Using a wringer washer as your daily machine?

[athanasius80]

Hey guys, a friend just bought a copper tub Easy wringer washer and intends to use it as the household washing machine. Does anyone have advice or recommendations as to detergents or wash times? So far I've not found an owner's manual, nor have the vintage laundry books on archive.org been of much use.

Thanks!
Chris

 

[yogitunes]

well, usual wash times, as with any machine would be based on fabric and soil level...

heavy...15 minutes
normal..10 minutes
light...3 to 7 minutes

for delicates, something like a 1 minute wash, 1 minute soak....about 4 to 6 times, and then wring.....

start with the instructions for the detergent, one full dose to get you started.....and then 1/2 that amount for each re-use of the wash water...

also starting with the lightest color and soil levels, then move on to darker/heavier soils...

for rinsing, most used a separate washtub or laundry tub, sort of a manual hands on swishing of the clothing, and then back through the wringer/spinner.....

some will wash several loads in the machine, drain, and refill for rinsing....usually 3 to 5 minutes of agitation, and then wring out one last time....

spin rinsing was available on some Easy machines....

granted you may not find the exact instructions, but there are plenty of wringer videos of operating and hints on using one, and then adapt for your own preference and technique....

 

[brucelucenta]

Why would anyone want to go to that much trouble?

 

[abcomatic]

Bruce, you can do a lot of laundry in a wringer machine in an hour.

 

[abcomatic]

Chris

Does your machine have 3 suction cups type agitator? Make sure to observe the water line on the tub when using that machine.

 

[wayupnorth]

30 minutes per load for me in my '48 Kenmore. I fill the tub, start the wash going, usually set the timer on 10 minutes, fill the rinse tub, wring into rinse tub, start 2nd load, swish first load and wring again, then hung on the line. Quicker than even my '84 Maytag 511, and yes, it is more work but it is fun playing with it.

 

[yogitunes]

I dig mine out every now and then, its actually a good stress reliever....

soothing sounds, calming water splashing, taking your frustrations out on a wash-board...

sort of the non physical B-Slapping session that so many people desperately need.....

its a good feeling for a job well done......

plus gives you a whole new respect for what your mother/grandmother had to endure.....and appreciate an automatic all too well....at least we have todays options and choices, something they didn't have....

 

[ea56]

Doing laundry in a wringer washer is a theraputic experience. Plus, in about an hour you can have a whole weeks laundry done. I still think that nothing gets clothes cleaner than a wringer washer. If I had the proper set up in our townhouse I would get a nice Maytag, with a pump and that would be my daily driver. But we only have a closet with room for an automatic washer and a dryer, so I'll just have to envy those of you that have a wringer washer.
Eddie

 

[yogitunes]

Come on Eddie, housewives were doing it in/near kitchen sinks for years...

in fact, some of our members still do....

as long as you have a pump, it can work just about anywhere, even a bathroom if you have the room....

but true, you can kick out several loads in no time once you get started....

 

[ea56]

Martin

I have a very small kitchen with no room to store a wringer. We have a two story townhouse, and I have two hip replacements so dragging a wringer up and down the stairs ain't gonna happen! I thought about using the bathtub for rinsing, but there is no room with toilet being next to the tub. The area adjacent to the laundry closet is carpeted, so trying to use a wringer in that space is out of the question too. So I'll just have to remember what it was like in 1972-73 when it had a Maytag wringer, my very first washer, $35.00 at the Salvation Army. BTW your directions for washing with a wringer are just how I used to do it. I never found the labor a problem. But then I was 21-22 yrs.old, not 65! But it sure used to beat going to the laundromat. Also, this is the way we did our laundry in my parents home before I moved out on my own, so it was what I knew already. Mom had a laundry tub (one with a metal cabinet around it) in the kitchen and thats where we used the Maytag.
Eddie

 

[yogitunes]

I got you....but always fun to try if you can.....

I myself would rather have my automatics in the kitchen if I could, rather than the basement or bathroom....its what I grew up with and used to....somewhat monitor and multi tasking...

I guess there's pros and cons to everything....

back to Chris, can you post some pics of the wringer your friend purchased?