Washing Machine Failure

[mixfinder]

I hear many complaints about washers have service issues. I observe as many friends style of laundry as I can and it seems to me over 90% of the households over load the washer. The mantra: wet then dry equals clean, with little regard to sorting, quality of laundry additives and load size. Manufactures advertise 16 pairs of Jeans and 23 towels and there is no way they can all rollover, get sufficiently clean and dry fluffy when crammed into the machine. The subliminal message is, cram the sucker full, burn it up and strip the gears and then guess what, come and buy another washer from us. When loading the washer, I drop the laundry in until it reaches the rim of the tub. I never push or pack. When the washer begins agitating, I check rollover and feel the water for slickness, to know if I have enough detergent and make any adjustments at that time. Neptune with holding, I can by pass just about any switch and get a visual on the wash action. I have no idea if not over loading, or the fact I have always had Maytags plays into it, but in all the years of owning Maytags, beginning in 1970, I have only had I washer repair. Does anyone else in this group advocate quality or quantity laundrying?
Kelly

 

[gyrafoam]

The Maytag rep here in Atlanta used to tell us (in regards to the then new Neptunes) "if you can get the door closed it will hold the load". My response was that, that may be true, but it most likely won't get the load clean.

Such is the prevailing mentality today. The solution in the 80's was Kenmo's "cruel-action" agitator. Pack it full dump in the detergent, slam the lid and let 'er go. So the modern machines are made to be disposable. Yeah, they hold a big load---they just don't hold up well mechanically.

I suspect the Whirlpool Duets and the similiar 'Kenmo's do a pretty good job with large loads, without breaking down too much.

 

[rinso]

My Kenmore HE3 has a huge tub, will hold a lot of clothes, and would clean large loads better if it wasn't so stingy on water. I realize the need to meet energy standards, and am all for conserving our natural resources, but the Duets and similar Kenmore HEs just don't gauge the water well for the large loads they claim to hold. Also, their rotational speed during even the heavy duty wash cycles is a bit too slow to do much more than slop even a normal load around and roll it into a ball.

I have washed large absorbant comforters, that fit in the machine without having to stuff them, filled the tub only about 3/4 to the top, and still had the center of them stay nearly dry during the wash cycle.

Of course, all this is just my opinion, I could be wrong.

 

[mixfinder]

Water on Front Loaders

At our condo, there are Neptune front loaders on each floor, for those who don't have machines of their own. I have used them and poured water into the soap dispenser to increase the water level in the machine. It made a significant difference in the sound of slopping water and the machiine didn't seem to mind. Can that be done with other front loaders?
Kelly

 

[monkeywards40]

I share a home with my sis and her hubby and i bought us a frigidaire toploading washer and matching dryer now my sis and i both seperate the clothes fabrics and colors, but because on the front of both it says SUPREME CAPACITY my brother in law thinks that translates to pack it full. and now when the washer runs you can hear it go click,click,click as it runs, just like the dryer. Iam going to have to get a frontloader washer so he wont break it by packing it full.

 

[neptunebob]

But you can overload a front loader too

Once at a laundromat I saw an angry woman stuffing all of her family wash into a front loader, a small one that I don't remember the brand of. It was stuffed so full she had to push the door closed till it latched. You should have seen as the drum was going around, the clothes were edging against the door gasket, as if to say, "Get me out of here"! The machine squaked and strained so there probably was some damage. She was Sooooooo angry over something, I didn't dare tell her about sorting and loading laundry.

 

[brettsomers]

everyone, watch Unimatic's "loading" video in the *Hotpoint washes live* thread to see how its done!

 

[panthera]

weight vs volume

My LG front-loader is "rated" for 7kg, about 15.4 US lbs. That means, I can put in a comforter big enough for a California Queen...
bed ('bout 7kg)
and it will still be washed perfectly well.
But if I were stupid enough to load up 7kg of shirts, pants, etc. I would get exactly what I deserve - a flashing "overload" error.
You ought to make your sister's hubby not only pay for the damage, but also do all the laundry (collecting, sorting, washing, drying, pressing, folding, putting away) for a few months by himself.
He'll figure it out - or never go near your expensive machines again.

 

[Bearpeter]

AEG front loader loading

Have to say I agree with Panthera.... get him to do the full wash, dry, iron thing for a few weeks and he will soon learn!!!

My AEG is 6KG load..... The max I load is 3/4 full LOOSLY!
The only poor aspect about AEG washer dryers is that they dont rinse well because of the water levels during rinsing. Like I said in another thread... this way I get wrinkle free clothes and a lot better cleaning and rinsing!