Thread Number: 36225
how big is a typical load for an american who owns a front loader?
[Down to Last]

automaticwasher.org's exclusive eBay Watch:
scroll >>> for more items --- [As an eBay Partner, eBay may compensate automaticwasher.org if you make a purchase using any link to eBay on this page]
Post# 539717   8/26/2011 at 10:46 (4,598 days old) by gorenje (Slovenia)        

gorenje's profile picture
Hi guys,

I was watching some videos on youtube of front loaders in the USA. I've noticed that nearly in all videos the amount in the machine is very very small comparing to the capacity of the washer. Than I was also wondering if this is also the cause of so frequent unbalanced loads, noise and vibrations.

I would ask the American friends who owns a front loader how much they actually load the washer.

Here in Europe we tend to use the entire capacity of the washer when we do a load.
Especially for a heavy duty load we fill the entire drum.
For delicates or other things obviously we put in less laundry, to avoid too much creasing.

Do you think you guys in USA are loading less laundry in your front loaders then we do here in Europe and why?

Thanks for your opinions

Ingemar





Post# 539723 , Reply# 1   8/26/2011 at 11:00 (4,598 days old) by Iheartmaytag (Wichita, Kansas)        

iheartmaytag's profile picture

I think the difference you are seeing is not that the machine is underfilled, but that when the clothes are wet they pack down. 

 

When I wash in my Maytag FL (Duet Clone) 4.4 Cu Ft. capacity. I use the entire drum.  They are stuffed, but not packed. 

One example of a load is (2) King sized fitted sheets (4) pillow cases.  (2) Full Sized sheets and (2) pillow cases (1) twin sheet set and (1) pillow case.

 

Even with this load once they are wet they only about half fill the tub.  Once the final spin is over and things are fluffed back off the side of the drum it is almost full again.  Though machine will handle this load ok, the all sheet load tends to tangle, so I often mix them with towels and do two mixed loads instead of two same loads.

 

This load will fill (3) 25 ft long clothes lines.

 

Another typical load of towels will fill two 25 ft clothes lines. 

 

 




This post was last edited 08/26/2011 at 14:54
Post# 539742 , Reply# 2   8/26/2011 at 12:14 (4,598 days old) by joe_in_philly (Philadelphia, PA, USA)        

joe_in_philly's profile picture
After sorting, I usually don't have a full load. Once in a while I will have a full load of towels or colored clothing that will fill the drum completely (when dry), but that doesn't happen very often. I don't find the washer has any trouble dealing with a smaller load v. a larger one when it comes to balancing for spin. My washer occassionaly will take a while to balance for the final spin when I wash a load of jeans.

Post# 539749 , Reply# 3   8/26/2011 at 12:38 (4,598 days old) by logixx (Germany)        

logixx's profile picture
Though not in America, I have a US-style washer: a Whirlpool Duet (although branded as Bauknecht big). Just follow the link below to watch my playlist of the videos. Especially the three videos of washing towels. This would be a full load. And yes, everything came out absolutely clean and fresh. :)

CLICK HERE TO GO TO logixx's LINK


Post# 539755 , Reply# 4   8/26/2011 at 13:23 (4,598 days old) by joe_in_philly (Philadelphia, PA, USA)        

joe_in_philly's profile picture
I can't imagine such a big load (as seen in logixx's link) would come as clean in my washer, even though it is nearly identical. The longest wash time on my washer is 22 minutes (plus fill time), unless I use extra options or the Sanitary cycle.
The stain treat option can increases wash time to around 45 minutes. A sanitary cycle could wash for well over an hour, but it would spend most of the time heating the water to the top temp, and then be at the hight temp (153F) only about 10 minutes or so.


Post# 539760 , Reply# 5   8/26/2011 at 13:40 (4,598 days old) by wringingwet (Walterboro South Carolina)        
well I have an asko

wringingwet's profile picture
and I can stuff that puppy full. Most wonderful washer for whites They have a crappy reputation in the us for service but hell I took that chance and its been 8 years. I do not use paper towels or paper napkins either so it is on the sanicycle a lot and it is about 2.5 hrs if I want a 205 degree wash it is a work horse I love it. The detergent is the cheap kirkland powder and for a full load about 2 Tbs

Philippe


Post# 539768 , Reply# 6   8/26/2011 at 14:30 (4,598 days old) by arbilab (Ft Worth TX (Ridglea))        

arbilab's profile picture
Not an average launderer. I have a compact/120V dryer so cramming the washer wouldn't make things go any faster.

Post# 539787 , Reply# 7   8/26/2011 at 17:05 (4,598 days old) by gorenje (Slovenia)        

gorenje's profile picture
Thank you guys for the responses.

I can understand that filling up such a big machine it's not always so easy and possible, unless you do mixed loads, but this is not the best idea.

Since the drums of the American front loaders are so big a small load (or average) when it's wet it seems even smaller.
But in a front loader you can really use the entire drum space. Like "Iheartmaytag" said, the laundry can be stuffed in it. Not packed but you can fill it up, so it's almost a pity to leave so much space unused.


Post# 539906 , Reply# 8   8/27/2011 at 03:43 (4,597 days old) by rapunzel (Sydney)        
It's about flexibility

Here in Australia, as in the US, people don't usually wait until they have a full load. They do their washing as they go along and usually on a daily basis. Having a large capacity machine is about flexibility. Most consumers want to be able to wash one or two items as well as any load size up to the stated max capacity.

Post# 539913 , Reply# 9   8/27/2011 at 04:38 (4,597 days old) by ronhic (Canberra, Australia)        
They do their washing as they go along and usually on a dail

ronhic's profile picture

Olav,

 

For some that may be the case, but certainly not all and I'd suggest that some statistics to go with that statement would be useful with regards to doing laundry daily and not waiting for a full load seeing as you're speaking 'for the Nation'.

 

The latest ABS data would suggest that, for Victoria at least, the average household does 5 loads or less a week...and if anything like our house (?), that would be lights, darks, whites, towels and sheets.....all done on a Friday night and Saturday morning....

 

Mind, that also reflects the house I grew up in too....only one load was done on a Wednesday night and then 3 on a Friday night and 3 on Saturday morning.

 

People wash as it suits their needs. For some, that means running smaller loads more often and for others capacity loads all the time with every variable in-between.

 

According to our consumer magazine, Choice, the average load washed in a machine in this country is 4.5kg. Now given that the majority of machines I've seen of late on retailers floors are 6.5kg or larger, that means we as a nation (and based on averages) do tend to underload....

 

Interestingly, it is very rare that I hear 'damn it! I've got washing out!' when it starts to rain these days - 20 years ago, that was more common....maybe people have finally realised that with both partners working it isn't a good idea to do laundry during the week AND have it on the line...

 

 


Post# 539916 , Reply# 10   8/27/2011 at 05:43 (4,597 days old) by gorenje (Slovenia)        

gorenje's profile picture
In my personal case (that don't mean everyone is doing or has to do like me) I wash on Saturdays and Sundays.

The first reason is that the electricity is cheaper and the second is that I have more time so I can dedicate to the care of my laundry since this is a thing I like to do.
I don't do mix loads. I reather wait a few days to gather a biger amount of laundry rather than put all together and wash on the lowest temperature.
I have a 5 kg machine and for me this is enough.


Post# 539920 , Reply# 11   8/27/2011 at 07:22 (4,597 days old) by PassatDoc (Orange County, California)        

I use a "laundry center" next to my washer and dryer. Since my machines are in my garage, there is plenty of room for this additional item. I use it so that I have a place to hang permanent press clothing from the dryer. Most of my work clothes are "office casual" 100% cotton with permanent press finish from www.llbean.com.... If they are dried on a permanent press cycle (begins warm, but cools down to room temperature by the end of the cycle) and removed and hung promptly, no iron is needed.

Also, I use the three sorting bags to sort laundry: sturdy cotton (jeans, t-shirts etc), towels, and permanent press. I launder sturdy cotton and towels using Normal or Heavy cycles, but I tend to wash towels with hot water. Permanent press are washed on warm with Permanent Press cycle (less spinning: fewer wrinkles).

I have a Frigidaire 2140 with a capacity advertised as 3.5 cubic feet, which I believe is about 9 kg. When I fill one of the sorting bags, it nearly fills the drum completely, so I tend to wash FULL loads. An exception might be if I need one or two items washed in a hurry, then I would use Quick cycle....very rarely, perhaps once every three months. But I never run one of the main cycles (Normal, Heavy, Perm Press) unless the load is full. I own enough clothing, towels, and linen that I am not running out of clean clothes or linens even if I wait until the sorting bags are full.


CLICK HERE TO GO TO PassatDoc's LINK


Post# 539922 , Reply# 12   8/27/2011 at 07:35 (4,597 days old) by rapunzel (Sydney)        
I'd suggest that some statistics to go with that stateme

You are obviously the one with all the stats, how can anyone argue with that?

I did base my comments on personal observations that span more than 30 years of living in Australia.


Post# 539931 , Reply# 13   8/27/2011 at 09:55 (4,597 days old) by DADoES (TX, U.S. of A.)        

dadoes's profile picture
 
I do not select a particular day of the week for washing, nor do I run everything that's pending in one day or on consecutive loads. Except under unusual circumstances, I wait until I have a large enough load of whatever type or until I'm nearly out of whatever type of clothing.


Post# 539936 , Reply# 14   8/27/2011 at 10:24 (4,597 days old) by mixfinder ()        
Large Capacity Wrinkles

I have been spoiled by washing in a vintage machine that holds an average size load.  When the clothes from that machine go to the dryer there is plenty of room for the germets to unfold, dry and be ready to take from the dryer wrinkle free.  When I swithced up to a mammoth top loaded in the early 2000, it tooks forever to fold the load from the dryer because of the sheer volume of the load.  I would remove several items and restart the dryer while hanging and folding what I had removed.  From watching friends and family that have front loaders, they seem to have heard license to stuff everything they own plus the floor mats from the car and the family dog it one load.  In some cases the laundry in the center isn't fully wet.  Then the huge, grey mass is stuffed into a dryer where it lays forgotten until some one is out of clothes.  In my opinion that isn't doing laundry its simply distributing the soil and presperation evenly among all the textiles in the house.  Peter has trouble finding enough clothing to fill his cavernous front loader and it does struggle to balance smaller loads.  I currently run a machine nearly 40 years old and if it tanks and I am forced to a new machine it won't be a front loader for the fact I live alone.  I am hoping small loads in a new top loader have a chance of emerging clean and in one piece. Very few Americans depend on line drying clothing and have almost all converted to permanent press clothing which comes best from a dryer.


Post# 539995 , Reply# 15   8/27/2011 at 17:45 (4,597 days old) by ronhic (Canberra, Australia)        
Big isn't always best....

ronhic's profile picture

....as far as I am concerned.

 

I have held a personal view for a long time that the size of the American made/designed machines are too big with unrealistically low water consumption V's cycle times.You should be able to 'fill the drum to capacity' and wash on a normal cotton cycle, normally soiled clothing without having to select a multitude of 'extras' to ensure a satisfactory result.

 

By Australian standards, they also are wider than we are now used to having accepted the European 'standard' for kitchen and laundry cabinet sizes. Most cavities for appliances are now 60cm/24" and anything outside of that, that is larger, generally requires custom making. As a result, the vast majority of front load machines retailed here are 59.5cm wide and get their larger capacities by squeezing slightly wider drums into the existing width, which can make load balancing challenging for smaller loads, and/or making the machine deeper for a longer drum - a better solution, but this does place extra strain on bearings.

 

If it were me looking for a front load machine in the US, I would consider buying one of the older design American brands - Frigidaire 2140? that is a smaller capacity machine than the 'giants' currently offered and isn't energy star rated (or may be to an older standard) OR a European machine such as a Miele or Bosch or ASKO if my budget allowed. The older design should use more water, which with a fast cycle is fine....the European will use a low level of water, but will have a longer cycle - also OK....

 

But then I'm not driven by cycle times having lived in the UK with a Blomberg and having an Italian machine now.....


Post# 540032 , Reply# 16   8/27/2011 at 21:22 (4,597 days old) by PassatDoc (Orange County, California)        

You can still buy a Frigidaire 2140, recently I saw one for sale in an appliance store. They may have added ATC to it, unless I misinterpreted the control dial. The 2140 did meet energy/water conservation standards when it debuted (?? 2004??), and when I purchased mine in 2006, I received water and gas utility rebates. Today, the 2140 would not qualify for such rebates, even though one can still purchase one.

The newer Frigidaires (4472 through 4474) are the same width (27 inches or 69-70 cm), but achieve the added capacity (4.2-4.4 cu ft) by being 4 inches/10 cm deeper. However, they are still only 36 inches/90 cm high, so that when stacked the top of the dryer is 72 inches or 180 cm high. You are correct, other makers of larger capacity units have made the cabinet taller, so that a stack is not practical unless the owner is tall, say 6'4"/193 cm or taller.

Most US homes are designed so that the washer is NOT in the kitchen or bathroom. Also, electrically-powered wringer washers were commonly used before WW2. As a result, post-war US homes were built on the assumption that the owner had a top loading machine and sooner or later the standard allowance for a washer was 27 inches wide, whether in a laundry room or in a dedicated garage laundry area.


Post# 540048 , Reply# 17   8/27/2011 at 23:34 (4,597 days old) by rapunzel (Sydney)        
Big is more

and more is never less and convenience is what people want.

Australians do not follow European laundry habits. What they do here follows pretty close to what mixfinder described. They don't worry about sorting their stuff into 30, 40, 60 and 95 degree piles of colored, whites and darks. Most people do cold washes and laundry sorting consists of picking up everything and stuffing it into the washer as it is collected off the floor or hamper. Machines with 5 kilo or less capacity are considered medium to small and most households purchase washers that are larger. I don't know what they do in Melbourne or Canberra, but in NSW and Queensland we do it the Australian way.


Post# 540050 , Reply# 18   8/28/2011 at 00:06 (4,597 days old) by arbilab (Ft Worth TX (Ridglea))        

arbilab's profile picture
European laundry habits
========================

I'm OCD and I'd call Euro laundry habits OCD. Where was the last big bacterial outbreak? Germany, with OCD laundry habits. They must have been washing 5C above or below the ideal and poisoned themselves.


Post# 540062 , Reply# 19   8/28/2011 at 01:17 (4,596 days old) by Supersuds (Knoxville, Tenn.)        
Something that shouldn't be overlooked

supersuds's profile picture
Most, but not all, top loaders have water level adjustment. On many older models it was infinite; the Whirlpool I use has 5 levels. I can wait 3 weeks to do my underwear, and have a full tub, but I choose not to have that much dirty laundry sitting around. It might be slightly more wasteful of water, but there's no water shortage here. I do know people who wait until they have no clean clothes and then stuff in as big a load as they can.

It may be that people on this site tend not to want piles of smelly clothes and thus do smaller than average loads, but we have more single people than normal, too, and I'm sure families tend to wash fuller loads.

I don't know if that helps answer the original question or not.


Post# 540067 , Reply# 20   8/28/2011 at 02:47 (4,596 days old) by brisnat81 (Brisbane Australia)        

Rapunzel, you're generalising as much as Chris is.

 

Everyone I grew up with always sorted, even though most things were washed in cold, the chemicals you added had to change :).  I've managed to convince family to do towels and sheets on hot and everything else cold if they like to try and stop the scrud marks.  Lights, Darks and Towels/Sheets

 

Growing up, Mum had to wash every third day as that was the number of uniforms we had.  So usually wednesday night and Saturday morning was when she washed.  Mum had full loads in the BD Whirlpool and Simpsons, but when she went to the 7.5kg DD Whirly, she could never fill it up, even at times when there were 6 of us living at home.

 

I will admit that 5.5kg doesnt quite cut it for me on my Darks and Towels loads each week.  I run everything through on Saturday morning, 2 loads of Dress shirts, 1 load of whites, 1 load of sheets, 1 load of towels and 1 load of darks.  Some weeks I wish there was a bit more tumbling room for the Darks and towels, but everything still comes clean.  This would be the only reason I'll be eyeing off the 8kg Miele when it arrives at the end of the year.  I couldnt imagine what I'd do with a US style Frontloader, it'd never be more than half full, I'd have to start mixing loads to fill it up.

 

If I was a family of 4 or 6, then I could see the benefits, but without the matching dryer (As most Aussies dont have a large capacity dryer nor are the sold here (Except Speed Queen)) then you'd need a huge amount of space to hang up and then fold all of that washing, it'd seem much easier to process it in smaller batches during the week, than ending up with enourmous piles of washing.  As it is, I can spend most of my saturday Washing, Hanging, Folding and Ironing for just the two of us.


Post# 540071 , Reply# 21   8/28/2011 at 03:07 (4,596 days old) by ronhic (Canberra, Australia)        
Big may certainly be more....

ronhic's profile picture

....and more is never less when talking about the same thing...

 

BUT

 

Big isn't always BEST.....

 

Washer capacities have morphed over the last 40 years....but particularly in the last 10 years. What was once considered a family sized machine - 10 lb or 4.5kg (Simpson Fluid Drive anyone?) back in 1968, is now not even on the radar for probably 99% of people. Roll forward 25 years and they were now considered small to medium. Add another 10 years, and only the Asian automatics are available in that size.

 

Ultimately, it's a moot point. Choice's statistics reveal that Australians don't fill their machines.....most think them full when just over half so....interestingly though, the 6 friends that have moved from top to front load machines have been floored when shown how to load them properly oft commenting 'I never put that much in my old fisher and paykel/simpson/hoover top loader'....

 

Most people do cold wash here and some would argue that negates the need to sort too much....and I certainly never sort based on temperature, only colour....which I'd suggest, but can't prove, most people do (lights, darks and whites).....but then with 2 men in the house, there isn't exactly a load of 'delicates' to wash either. And I've certainly worked with enough 'young'uns' to know some of them don't sort at all.

 

Bring back the days when clothes weren't cheap to buy and maybe people will care for them a little better.


Post# 540079 , Reply# 22   8/28/2011 at 04:17 (4,596 days old) by gorenje (Slovenia)        
Yes Big isn't always BEST

gorenje's profile picture
"picking up everything and stuffing it into the washer "

Do you think is this the right way to approach to doing laundry? I don't think so. Maybe is more polite that I say, me personaly I would never do laundry this way.

Having a HUGE front loader forces people to do mixed loads and wash in Cold (the lowest temperature for those items in the washer that cannot stand a higher temperature)

I think sorting is necessary for many reasons:

first of all because of the different colours, than because of the temperature that some garments can stant, (so I can for example take advantage of the higher temp. to achieve a better result on some garments), than because of the level of soiling (I would never wash breeches or rugs with the rest of my laundry or even jeans with towels or sheets, or something that I had dressed only once with some other more dirty stuff)
than because of the type of textile (delicates with delicates, lint givers with lint givers, lint takers with lint takers and sturdy with sturdy)

Ok don't get me wrong, no need to separate in some kind of "17" different piles but at least try to follow these rules.

I think that a bit bigger front loader (or washer in general) is OK, because they may come convenient in some cases. But not an absurdly HUGE one.

Ingemar


Post# 540080 , Reply# 23   8/28/2011 at 04:18 (4,596 days old) by alr2903 (TN)        
King Size bedding

I think americans and many others consider the largest thing they have to wash.. a king size comforter or quilt.  Coin op laundries are  getting more creepy as time goes by, you dread thinking of who used the machine last and what they actually washed. A load like this would be about once a month for folks with pets.  I love my old Maytags but they do cause me anxiety when its time to wash our bedding.   alr


Post# 540083 , Reply# 24   8/28/2011 at 04:56 (4,596 days old) by ronhic (Canberra, Australia)        
Comforters...

ronhic's profile picture

Duvets (also called 'Doonas' and 'Continental Quilts') are very popular here and have been for about 30 years or more as the primary bedding cover - replacing blankets.....but 'comforters', I'm not so sure about.

 

Duvets/Doonas are normally encased in a removable cover...you wash it, not the Doona/Duvet/Quilt. Additionally, many people use a sheet between the Duvet/Doona/Quilt, reducing soiling even further. They really only need to be aired over the line for a day in spring.....

 

I've only ever washed a Duvet twice....and that was because of an accident that had it soiled through the cover....so the laundrette was my friend then....

 

 


Post# 540094 , Reply# 25   8/28/2011 at 07:46 (4,596 days old) by Jetcone (Schenectady-Home of Calrods,Monitor Tops,Toroid Transformers)        
Well

jetcone's profile picture

I think Americans don't fully load their front loaders because for years ever since the 1950's we were told clothes need room to tumble and fall inside the drum to get really clean. And that has carried forward to today, I was very surprised when I bought my Neptune 10 years ago that the manual said "pack the drum full". I couldn't hardly believe what I was reading, I tried it and it worked. But I still don't load my 1950's Bendix more than the recommended 2/3 full. The big difference I see is the Bendix max wash is 9 minutes so it needs all that extra mechanical action to clean. The Neptune and Speed Queen have wash times approaching 25-35 minutes. So I guess that a longer wash gets clean through chemical action and not mechanical action and thats why you can stuff the drums in these new machines.

On  a side note Americans always overstuffed their top loaders almost to the breaking point. I know many "overstuffers" with top loaders!


Post# 540105 , Reply# 26   8/28/2011 at 08:50 (4,596 days old) by PassatDoc (Orange County, California)        

I sort my laundry based either on water temperature needs (warm vs hot) and drying needs (perm press vs. cotton). That works out to three different groups, and my laundry center provides three bags. I simply wait until a bag is full, at which point it will fill the drum. If I upgraded to a larger capacity washer, then a full bag would not fill a drum, as these machines have about 1/3 higher capacity. I could still fill the drum using a full bag plus some extra items from the laundry basket or hamper in the bedroom. I can wash a queen size comforter or thin king size comforter, but not a winter-weight kind comforter. It would be nice to be able to do this at home rather than have to take it to a laundromat.

I do laundry when I can. Sometimes I come home late at night from work or from walking the dog. I don't want to stay up 90 minutes longer to wait for a load to wash. In these situations, I set up a load and use Delay Wash, though I wish the 2140 had more flexibility. Its Delay Wash is 8 hours or none. The next higher model, the 2940, has 4-12 variable delay. Had I fully understood the value of this feature at the time of my purchase, I would have paid the extra $100 for variable delay as well as ATC, both of which are not found on the 2140.


Post# 540107 , Reply# 27   8/28/2011 at 08:52 (4,596 days old) by rapunzel (Sydney)        
"picking up everything and stuffing it into the washer &

"Do you think is this the right way to approach to doing laundry?"

For me the answer is no. For others, that is for them to work out. My point is that with most households of three or more people it is a matter of convenience to have a large capacity washer. Even if most consumers don't regularly utilize their washers' full capacity, they can when the need arises. If I were to live on my own I would still get a family sized washer and dryer. The convenience factor of being able to wash/dry large and bulky items is important to me.


Post# 540108 , Reply# 28   8/28/2011 at 08:55 (4,596 days old) by DADoES (TX, U.S. of A.)        

dadoes's profile picture
 
As stated above, I think the mega-capacity frontloaders (and some toploaders) on the U.S. market now is part of what leads to unsatisfactory results and complaints. In an effort to generate large loads and make use of the available capacity, many users are combining items and fabric types together that should be done in multiple loads of the proper different cycle and temp choices.


Post# 540114 , Reply# 29   8/28/2011 at 09:37 (4,596 days old) by PassatDoc (Orange County, California)        
combining loads

Sometimes I will combine sturdy cottons (t-shirts, underwear, jeans, etc.) with towels to make a full load, and I just wash on "Warm". I would be more likely to do this if my machine had a greater choice of temperature options, like European machines. I choose "Heavy" cycle and add the extra wash time, extra rinse, and extra spin options, as per towels. Everything comes out clean. Drying time is perhaps longer because I dry such a load on "Medium" heat, not "High" as I might if the load were towels only.

Post# 540205 , Reply# 30   8/28/2011 at 16:51 (4,596 days old) by gorenje (Slovenia)        
@ Jetcone

gorenje's profile picture
"don't fully load their front loaders because for years ever since the 1950's we were told clothes need room"

I was thinking about this and I think you are right!

But the reason is not only linked to front loaders but also to top loaders. You in America were told to drop loosely the clothes in the top loader and not to pack the machine so the clothes can freely float around the agitator.
That's probably why some people think that the same must be done in a front loader. But the front loaders works in a completely diferent way.


Post# 540249 , Reply# 31   8/28/2011 at 19:53 (4,596 days old) by rapunzel (Sydney)        
"You in America were told to drop loosely the clothes in

Yeah, but people rarely do what they are told.

Consumers buy these large machines because they perceive them as useful and the right choice for their needs. Some users want to be able to wash large items like duvets, sleeping bags, pillows, etc. and not have to bother with taking them to the laundromat or expensive dry cleaners. Others generate a lot of laundry. Modern front loaders are designed to wash partial loads, they don't have to be filled to capacity and, like top loaders, they adjust the water fill according to load size. It is about convenience, flexibility and choice.


Post# 540280 , Reply# 32   8/28/2011 at 22:04 (4,596 days old) by Jetcone (Schenectady-Home of Calrods,Monitor Tops,Toroid Transformers)        
@gorenje

jetcone's profile picture

Yes come to think of it you're right we were also told to loosely load the top loader as well. 

 

I needed the Neptune brochure to tell me to stuff it full otherwise I would have never tried that.

 

Funny because as a country we PACK our dishwashers to the point of bursting and never worry about dishes getting clean!

 


Post# 540283 , Reply# 33   8/28/2011 at 22:31 (4,596 days old) by jerrod6 (Southeastern Pennsylvania)        

 

I have a 6K front loader and sometimes it is packed full, but most times it is not. 

I sort by fabric type and color which means that  whites will not be mixed with colors.  I wash blues with blues, reds with reds, whites with whites, yellows with yellows…….ect.  I also don’t wash cottons with man made fibers, and I also sort by temperature so this tends to reduce the size of each load.  I can’t wash all the towels together from each week because they are different colors and the colors bleed..you will know this well.. if your washer drains into a sink.

 

Duvets can be had here but many times comforters are sold without them.  You buy the comforter with polyester fill and the outside cover is not removable.   Sometimes the polyester fill creates additional bulk which may be why folks need larger machines to wash them.  I use down comforters with a Duvet but these tend to cost more than polyester but are often warmer with less weight..still they cost more.

 

The normal wash time on my machine is about 20 minutes for a full load but it may be reduced to 11 if the load is small…this is followed by 2 rinses or 3 if I select an additional rinse. The time increases by a few minutes if I select a higher temp or if I select the extended option.

 

Every time I have packed the washer full…until no more clothes can be added everything has come out clean…it is just that with my type of sorting method a completely full load is rare.  If I had a family of 6 it would probably be full all the time.

 


Post# 540311 , Reply# 34   8/29/2011 at 01:28 (4,595 days old) by mixfinder ()        
Knock Yourself Out

We bought the highest rated Whirlpool front load washer in the last Consumer Guide ratings.  It is extremely troublesome in balancing loads for the final spin.  Items like bath towels or throw rugs really throw it for a loop and it will give up leaving the load wet.  After several failed attemps at spinning we take the load next door to his sister's LG front loader and spin them out with no problem.  It is hard to create enough clothes to make a maximum load.  We have just about decided to contact the dealer about trading for a different machine.


Post# 540318 , Reply# 35   8/29/2011 at 02:47 (4,595 days old) by Launderess (Quiet Please, There´s a Lady on Stage)        
Eider Downs/Comforters

launderess's profile picture
For some strange reason Amercians have this idea that eider-downs/down filled comforters need frequent laundering. I cannot imagine why but they do.

Even in Germany and other parts of Europe where winters are cold often very much so, and where eider-downs are *BIG* the thing is never if ever laundered. One is supposed to keep them covered like a pillow and it that which is washed.

In some households the duvet is all that is used for bed covering and some sleep nude under that. Other households a sheet and or blanket is used beneath the duvet and that provides several layers of protection. Germany for instance has a long tradition of sheets that button onto the top of the duvet helping keep things in place.

Unlike pillows which by their nature must come into close contact with one's body, a properly covered duvet does not do so. However if one or one's pets are going to lay upon the thing, and the cover isn't up to the task/laundered often....

To keep down filled duvets fresh they should be aired, preferably outside each morning after awaking before the beds are made. This allows the down to do what it does naturally; breathe. A few good shakes and or whacks with a beater and things are good to go. Each morning all over Northern European countries you will see down duvets drapped over balconies or window sills each morning to air.


Post# 540325 , Reply# 36   8/29/2011 at 03:40 (4,595 days old) by rapunzel (Sydney)        
all over Northern European countries you will see down duvet

Yeah, my mother still does that every morning without fail. If she doesn't get to hang out her comforters and pillows, she gets all antsy. My parents have different comforters for summer and winter, eider-down for winter and silk stuffing for summer. They are placed inside a fitted cover, which is changed weekly. The comforters get washed and machine dried before they are stored in one of those space bags until next season.



Post# 540362 , Reply# 37   8/29/2011 at 10:06 (4,595 days old) by PassatDoc (Orange County, California)        

I agree with Gorenje, the instructions for top loaders used to warn against packing the clothes too tightly. That may explain why some here are afraid to pack a FL too tightly.

I remember 23 years ago, moving from an apartment to my present house. It was the first time I had my own washer and dryer. I was accustomed to paying high prices for dry cleaning for sweaters. Now, with a machine that had cold wash and gentle cycle, I could laundry my sweaters at home and hang them on a drying rack. I remember doing the first load of sweaters, I think six of them, and thinking to myself that I had just saved myself over $20.

We (at least I) use duvet covers over here, but I like to wash them (the comforter----the covers are removed and washed weekly!!) once a year. With my Frig 2140, I can wash all of them except for one winter-weight king size comforter. If I had a larger machine, I'd even be able to perform that task. I think people here like to be able to do tasks at home on their own time. Instead of having to take time to go to a laundromat.

Every apartment in which I've lived had a laundry room, open only to residents of the building. Some laundromats in the USA can be rather, well, creepy, depending on who is washing clothes that day. The only laundromat visits I've ever made were to wash and dry king size comforters.


Post# 540365 , Reply# 38   8/29/2011 at 10:28 (4,595 days old) by iheartmaytag (Wichita, Kansas)        

iheartmaytag's profile picture

Mixfinder,

Rather than scuttling the machine all together, call for repair.  There was a thread not too long ago where someone had a machine that had problems balancing, it was a computer, or sensor issue. 

My machine, though sometimes, takes a bit to balance, has never failed to complete the load.  The only time it had major problems was when I was washing throw pillows off the couch.  I finally just paused the machine and redistributed them by hand and it was fine.

 

 

I have never really had a complaint about the time it took for a load.  The Heavy Duty cycle with no modifiers is 1hr 20 minutes.  If you figure you are doing about twice the wash at once, then it's about the same as two loads in a top loader.

 

If you are in a big hurry, and only have a few items that just needs freshened, there is a quick cycle that takes 30 minutes start to finish.  Some items that just need freshened, like a suit jacket.  I will toss in the dryer on a steam and it comes out smelling fresh and just needs a little stretching on the hanger to smooth any residual wrinkles.

 




This post was last edited 08/29/2011 at 11:21
Post# 540370 , Reply# 39   8/29/2011 at 10:39 (4,595 days old) by mixfinder ()        
Thanks to You iheartmaytag

Thank you for the input Harley, I wouldn't have known otherwise.  You always seem to be the one who comes to my rescue with the right answers.


Post# 540411 , Reply# 40   8/29/2011 at 14:27 (4,595 days old) by gorenje (Slovenia)        

gorenje's profile picture
Thank you guys for all the responses, I'm happy that you are sharing with me your habits and opinions. :)

Well I agree with all you that having a big machine is convenient for some reasons. Especially when washing duvets or big things like this. I was just wondering why I have seen so many Americans underfill their front loaders, when you can fill it up without any problem.

Here is Slovenia we have similar habits as in Germany. I have a duvet covered with the duvet cover (that has the buttons). I change (and wash) regularly the cover together with the lower sheet and I put out of the window the duvet to air.
(I don't have any pets at home)
I don't use the duvet all the year around. I wash the duvet itself only once a year when the season changes.


Post# 540616 , Reply# 41   8/30/2011 at 13:36 (4,594 days old) by dogboy44 (Los Angeles)        
Stuff the washer FULL

We have the Frigidaire affinity AFT6000SE1 from 2006 and can put a ton in it, but many times I break up the load for drying, or some things I drip dry.



Forum Index:       Other Forums:                      



Comes to the Rescue!

The Discuss-o-Mat has stopped, buzzer is sounding!!!
If you would like to reply to this thread please log-in...

Discuss-O-MAT Log-In



New Members
Click Here To Sign Up.



                     


automaticwasher.org home
Discuss-o-Mat Forums
Vintage Brochures, Service and Owners Manuals
Fun Vintage Washer Ephemera
See It Wash!
Video Downloads
Audio Downloads
Picture of the Day
Patent of the Day
Photos of our Collections
The Old Aberdeen Farm
Vintage Service Manuals
Vintage washer/dryer/dishwasher to sell?
Technical/service questions?
Looking for Parts?
Website related questions?
Digital Millennium Copyright Act Policy
Our Privacy Policy