating element god knows what they are), but hot is always steaming out of the lid and of course I use hot for whites and warm for everything else. Funny you mention inadequate water levels, as all the frontloading machines I've used at home have done a much better job probably using not even half of what these toploaders do, as have the commercial equivalents.

Shame that these tops seem to be so dismal, they are quite fun to use though of course I do miss having the porthole window, and I hate how everything is stuck to the side of the tub afterwards - it's a haven for creases! I certainly hope these aren't an example of the majority of toploaders,

Jon

 

[jeffg]

I should stop using the word bleach, for some reason everyone thinks chlorine.

Try Oxyclean, or another oxygen/perchlorate "additive".

Let's not start the tired TL/FL debate, I'll only say there's a wider range of TL's available in the States, apparently, than the rest of the world. Today's standard Whirltags/Maypools/etcs are pretty poor performers. But they're going to have to pry my Speed Queen washer from my cold dead hands when I go.

 

[lavamat_jon]

Hi Jeff,

I shall certainly try some oxygen bleach, though the detergents I use already have them included anyway but I suppose there's no harm in boosting the power. Just hate having to buy additives when at home all I need is a small scoop of powder and a drop of softener and that's it :-(.

As I said, I hope this isn't an example of the typical American toploader, just trying to live with what is here and they certainly aren't up to the standards of the majority of frontloaders I have used. Even our old Hotpoint washer did a better job than what I'm getting at the moment from these machines.

Jon

 

[nickuk]

Hi Jon

Is there any way you can `lift the lid' or pause the machine after a couple of minutes agitation to give them a nice long soak? You mind find that even 15 or so minutes soak makes a difference, though obviously longer would be better.

I'm really surpised that you can't get a handwash detergent locally! I haven't looked for one for ages. Apart from anything else, despite obviously being high foaming they surprisingly rinse out so much easier than automatic powders. Might help with the eczema? I also think they're still phosphated (Ariel, Daz) which I suspect would maje a big difference to `whites' washes when washing in these machines. Of course, no point suggesting phosphated Persil tabs - heaven only knows how they'd go about (not) dissolving. Would Ace oxy liquid suit these machines as a booster?

Are you even bothering with liquid FS in these machines or are you just throwing some Bounce into the dryer?

Is there no way you could smuggle a front loader into your bedroom, LOL. Or maybe you have one of those electricity systems whereby if you run anything more than 5 amps the RCD trips? You could open your own mini launderette and undercut the uni. Might be a way of making new acquaintences, too!

Did send you an email but it obviously didn't work. Still can't work out how to change email address on my profile. It's [email protected], anyway.

Good luck!

Nick

 

[lavamat_jon]

Hi Nick,

Unfortunately you can't lift the lid on this machines, it has lid locks which only opens the lid during final rinse so you can add softener. Must admit I haven;t looked extensively in the detergent aisle in Sainsburys - seeming as I go shopping with my friends I try not to give my laundry hobby away - but nothing has jumped out at my eye.

Can you still buy Ace liquid? I haven't seen it for a while but again probably worht a look in Sainsbury's. I've been using Fairy recently, as much as I hate using non bio but figured both my mum's and nana's advice wouldn't be crap and they are right - the powder seems to be a lot much better than the tablets my sister uses.

Not using dryer sheets - still using liquid softener, using Marks & Spencer's Linen softener and it smells gorgeous! Just like laundry should. Even better its on buy one get one free at the moment!

Wish I could fit a washer in here LOL. Fortunately I'm going home this weekend so I'll be lugging a huge suitcase full of laundry back to do in the Miele .

I've changed to solely my hotmail address too, if you still have my f9 address I'm not sure if that addy works anymore. I gave up on it a long while ago after getting fed up of 100's of emails asking if I'm happy with my breast size!

Jon

 

[xyz]

Take them clothes to the creek for a country clean.

 

[2drumsallergy]

Fairy Household Soap

Hi Jon,
I'm sorry to hear of your Top Load laundry problems. Its probably the Zeolites in the washing powder causing the streaking on your dark items, I find I always need the extra rinse on my Whirlpool DD Top Loader when using powders but an extra rinse is likely not available on a Launderette machine. As for the stains I suggest you get yourself a bar of Fairy Household Soap and a pistol grip spray bottle for misting plants etc. Before you set off for the Launderette use the spray bottle to wet any visible stains and then rub well with the Fairy Soap. The Fairy Soap is very good on most stains (Especially greasy or oily stains) and will have have time to work its magic as you travel to the Launderette.

If you can't find Fairy Household Soap look for Sunlight Household Soap or a bar of Vanish will do. I find Fairy or Sunlight Soap better and much cheaper than Vanish, you get two huge bars of Fairy or Sunlight for less than the price of one small bar of Vanish.

Another suggestion is to use a liquid detergent along with some Oxygen Bleach that should solve the white marks on your dark items while still providing bleaching effect.

Yes Ace Stain Remover liquid (Formerly Ace Gentle Bleach) is still available and works best when poured directly onto the stains.

One final suggestion is to get yourself a laundry net bag and put your more delicate items in the net bag, this will protect them from the Agitator fins which can be rather rough, chipped or nicked in Launderette machines.

I hope this helps you.

David

 

[kirk280980]

Hi Jon,

Long time no speak - glad to hear you're well, and I hope all's going OK at uni too ).

Not sure what to suggest about the linting/pilling issue, as I've never experienced this problem myself when using top loaders. It does sound like you're doing everything correctly with regard to loading as well, so I can only echo the suggestion to try a mesh laundry bag for your more delicate items. Either that or pop them into a pillowcase, with the open end knotted to prevent items spilling back out again during the wash.

Do you combine heavyweight items such as jeans with other colours? If you have enough pairs on hand, it may be better to save up a full load's worth of jeans and wash them separately, rather then throwing them in along with T-shirts and the like. Rough and smooth fabrics rubbing against each other during the wash is not a good combination. In a top loader, I've always found that homogenous loads tend to roll over better too, thereby preventing clothes from lingering too long at the bottom of the tub and being scrubbed to death by the agitator.

Regarding the stain removal and detergent residue problems, I think this could be greatly helped by the use of a phosphated detergent. Phosphates will provide better water softening and soil suspension than a double or triple dose of zeolite based detergent ever could, which will also help alleviate the rinsing problem. Persil tabs in their usual form probably wouldn't be very suitable, as Nick already mentioned. However, if you crush them up while still in the packet, what you end up with is a very convenient sachet of finely powdered detergent that can be added to the machine in the normal manner, and will dissolve very easily. This is exactly what I do when using top loaders at campsite launderettes, and I've never had poor wash performance or detergent streaks on clothes as a result. Obviously this will only work with the non-bio tabs without gel layer, but there are other ways of adding enzymes to the wash if you need them (Vanish Oxi Action powder and tabs, for example, both contain enzymes).

One thing I would be considering if I were in your position would be a mini washing machine, such as the one in the link below. OK, it's very small... but it could easily be stashed away in your room, you could wash little and often at your own convenience, and have full control over the entire process to boot. Might be worth thinking about - you could even put it on the Christmas list!

http://www.ekmpowershop3.com/ekmps/shops/hobbyhorse/portable-twin-tub-washing-machine-465-p.asp

 

[rapunzel]

I RV a lot and often use laundromats. Here they now mostly use SpeedQueens and the REAL Maytags (there are lots of them around still). I find that, due to the quick wash cycles and general lack of warm/hot water in commercial washers, pre-treating and soaking heavily soiled stuff is a must and works very well. Most of our detergents still use phosphates and rinsing is usually not an issue, unless I should accidentally overload and mix incompatible fabrics - e.g. darks/lights, lint givers with lint receivers etc.. I also find that placing the detergent at the bottom of the tub, before throwing in the clothes, helps dissolve it more quickly.

If, after all the advice given here, you still get crummy results, may I suggest to stay away from the campus laundry. Also consider that those top loaders are probably subject to regular abuse by other patrons and, perhaps, the facility and its machines aren't being maintained to an acceptable standard either.

To clarify my point, earlier in the year I stayed at a trailer park and one of its more permanent residents used to wash his oily mechanics overalls (using only cold water) in the park's outdoor Maytags. I cottoned on to this real quick and identified the perpetrator without too much trouble. I always take a clean cloth and wipe the inside of the bowl before doing my washing. Luckily they had hot water connected to the washers and I used to run a hot cycle without clothes, using bleach and detergent, before I'd wash my stuff. Suffice to say, I stayed away from the dryers and used the communal clothes line.

Just my two cents worth.

Take care

rapunzel

 

[seamusuk]

Mini washers ...

Jon

Have you seen Matts thread- looks just what you need lol

Seamus

 

[lavamat_jon]

Hi guys,

First of all, thanks for all your advice, it's all very welcome.

In terms of loading I am washing jeans with my normal clothes, I only wear 3 pairs a week or so and at home I normally mix jeans with my clothes which I suppose you can get away with in a frontloader. I have more than 3 pairs of jeans but I'm ashamed to wear a lot of them lol.

Detergent wise I bought some Persil non bio liquigel today, and some Sainsbury's "stain remover for whites" oxi bleach. Hopefully this will work next time I use the laundry, won't be for a while yet though as I'm taking some washing home this weekend .

Not found a delicates bag anywhere yet but willing to try them out. Though I presume I will need several, or can you put a few items into one? Never had to use them before...

Thanks again,

Jon

 

[2drumsallergy]

Laundry Net Bag

Hi Jon,
Here is a set of three on eBay UK. The zipped ones are much better than the drawstring as the drawstring has a tendency to open during the wash cycle which defeats the purpose.

I hope this helps.

David

Pardon our interruption...

 

[lavamat_jon]

Thanks David! Would you suggest getting maybe 3 sets of 3? Seeming as a lot of my t shirts are delicate, would this suffice?

Sorry to be a bit of a pain - just want to get it right

Jon

 

[2drumsallergy]

Hi Jon,
Yes that would be a great idea or even a round dozen then you can leave plenty of room in each bag. They really do protect finer items from damage and also keep your smaller items like socks together. Don't use them in the dryers though as the bag could melt in a very hot dryer, Launderette dryers can sometimes run quite hot.

Another advantage you can fill your net bags before you set off to the Launderette and simply drop them into the machine when you get there.

David