Water Levels

[jbuscemi]

While I know the waterlevels in modern front loading washers are low, I think that in many cases they are just too low for proper washing and /or rinsing. Is there any way to " adjust " the automatic sensors to allow more water to fill up the tub just a little more? I have a White Westinghouse front loader from 1989 and one can add more water if the object being wwashes is especially dense. Needless to say I am NT thrilled with the automatic water levels in new front loaders. I want to decide what the water level should be not some preset amount.
Any suggestions?

 

[thomasortega]

I've created washers for many years and i can say something considering my professional know how:

Most people are used to huge water levels and create an association between high water level and good results.

Front loader washers DOES NOT need high water levels and, the dinamic of this technology allows all front loaders to have an automatic water level.

the amount of water is exactly what they need to perform excelent resuts.

If you have some issues, you should try to REDUCE the ammount of detergent. You'll be amazed with the better results.

When people switch from a top loader to a front loader, they need some time to readequate the detergent dosis and get used to this fantastic and economic way to do the laundry.

front loaders clean better, use less water, less detergent and less energy.

 

[decodriveboy]

Sorry Thomas but I disagree. You may not be familiar with the invisible water "levels" of newer U.S. front loaders. My clothes still had odors after a 2+ hour cycle! Never had this problem with a standard, much cheaper top loader.

Thankfully, the problem went away once I readjusted the water level on the machine to something reasonable.

A laundromat front loader which uses plenty of water gets the job done in half an hour, with no odors left behind. It sounds much more efficient to me to get the job done quicker, and correctly the first time. To eliminate water from a washing machine is contrary to the goal of doing laundry.

 

[hoovermatic]

The problem is with US front loaders because the European ones wash and rinse just fine. Your manufacturers need to go back to the drawing board or take a lesson from more experienced designers who have been making FL years

 

[decodriveboy]

I agree completely.

It's too bad your suggestion won't be heeded by the manufacturers over here, as it just makes too much sense!

 

[thomasortega]

I know both european and american HE front loaders
actually i have in my personal collection three front loaders, two of them "old" front loaders with huge water levels and a frigidaire affinity (here in Brazil it's named Electrolux Ecoturbo)

Only because you can't see it doesn't mean it's not there.
Affinity washer has a good water level, enough to perform a good wash.
Unfortunatelly most people use more detergent than needed, because this washer requires unbeliveable small dosis, and the result is a sudsy wash even with HE detergents and consequently a poor rinse and a poor cleaning (suds reduces mechanical action).

Forany people who told me about the poor affinity results i gave the same answer. USE LESS DETERGENT AND LESS SOFTENER, and after they tried, they were amazed with the washer.

Try to use only one or two teaspoons of regular Tide (USA) or Persil (Europe), the first thing you'll think is "This guy is crazy, of course it won't clean!" then you tell me the results later... BUT PLEASE TRY AND SEE WITH YOUR OWN EYES THE AMAZING RESULTS.

 

[dirtybuck]

Thomas...

Don't you mean TABLESPOONS? Adding two teaspoons would literally be next to nothing.

 

[thomasortega]

Well they are not the worst thing in life...

Thay clean (of course european cleans better) and i agree the water level should be higher...

But this is not "our" fault. There are some standards all manufacturers MUST follow. It´s a political thing, not an angry designer or engineer who decided to do this.

 

[maytagbear]

Uh, excuse me?

but the big Whirlpool Duet/ Kenmore HE are based on a Baunecht (spelling-please forgive!) design, and built in Germany! (not sure about the "Sport" model, but...)

This is about a paradigm shift, nothing more. Learning how to do laundry in a new way.

If I had to buy a new-new washer today, I would go FL, without a doubt, and I would use HE detergent, in a CORRECTLY measured amount.

I have a woman friend, Patti, who lives in SC, and she, after 50 years of toploaders, just got the Duet Steam pair this year, and loves them. If Patti, who is decidedly not an appliance person (ask her about pianos....) can learn to successfully use a FL.....

Lawrence/Maytagbear

 

[thomasortega]

The same way as I relearned how to do my laundry using my affinity washer...
The results are absolutelly perfect, even with "one or two tablespoons of water" and yes, i use teaspoons of detergent.
A small box lasts months and months. I just love when i calculate the savings I have.

 

[rapunzel]

hoovermatic says:"The problem is with US front loaders because the European ones wash and rinse just fine."

Do they really? Here in Australia rinse performance of many European front loaders wasn't rated very highly by our major consumer products testing agency (Choice). The overall performance of a number of high-end (and very expensive) front loaders is rated disappointingly average.

Based on my own observations, more water is definitely better. You can't keep tweaking one of the main ingredients and expect no change in outcomes.

http://www.lanfaxlabs.com.au/washing_machines.htm#Wash%20and%20Rinse%20Performance%20-

 

[toggleswitch2]

I use regular detergent (powders and liquids) in my front- loaders.

Replaced the larger scoops provided with a COFFEE MEASURING SCOUP. IIRC this is two tablespoons in size.

Besides, at my age the lovely colors of the scoups are easier to see rather than clear plastic ones. *LOL*

The results are great!

In my machines (Frid-GE-More and Maytag by Sam's_hung) the bleach dispenser is flushed during the FIRST rinse. The perfect place for softener when not using bleach! De-sudsing starts right away and the chemical gets rinsed out later!