Toploader advice

[irishwashguy]

This is just a thought

I would take it to the laundrymat that has the front loaders. Toploaders m at least a Maytag top loader ) just will not get your clothes as clean as a FL. I grew up with a Maytag, at speaking of which, my brother moved home where mom still has one and complains that his clothes don't get very clean. I had the same problem growing up, and always wondered why. I have a front loader and would never want to use anything else unless maybe it was a Unimatic. If worse come to worse..................

 

[ronhic]

Jon,

I grew up surrounded by top load machines and from what I can tell, there was never a problem (that I know of) with stain removal. Front load machines have only recently (last 10years) started to become popular here. As with all other posters, I can appreciate that you want to get the best results for your investment, you don't want to do any damage to your clothes and would rather not have to lug them to the laundrette....

So I suggest that even though it will cost more, you may need to try this...

-only fill to 2/3 or 3/4 with clothes - this will let them move more freely and reduce linting...wash more loads rather than load to the recommended capacity

-if the water temperature is hotter than about 60c, then the enzymes in your detergent will be pretty ineffective - they die - try the warm wash as the enzymes will be able to work. As an example, my old Oz made Hoover Electra's longest 'wash' component was 21min....and I never, ever had a problem on a warm wash.

-Which magazine tested powders and found Ariel was best in warm water 30-40c

-remember, European front load machines generally heat from cold - the machine you are using does not which doesn't give modern detergents much scope to be effective

-when using front load (British automatic) powder in a top load machine, you may need to increase the dosage to about 1 1/2 - 2 times recommended...there is a lot of water in which to get effective cleaning power and the cycle isn't long for it to work...

-rinsing may be compromised with increased detergent so you could try 1/2-1 cup of cheap WHITE vinegar instead of fabric softener...it will disperse the residue better and fabric will be soft (though not 'conditioned' soft)....when dried you shouldn't smell like a chippy...try it...it is cheaper than conditioner and is an option to iinvestigate

-pretreat stains both front and back of material...try vanish spray or similar. They should be sprayed and washed virtually immediately or you risk fabric damange....or soak in a bucket in your room, ring out and put in a plastic bag to transport...the soak option is a better (and cheaper) option especially for tough stains like food spillage

-if you continure to use conditioner, use a front load amount of fabric conditioner and mix with water. It will disperse more evenly...you should still get good results and it could actually be aggravating your skin - it nearly kills mine so I avoid it regardless of how pleasant it smells and especially if tumble drying

I'd be interested to know how you go....

 

[whitekingd]

Biz Bleach!

I assume you can get Biz Bleach there. It works GREAT for white clothes! I don't even mind hanging my delicates on the line outside when I use Biz Bleach! And also, I remember using the coin op Maytags when I was in college at Eastern Washington University in Cheney, WA. Short rinse cycle for sure! Good luck!!!!!!!

 

[whirlpolf]

Having owned both types of machines for years I found a major disadvantage of agitator type machines is the hot fill (right from the start). This tends to "bake in" all protein based dirt (sweat, odors, food stains). As FL machines start with cold water and then heating it up there is no such phenomenon, first washing the proteins out and later (when hot) taking care of all color stains (grass, crayon etc.)

In the top loader I observed a certain yellowing of the whites over the years (if detergent only). I started using chlorine bleach, this works, but I found out that it gets cotton fibres weak on the long run (towels, jeans). Then I switched to oxygen based bleach (better). But still: In order to get reasonnable results in the top loader, I would soak cold, then use longest wash time and a second rinse. I have no mesh bags, so my valuable clothes or delicates went in the FL only. Loose buttons, torn seams and minor damages on your clothes WILL definitely go worse in a top loader, mend your clothes regularly. With a FL you have more time to procrastinate *wink*

Remember grandma's trick to remove blood stains: "rinse cold immediately, never hot" (same effect here, if you compare FL and TL washers, so try soaking)

Good luck!

Btw. Chris: I tried the vinegar trick, works like a charm, many thanks! )

 

[toggleswitch2]

so you could try 1/2-1 cup of cheap WHITE vinegar instead of fabric softener...it will disperse the residue better and fabric will be soft (though not 'conditioned' soft)....

But not not not with a porcelain tub!

 

[speed_queen75]

To be honest

Lavamat-jon, there is no possible way to get your clothes in the newer style top load washers, with their fast short stroke agitation, it simply cant turn the load over, and i have heard over and over again, how poor the washing results are in the DD drive WP KM and in the orbital drive Maytag's. I have done tests in both types of machines, and time and time again the results in the belt driven or should i say, slow long stroke agitation washers come out the best, my recommendation to you would be find a laundry mat with Speed queen washers, they have the traditional washing action, and i can assure you from experience that they clean the clothes better than any fast stroke top loader on the market.

 

[speed_queen75]

To be honest

Lavamat-jon, there is no possible way to get your clothes clean in the newer style top load washers, with their fast short stroke agitation, it simply cant turn the load over, and i have heard over and over again, how poor the washing results are in the DD drive WP KM and in the orbital drive Maytag's. I have done tests in both types of machines, and time and time again the results in the belt driven or should i say, slow long stroke agitation washers come out the best, my recommendation to you would be find a laundry mat with Speed queen washers, they have the traditional washing action, and i can assure you from experience that they clean the clothes better than any fast stroke top loader on the market.

 

[westtexman]

Hey Jon . .

I hope you are well. It's a shame you can't use your Mieles there, but it's great that you're pursuing your education at Uni!

Anyway, as an American, I've used TL machines for years. I do believe that a good front-loader is better, but you can get good results in a TL if done properly. Unfortunately, you will need a good pre-treater as the TL's don't do a profile wash. I do believe that a good hand wash detergent would do the trick, as they have phosphates and they do rinse better.

Nick sent me some Tessco Handwash and some Daz Hand Wash a while back, and I was quite impressed with the results in the F&P. I also use good Mexican detergents with great results. A little oxygen bleach added to the detergent (though it already contains some) will go a long way as well. Don't use too much detergent as it will be hard to rinse out, but the high sudsing stuff does rinse out better.

Just enjoy experimenting and see if you can find the perfect combo for best results!

Good Luck!

Bryan

 

[zanussi_lover]

Jon

I see you have mastered the use of the shitty university washers eh, I had to put up with a year of using crappy speedqueens which didn't wash properly, and I found out to save money they only connected them to cold water so they never heated the water. No wonder the stains didn't come out lol, what ever detergent i used it was the same result lol

I have a proper washer now, in my house and its great

 

[zanussi_lover]

Oh yea

Cold water + Clothes = Scabies,

in my halls last year there was an outbreak of scabies, one person put their sheets in, and because of the low water temperature they survived and everyone put their clothes in and they spread from person to person

 

[favorit]

60C°/140°F...uhmm .. take them home then into W3922 ;-))

John, look for a launderette with the Little Giants..... For sure Miele coin operated washers heat water and don't simply use pre-heated water
Have seen lots of them in campings (South Eastern France and SuedTyrol)

Not sure if Wascators run also on the no heat configuration

 

[Bearpeter]

You're screwed, John!!

You are used to a Lavamat... that in itself puts you in a position of what a washnig machine should do.
A commercial top loader cannot get any load clean. No slow heat of wash water... 10 mins short wash agitation then 1 rinse just isn't effective. There will be some that will disagree but i've been there with a Fridgidaire Combi in Mexico AND a cheap plastic twinny and still couldn't get whites white without bleach!!! (you don't need that with a good FL) The principles of the "commercial" machines in Laundries is to freshen up and will never give the effortless results of good quality european machines... Saying that... does anyone out there know of a euro machine that gives excellent rinsing results??? I am still looking!!
My AEG16810 (4 years old) isn't the best...

Peter