Washing bedding in vintage TLs -- where am I going wrong?!

[Marky_Mark]

Hi guys.  As you can see in my video below, sometimes my bedding develops air pockets and then all rollover stops.  The machine sounds like it's straining and it's also rough on the bedding, which emerges twisted.

 

I have a cotton kingsize duvet cover (which I wash buttoned up), a kingsize fitted sheet and 4 pillowcases.  Sometimes the whole cycles goes without a hitch.  Other times, air pockets can develop in either the wash or the rinse, or both.  I load in quadrants and I don't think I've tried wrapping the sheets around the agitator.

 

These air pockets can occur in all my TLs.  My Frigidaire is my only machine that is able to overcome this problem and keep the load rolling over despite the air pockets.  

 

Is there anything I can do to avoid or lessen this?  Are there TLs out there that are more immune to this problem?

 

Thank you

Mark

 

 

[qsd-dan]

Slightly underloading turns everything over quicker which helps prevent air pockets/quickly burps air pockets. You can also leave out smaller items, like pillow cases, until the load turns over and the air pockets are gone, then add them in. When I wash sheets, I always stand in front the machine and pop air pockets immeadilty, which is generally in the first 1-2 minutes of operation. The machine will be fine from there until the deep rinse cycle. I've perfected the technique and rarely get air pockets anymore but I'll be dammed if I could describe my technique. Next time I wash a load of sheets (Dec 1) I'll pay better attention. As you discovered, if the air pockets aren't deflated within a minute or so, things can get tangled up near the bottom in a hurry.

Next time you wash sheets again, video the loading process. We should be able to help guide you from there.

 

[DADoES]

 
I sometimes wash casual button-down shirts with sheets ... same fabric weight so everything dries evenly.  A proportionately larger mix of smaller items seems to distribute the load better during agitation.  Loading the fitted sheet on bottom, then pillow cases (and some of the shirts), then the fitted sheet on top (with rest of the shirts) seems to help with the air pockets.  YMMV.  I don't recall how loading was done for the videos below.

One set of queen-size sheets with multiple pillow cases (no shirts).https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cw1gyTO0bhU

Twin and queen sheet sets with multiple pillow cases (no shirts).  Special Sheets cycle which alternates three agitation profiles.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fhdgpQkHeaA

 

[maytag85]

I’ve noticed that sheets tend to have air pockets whenever I wash them in my ‘63 Whirlpool. Been a hot minute since I’ve washed sheets in my long stroke helical Maytags but don’t seem to remember having issues with air pockets with the Power Fin agitator when under loaded slightly. Definitely don’t remember air pockets when I used the Load Sensor dual action agitator in my Maytag A606.

 

[tomturbomatic]

It helps if you pick up the sheet in the middle and let the 4 corners hang down then put the center in the tub first and then load the rest of the sheet into the machine. With the sheet loaded in this manner, you allow a way for the air to escape.

 

[launderess]

Hey up Lad!

One reason was that happy with H-axis washing machines over top loaders with central beaters was dreaded air pockets when doing bed linen.

Sometimes wash went without a hitch, but then air pockets formed during rinse. Or, things happened in both cycles, no rhyme nor reason.

Find with Maytag wringer washer loading sheets, pillow slips and duvet covers by feeding them into water with agitator going (which pulls them down into water) does help a bit with air pockets.

Duvet covers and pillow slips seem worse offenders in this area, likely because they are made up of two layers of fabric.

If its of any consolation find air pockets happen even when doing bed or table linen by hand in wash tubs.

 

[kenwashesmonday]

Reply #4

That's exactly the way I do it!

 

I've also noticed that the higher the thread count of the sheets, the more likely they are to form air pockets in the washer.

 

 

 

[tomturbomatic]

Washers that shoot a fill stream into the tub the way Maytags and BD WP washers fill force a lot of air under the fabrics. The Design 2000 WP washers with the wide, gentle fill flume and the circle of fill jets in the Frigidaire 1-18 machines are not as likely to force air under the fabrics and are not as likely to create air balloons out of the fabrics.

 

[Marky_Mark]

Thank you for the comments and advice so far.  Regarding the tip from Dan and Sean to slightly under load, I will try doing this.  I'd say most of the machines in my video (especially the SQ) were very much underloaded and had water levels that were probably too high.  So I'll try again with only a slight under load. 

 

Sean, I have a friend with an orbital Maytag with a Load Sensor agitator, so I'll try out that machine, too.  I'd also like to try out a WP DD and Filter-Flo, among others, if I get the chance.

 

Tom, I can definitely try loading them centre first.  As Laundress mentions, it's the duvet cover that is the worst culprit.  Ken, good point about the thread count -- air bubbles just can't make it through the weave!

 

Glenn: your F&P Intuitive eco machine looks like it does a great job of sheets and seems to have an effective fill and saturation method.  

 

[combo52]

This is why I have both front load in top load washers

I just don’t bother washing anything large and a top loading washer blankets quilt sheets etc. all go in the front load machine it’s just better on the clothing and does a better job.

Next to the Frigidaire a dual action agitator Toploader would be best.

John L

 

[tomturbomatic]

Original Speed Queen washers with the soft, aerated fill were another brand that did not shoot air under sheets.

 

[Marky_Mark]

Lucky you, John!

I don't currently have a front loader in the US.  But I would like to have one, preferably vintage of course!

 

[maytag85]

Though I am a top load person, a Westinghouse slant front will work best since you won’t have to stoop down to load and unload the machine compared to other front loaders out there unless on pedestals. Westinghouse slant front dryers are good though they run a little hot since they can get over 200F in operation but adding a thermostat that’s rated for a lower temperature might remedy that issue with running a bit hot.

 

[Unimatic1140]

This can happen with Back and Forth style agitation...

Trapped air bubbles in large items such as sheets happens many times with back and forth style agitator top loaders. However you don't need a front loader to prevent this you just need a different style of vintage top loader agitation. Philco, Frigidaire and Kelvinator washers never have air bubbles issues as the agitation style will pull the sheet down and release the air with their non back and forth style of agitation. With early Frigidaire washers that have a 2 or 3-ring agitator you have to load the sheets carefully to prevent tangling but it certainly can be done as I do it all the time without any tangling issues. Philco and Kelvinator washers generally do not have the tangling issue and can be loaded just like any washer.

Here is a few minutes of agitation in my '59 Philco washer. This is a huge wash load for a 1959 automatic and yet the turnover is still constant and everything comes out clean. Notice how there is no issue what so ever with air-bubbles being trapped in the sheets.

This wash load consists of:
1 flat queen size flannel sheet
1 fitted queen size flannel sheet
6 pillow cases
10 men's size large t-shirts.

 

[maytag85]

Reply #13

Since you have used all kinds of machines in different models from different manufacturers from different eras, how well do dual action agitators do with air pockets in sheets? I seem to remember my long stroke Maytags with the load sensor agitator didn’t struggle with air pockets if memory serves correctly.

 

[tomturbomatic]

A 50 cycle pulley and belt kit on a Maytag will increase the oscillations per minute and, with a plain old turquoise Powerfin, will pull sheets down in no time in a regular or tall tub machine.

 

[toploadloyalist]

Agitation Speed

Correct me if I'm wrong, but might those high agitation speeds play a role in those air pockets?  When it comes to washing blankets, I wash them in delicate due to their bulkiness. For sheets and pillowcases, I prefer the permanent press cycle.

 

[qsd-dan]

"but might those high agitation speeds play a role in those air pockets?"

Faster agitation helps burp the pockets quicker, at least in a Maytag with a Powerfin agitator. The problem may still exist with agitators the have wide fins from top to bottom, like Whirlpools Surgilator or GE's FF straight vane. In Roberts modified Maytag, you can see where the dramatic increase in agitation speed quickly burps air from the sheets and immediately kicks the rollover process into gear.

 

[Marky_Mark]

Wow thanks, Robert!  I enjoyed watching the video of the amazing Philco wash action.  It’s unlike anything I’ve ever seen or used before.  This type of machine is now most definitely on my wish list

 

The hot rod Maytag, with its VFD motor mod, is another unique masterpiece. WOW.  I’m in awe!