washing machine

[Eileen K.]

Or maybe DH could DO the wash? :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock:

Mine does!

[Susan B.]

I was reading reviews on Sears about top-loaders with no agitators vs front loaders. Evidently there quite a few complaints about the mildewy smell from top loaders because they don't rinse and/or clean the load well. Dang, I wanted one for tub dyeing fabrics.

Now, the front loaders get mildewy around the gasket, but there is something called Washer Magic that is great for cleaning the gasket & takes the smell out.

[Susan B.]

After the washing is done in my front load washer, I pull out the detergent and fabric softener tray and put it inside the washer, leave the door slightly open until everything has dried. So far I never had an issue with odor or mildew.

[Susan B.]

if you only wash on the really low temperatures, like the adverts on tv over here keep telling us to, then it is possible to get a build up of the mildewy smell. All you need to do is run a boil wash every so often and that fixes it, and it is probably better for the towels or sheets to be washed at the hot wash anyway in my opinion. A run through with distilled vinegar (without the clothes) can also help.

[Susan B.]

:lol:
with my dyslexia, i read "with my DH - HD - so i translate it in my head to hard drive, can do the washing".

[Susan B.]

:lol: :lol: :lol:

wish my hard drive was as clever as yours, Becky

[Rita C.]

:lol: :lol: :lol:

wish my hard drive was as clever as yours, Becky

:lol: :lol: :lol:

[Rita C.]

yes, some times i chatch my self laughing of those mistakes, cant argue that my brain is one of a kind

[Lotti D.]

With these suggestions, we must remember that most European washing machines are made completely different to the ones generally found and used in North America. When we moved to Canada my mom insisted on getting a machine with a heater as we were used to, but those were still very new and took much longer than even our machines here. In Europe most machines have only the cold water connection, and then the water is heated to the temperature set, Therefore cold = 30 deg C / 86 deg F. Warm = 60 deg C / 140 deg F and hot or in our case boiling= 95 deg C / 203 deg F.
In all the machine at my family and friends' houses in Canada or the states, they have cold = whatever the temperature comes out of the cold water tap, Warm= both the cold and hot water tap fully open, and hot= whatever temp comes out of the hot water tap, and that depends on what the boiler is set to and when it was heated up the last time, probably about 130 to 150 deg F...
Whenever I forget to explain the machine and the temperature difference to visitors from overseas, we end up with lots of shrunk, and often some ruined clothing...
But, the warmer temperatures also mean we can get away with a lot less chemicals (never use bleach & rarely need stain removers), the whites generally remain white, and towels, cleaning rags, bathroom carpets and tea towels, etc get clean and 'sterilized' because they are truly 'cooked' till all the bacteria are dead.

Just saying: as we are such an international forum, make sure you are comparing apples with apples, and not apples with pears... They might look similar, but are completely different fruit

[Pam D.]

Lotti, I didn't know there was so much difference. I just assumed it was that we use mainly front loaders in UK and the States use mainly top loaders. You learn something new every day :-) Thank you.

[Eileen K.]

I was reading reviews on Sears about top-loaders with no agitators vs front loaders. Evidently there quite a few complaints about the mildewy smell from top loaders because they don't rinse and/or clean the load well. Dang, I wanted one for tub dyeing fabrics.

Now, the front loaders get mildewy around the gasket, but there is something called Washer Magic that is great for cleaning the gasket & takes the smell out.

We use the Clorox washer cleaner. Our machine has a tub cleaning cycle. Our basement is damp, and we had a mold buildup on the outside of the drum of our top-loader. Since I wash our bed quilts, we decided a front loader was the best option. I also use a small towel and wipe inside the gasket if DH Mike has to do more than one load in a day.

[Betty J.]

I have a top loader, and I really like it--no mildew smell at all, works great for dyes and quilts. It has a hand wash cycle that I use for quilts. But then, my youngest son, a grown man who lives with me, does most of the regular laundry.

[Catherine S.]

I bought new washer and dryer over the summer. In 45 years of marriage, I have went through 2 sets of Maytag products. I do not think they make them to last now. I read the Consumer Reports on washers and dryers and got a Kenmore from Sears. I have a well, so was not worried about the water. I would have preferred the old type of machine. Not readily available now. :x I got a top loader without the agitator. (I would always get bruises on my forearm from throwing laundry in the front loaders at work, so didn't want one of those.) I also hate how long it takes to wash a load of clothes!
I did buy the maintenance agreement since there are motherboards in them. I really get tired of the new stuff. I liked it when DH could work on them. Anyway, so far it has worked OK. The clothes come out clean and fresh smelling. I do use bleach in the whites about once a week or so. I also leave the washer lid up when not in use. Now if DH would just put up a clothes line for me. DS is coming in a few weeks to take grandkids deer hunting. Maybe I can hint to him about the clothes line. Good luck with your purchase. Remember when they were only a few hundred?

[Susan D.]

I appreciate all of your comments and insights. I am still shopping and researching. It looks like the best rated machine is approximately $1000, and I don't want to spend that much! I was at the Sears outlet yesterday, and they might have a good buy or two. In the meantime, the old Maytag is chugging along, though it has sprung a leak that I can't ignore for too long.
Happy fall--it is crisp here in Ohio today!
susan

[E.M. T.]

I'm reporting back with my results so far....I think I have found a machine that will work for me at long last !!
Because I dye , felt and other wise manipulate stuff in the washer....I wanted to have hot water, no lid lock,
water level control , strong filters and not take all day to do a load !! :roll: I found a dealer who sells Speed Queen.
It seems that they have a a "commercial" washer for residential use....and have avoided the regulations that
plague these other machines by being in a different classification. While I have not seen it yet....Shipment
anticipated in store 10 days or so....I'm thinking it will be the right thing. Dealer says he is selling them as
fast as he can get them...I am apparently not alone in my search ! They are built in Wisconsin I think ! They
don't cost an arm and a leg either. So..If this sounds interesting look for a Speed Queen dealer and ask....
Internet didn't give me enough info !
Of course time will tell and I will let you all know if this works out well for me. Hope somebody else wants
this hunk o' junk I bought the first time ! :twisted: