I know a lot a automatic washers of the 50's and 60's and even early 70's had a suds return, but what happened to this feature? It would be a good way to save water, without getting one of those terrible HE Washing Machines!
What happened to the suds return?
- Thread starter maytag85
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I think one of the reasons why it was phased out is because most modern homes don't have a wash basin next to the washer anymore, so there's nowhere to dump the water.
As well, many people (Probably baby boomers and Gen X'ers) kind of view the idea of reusing wash water as being fairly unhygienic, with all the dirt and crud collecting at the bottom of the wash basin.
Used to be that you started off with whites first, moved onto colours, then blacks and then eventually left the nastiest dirtiest stuff until last.
I think the washing habits of our generations basically are, "Just chuck it all in, hope it fits into as few loads as possible and leave it at that." That mentality simply doesn't work with suds saving.
I do agree though that suds saving, if it was done right, could certainly save just as much, if more water than HE style washing, but only if done correctly. In saying that, we could also argue that wringer washers are also just as efficient, or moreso over HE machines because the wash water HAS to be reused. (You don't use a wringer washer like you would an automatic one.)
I think that with modern regulations involving water usage for new machines, I'm kind of surprised that suds saving isn't a common feature on new non-HE style machines... I believe honestly that it should be.
As well, many people (Probably baby boomers and Gen X'ers) kind of view the idea of reusing wash water as being fairly unhygienic, with all the dirt and crud collecting at the bottom of the wash basin.
Used to be that you started off with whites first, moved onto colours, then blacks and then eventually left the nastiest dirtiest stuff until last.
I think the washing habits of our generations basically are, "Just chuck it all in, hope it fits into as few loads as possible and leave it at that." That mentality simply doesn't work with suds saving.
I do agree though that suds saving, if it was done right, could certainly save just as much, if more water than HE style washing, but only if done correctly. In saying that, we could also argue that wringer washers are also just as efficient, or moreso over HE machines because the wash water HAS to be reused. (You don't use a wringer washer like you would an automatic one.)
I think that with modern regulations involving water usage for new machines, I'm kind of surprised that suds saving isn't a common feature on new non-HE style machines... I believe honestly that it should be.
My mom always thought that feature was unhygienic. And I whole heartily agree. I can't imagine reusing wash water. Clean water is clean water. Period. My dad used to sell them at his store, but never many.
Will say it again
Suds return/saving washing machines were gimmick designed to get at women who for various reasons could not or would not use fully automatic washing machines.
Many of these housewives were either brought up with wringer/semi-automatic washing machines, and or by the 1970's got caught up in the whole "save the environment" craze. Either way the idea of saving hot soapy water appealed to them so Maytag, Whirlpool and others added a some bells and whistles to their automatics, and viola! A suds return washer was born.
Consumer Reports IIRC didn't think much of suds saving units. Besides the potential "ick" factor from reusing wash water, they claimed water often cooled by the time it was needed again so was of little use.
Taken in context it must be understood that by the 1960's onwards if not by the 1950's there was a hate against wringer washers. Consumer Reports, product safety groups and many others just felt the things were too dangerous. That and they out lived their usefulness now that fully automatic washing machines, and or even semi-automatics with spin tubs were on the market.
In theory while a suds-return fully automatic washer did perhaps save some water/energy, and gave Her Indoors best of both worlds on that front, it didn't fully replace a wringer washer.
You still had to wait for the cycle to complete before the washer was free for another load. So yes, as stated that hot soapy water might now be cooled. Also unlike with a wringer washer you couldn't wash one load while rinsing and wringing out another. So the speed of getting through a large wash day with a wringer was sacrificed.
In the end don't think suds-savers where huge movers; too many just considered it icky to reuse wash water.
Suds return/saving washing machines were gimmick designed to get at women who for various reasons could not or would not use fully automatic washing machines.
Many of these housewives were either brought up with wringer/semi-automatic washing machines, and or by the 1970's got caught up in the whole "save the environment" craze. Either way the idea of saving hot soapy water appealed to them so Maytag, Whirlpool and others added a some bells and whistles to their automatics, and viola! A suds return washer was born.
Consumer Reports IIRC didn't think much of suds saving units. Besides the potential "ick" factor from reusing wash water, they claimed water often cooled by the time it was needed again so was of little use.
Taken in context it must be understood that by the 1960's onwards if not by the 1950's there was a hate against wringer washers. Consumer Reports, product safety groups and many others just felt the things were too dangerous. That and they out lived their usefulness now that fully automatic washing machines, and or even semi-automatics with spin tubs were on the market.
In theory while a suds-return fully automatic washer did perhaps save some water/energy, and gave Her Indoors best of both worlds on that front, it didn't fully replace a wringer washer.
You still had to wait for the cycle to complete before the washer was free for another load. So yes, as stated that hot soapy water might now be cooled. Also unlike with a wringer washer you couldn't wash one load while rinsing and wringing out another. So the speed of getting through a large wash day with a wringer was sacrificed.
In the end don't think suds-savers where huge movers; too many just considered it icky to reuse wash water.
From One Of Our Own
Maytag suds saver:
Maytag suds saver:
vacerator
Well-known member
My Mom's
'63 Lady Kenmore had it, and she liked the feature. Detergents back then made plenty of suds. She used plenty of water and detergent washing diapers, etc. for five kids, so saving water was mainly why she used it for sheets or towels.
Also for spring closet cleaning where dust may have made extra linens a bit dusty.
She kept the laundry sink clean, so the once used wash water stayed cleaner.
Dryer temps. were also hotter in those days, and heat sanitizes.
There are more bed bug problems today than then I bet. Keep bedding sheets sanitized, and the mattress stays clean.
'63 Lady Kenmore had it, and she liked the feature. Detergents back then made plenty of suds. She used plenty of water and detergent washing diapers, etc. for five kids, so saving water was mainly why she used it for sheets or towels.
Also for spring closet cleaning where dust may have made extra linens a bit dusty.
She kept the laundry sink clean, so the once used wash water stayed cleaner.
Dryer temps. were also hotter in those days, and heat sanitizes.
There are more bed bug problems today than then I bet. Keep bedding sheets sanitized, and the mattress stays clean.
Funny but I don't remember much buzz about Suds-Saver washers being potential energy savers during the energy crisis years of the 70s. As Laundress mentioned, it was a feature meant to overcome buyer's objections to the amount of hot water used by the newfangled automatics of the late 1940s. I remember it was always an 'at additional cost' option up here so it was not frequently purchased.
I also think the notion of having a washer installed in a laundry alcove off the kitchen or in the bathroom where there was no laundry tub was a big factor here also. The folks who I bought the '66 Inglis from told me that they bypassed the suds save/return valve when they moved to a house with a bathroom laundry area.
On the other hand, the family of one my oldest friends always had a suds-saver washer (at least 2 were Inglis) and they used the feature a lot.
I have 2 working vintage washers with a Suds Saver (the '57 GE is not quite out of the running yet... but don't take any bets...LOL) and yes, I do use the feature. It was a great help last summer when I was refreshing linens pending the arrival of most of Hubby's family from the UK!
I also think the notion of having a washer installed in a laundry alcove off the kitchen or in the bathroom where there was no laundry tub was a big factor here also. The folks who I bought the '66 Inglis from told me that they bypassed the suds save/return valve when they moved to a house with a bathroom laundry area.
On the other hand, the family of one my oldest friends always had a suds-saver washer (at least 2 were Inglis) and they used the feature a lot.
I have 2 working vintage washers with a Suds Saver (the '57 GE is not quite out of the running yet... but don't take any bets...LOL) and yes, I do use the feature. It was a great help last summer when I was refreshing linens pending the arrival of most of Hubby's family from the UK!
mralex
Well-known member
Sud savers are still made (kind of) they use the bath water.. at least in Japan 
Another factor that figured into the popularity of Suds Savers was the that many homes then only had 30 gal water heaters. If you had a family then your hot water could run out quickly if laundry had to be done at the same time that family members needed to bath. The Suds Save helped conserve hot water for other household usage.
Eddie
Eddie
a Suds Saver was thought to be a help/ease in converting peoples mind into changing to an automatic.....
the factor being, filling a machine with HOT water, a 10 minute wash, and then tossing it down the drain....
chances are for many, if they had a wringer, the laundry tub, usually a double, was already in place....
its more hands on, but as learned from JohnL, the simplest way of keeping the water hot was to transfer from one machine to the next as lined up.....
washing something like sheets, and then reusing the wash water to wash the dogs blankets is still a savings.......or using the water to sprinkle the lawn....I don't see that as a waste...
the factor being, filling a machine with HOT water, a 10 minute wash, and then tossing it down the drain....
chances are for many, if they had a wringer, the laundry tub, usually a double, was already in place....
its more hands on, but as learned from JohnL, the simplest way of keeping the water hot was to transfer from one machine to the next as lined up.....
washing something like sheets, and then reusing the wash water to wash the dogs blankets is still a savings.......or using the water to sprinkle the lawn....I don't see that as a waste...
wft2800
Well-known member
The only use I could see for suds-saving would be if you were saving rinse rather than wash water for the next wash, and you had an internal heater to bring the temperature up.
The thing I remember about
Suds savers is that our 1964 Whirlpool Imperial's manual said to add more detergent with every use of the returned suds--I want to say half a dose.
That should reduce some of the "ick" factor, you sillies.
Lawrence/Maytagbear
Suds savers is that our 1964 Whirlpool Imperial's manual said to add more detergent with every use of the returned suds--I want to say half a dose.
That should reduce some of the "ick" factor, you sillies.
Lawrence/Maytagbear
I grew up with a suds-saving 1960 Kenmore Model 80. Depending on the soil level of the original load, water was used for one or two additional loads. Clothes were clean, we were very healthy. Wish my new Speed Queen had a suds-saver; I'd definitely use it. "Ick" factor be damned, LOL.
pierreandreply4
Well-known member
frigilux
if you where to browse on canadien craiglist and would see a whilrpool washer like this one with 5 wash rinse temp warm rinse included extra rinse and a sud saver would you order it for the sud saver feature?
if you where to browse on canadien craiglist and would see a whilrpool washer like this one with 5 wash rinse temp warm rinse included extra rinse and a sud saver would you order it for the sud saver feature?
Suds
I have 2 Kenmore belt-drive era suds models, and a GE Filter-Flo suds model. I use them all the time, but I'll admit that having all of them hooked up in a line-up of 4 total washers allows me to immediately re-use very hot suds instead of a single machine setup where i'd have to let the water cool 20 minutes or so during deep rinse and final spin before sucking the suds back into the one and only machine.
If I change the oil in the car and get messy, or I clean up after a dog or an infant, I don't re-use the water. But for my business office clothes, sheets, towels, etc, I separate out 2 or 3 loads before starting. My usual doings are Hot water in the 74 Kenmore for towels, sheets, socks and boxers. NExt that water gets sucked into a 1960 Whirlpool for pants. Final is a 1979 Filter Flo for shirts. By then it's lukewarm water, perfect for perma-press. And the GE has all that rivers of water for the spray rinse, so believe me I wear clean clothes with no ick factor. I watch the deep rinse in the GE, it's always pretty clear water.
Everyone is entitled to their habits and preferences, and I would enjoy suds less if I had that 20 minute wait between loads, but as a laundry hobbyist with 4 installed machines, it's great.
I have 2 Kenmore belt-drive era suds models, and a GE Filter-Flo suds model. I use them all the time, but I'll admit that having all of them hooked up in a line-up of 4 total washers allows me to immediately re-use very hot suds instead of a single machine setup where i'd have to let the water cool 20 minutes or so during deep rinse and final spin before sucking the suds back into the one and only machine.
If I change the oil in the car and get messy, or I clean up after a dog or an infant, I don't re-use the water. But for my business office clothes, sheets, towels, etc, I separate out 2 or 3 loads before starting. My usual doings are Hot water in the 74 Kenmore for towels, sheets, socks and boxers. NExt that water gets sucked into a 1960 Whirlpool for pants. Final is a 1979 Filter Flo for shirts. By then it's lukewarm water, perfect for perma-press. And the GE has all that rivers of water for the spray rinse, so believe me I wear clean clothes with no ick factor. I watch the deep rinse in the GE, it's always pretty clear water.
Everyone is entitled to their habits and preferences, and I would enjoy suds less if I had that 20 minute wait between loads, but as a laundry hobbyist with 4 installed machines, it's great.
AMKrayo Sud-Saver Memories!
I jokingly asked a friend as we were washing & drying in his Radio-Dial Kenmores "Does (this?/it?--can't remember) have a SUDS-SAVER?", just for him to probably be clueless & not know what it is w/o me explaining him (and/or perhaps his dad, later after I'd left, IF he'd asked his pop who is a real Kolboynick (Know It All) and perhaps had possibly gotten the more through explanation of it--maybe even getting the owner's manual out!)...
I believe a vintage CONSUMER REPORTS still in my possession (maybe more than one, but certainly con-currently w/ this feature just-introduced) would have a fully-detailed expose on this then-newly-introduced feature, as does a long-departed Sears Catalog from 1982...
-- Dave
I jokingly asked a friend as we were washing & drying in his Radio-Dial Kenmores "Does (this?/it?--can't remember) have a SUDS-SAVER?", just for him to probably be clueless & not know what it is w/o me explaining him (and/or perhaps his dad, later after I'd left, IF he'd asked his pop who is a real Kolboynick (Know It All) and perhaps had possibly gotten the more through explanation of it--maybe even getting the owner's manual out!)...
I believe a vintage CONSUMER REPORTS still in my possession (maybe more than one, but certainly con-currently w/ this feature just-introduced) would have a fully-detailed expose on this then-newly-introduced feature, as does a long-departed Sears Catalog from 1982...
-- Dave
slowspin66
Well-known member
The UK parnall spinwasher
In the U.K we to had a suds saver machine . The parnall spin washer had a built in tank to the bottom of the machine . The washer was semi automatic so you had to manually fill and drive the machine through the functions . Once the first load was washed and the machine had spun the suds off to the tank you would have to remove the first load washed not rinsed and set the machine to wash and add your second load . You did this until the last load was washed then you would spin to empty the suds to the drain . Then each load could be overflow rinsed and spin dried !!! All quite innovative for its day !!!!
In the U.K we to had a suds saver machine . The parnall spin washer had a built in tank to the bottom of the machine . The washer was semi automatic so you had to manually fill and drive the machine through the functions . Once the first load was washed and the machine had spun the suds off to the tank you would have to remove the first load washed not rinsed and set the machine to wash and add your second load . You did this until the last load was washed then you would spin to empty the suds to the drain . Then each load could be overflow rinsed and spin dried !!! All quite innovative for its day !!!!
repair-man
Well-known member
When used properly I don't see anything "icky" about reusing water. Your clothes are all washed together in the same water to begin with. What's the difference if you split it over two different cycles. Of course you have to use common sense. Both of my grandmothers used suds savers and believe me there was nothing "ick" about their laundry. Or anything else in their homes for that mater. Suds savers are just too much thinking, planning and effort for most people today.
