Thread Number: 36528
Re-using water for multiple loads? |
[Down to Last] |
|
Post# 543897 , Reply# 1   9/16/2011 at 12:38 (4,576 days old) by jaxsunst ()   |   | |
Checkrate/Likes
 
     
I've never really been around wringers and twins. Having said that, I have to agree with your boyfriend. But's that's just me. |
Post# 543903 , Reply# 3   9/16/2011 at 12:54 (4,576 days old) by akronman (Akron/Cleveland Ohio)   |   | |
Checkrate/Likes
 
3    
I have twin tubs, wringer machines, and suds saver machines, I re-use wash water all the time. Start out hot and plan what you'll wash, 2-3 loads seems about enough per wash water, and add a bit more soap each time.
Just use common sense about pet-related items, rugs, rags, diaper/infant related clothing, do them last. There are times I choose fresh water, other wash loads where I gladly re-use good hot suds. Pretty much personal taste, plenty of folks raised on automatics just don't like the idea, I do like the idea. And around my house, if my boyfriend doesn't like how/what I cook or wash or whatever, he sure as hell gets to do it next time all by himself! |
Post# 543905 , Reply# 4   9/16/2011 at 13:03 (4,576 days old) by foraloysius (Leeuwarden, Friesland, the Netherlands)   |   | |
Checkrate/Likes
 
4    
|
Post# 543923 , Reply# 5   9/16/2011 at 13:31 (4,576 days old) by polkanut (Wausau, WI )   |   | |
Checkrate/Likes
 
3    
I grew up with 2 grandmothers that had wringer machines, and my Mom has only ever had suds-savers. When we bought our Maytag Dependable Care set in 1998 we had to special order a suds-saver model. We use it all the time, and think nothing of it. We reuse the water 3x at most. It really does save on water, detergent, and natural gas.
Tell the boyfriend to deal with it, or better yet, let him pay the water bill when you only use each tub of water once. |
Post# 543946 , Reply# 6   9/16/2011 at 14:44 (4,576 days old) by arbilab (Ft Worth TX (Ridglea))   |   | |
Checkrate/Likes
 
1    
The grossest thing on earth (laundry-wise anyway) is auto toploaders filtering suspended laundry debris through fabric while draining.
The other two grossest things on earth are sauerkraut, and carnies. Circus folk. Small hands. Smell like cabbage. (Austin Powers) Grandma was a pretty assiduous housekeeper and she did all the sheets--about 3 loads--on one fill. Then shirts (one load) and underwear (next load) on a refill. I forgot where towels fit into the equation, maybe another fill. It was 1952 after all. |
Post# 543958 , Reply# 9   9/16/2011 at 15:40 (4,576 days old) by ozzie908 (Lincoln UK)   |   | |
Checkrate/Likes
 
     
Having used a twin tub for the first time today in a long time, Its because I was repairing it ( pics to follow) I did 5 loads of washing 3 whites 2 darks it took me 2.5 hours to wash,rinse,condition,starch,and get a load in the dryer as its raining normally my Aqualtis takes 2.35 hours to do a single white cotton wash ! So sod whether its dirty water because everything looks just as clean as 4 loads in a front loader and I saved water soap time and having laundry hanging around all weekend...! Okay the only downfall I now have a huge mountain of ironing...:)
A happy washer man who had success getting his 50 year old twinny going again. With thanks to some lovely people on here You know who you are XXXX Austin |
Post# 543992 , Reply# 10   9/16/2011 at 20:32 (4,576 days old) by Frigilux (The Minnesota Prairie)   |   | |
Checkrate/Likes
 
     
I grew up with a suds-saving 1960 Kenmore, and my mom used it all the time---usually for two loads, occasionally three if the loads were very lightly soiled. Our clothes were always spotlessly clean. I have no problems reusing wash water.
Now that I have new front-loader which uses only 17 gallons of water for an entire cycle, I don't mind having fresh water for each load. |
Post# 544003 , Reply# 12   9/16/2011 at 21:43 (4,576 days old) by washerlover (The Big Island, Hawai’i)   |   | |
Checkrate/Likes
 
     
|
Post# 544013 , Reply# 14   9/16/2011 at 23:28 (4,576 days old) by arbilab (Ft Worth TX (Ridglea))   |   | |
Checkrate/Likes
 
     
|
Post# 544182 , Reply# 18   9/17/2011 at 20:49 (4,575 days old) by ronhic (Canberra, Australia)   |   | |
Checkrate/Likes
 
     
Firstly, I should state that I don't have a problem using the wash water at least twice, possibly 3 times on a twin tub....or sudsaver machine...
HOWEVER.....
If you compare the volume of water in a twin tub or wringer or sudsaver machine and use it properly for washing and rinsing...that is, you wash and spin/wring and then rinse and spin/wring changing the rinse water as it starts to cloud, then it isn't as efficient as a half-reasonable front load machine when it comes to water....time certainly. Detergent maybe....but not water.
A modern front load machine here typically uses about 16-17 US gallons to wash 14 lb of dry weight laundry (65litres for 6.5kg...often less water and more washing now). That's 12 single bed sheets by the way....A modern top loader using a traditional, deep rinse cycle (that most of us would use) will consume at least double that. Not to mention that many people underload their machine regardless of type. All front loaders sold here will sense it and adjust accordingly...not all top loaders do.
So, whilst I like the thought that I would be more frugal using a twin-tub, wringer or suds-saver, the reality is that I already am...
- I get to tailor my wash depending on soil and/or fabric - I get to be frugal with resources if I only need to do a single load - My machine will sense exactly how much water to use if I underload it - If I choose a decent detergent (OMO), I can use half without changing washing performance - and that's been independantly proven. - I can do something else while the machine is doing its' thing - the whole advantage of automatic washing
...but I'd still like a twin-tub.... |
Post# 544192 , Reply# 19   9/17/2011 at 21:35 (4,575 days old) by kenmore700bill (Lodi NJ)   |   | |
Checkrate/Likes
 
     
I grew up with my mother's Square Tub Maytag.(which I still have and is operational) She would also use the water for a few loads of clothes. The first load was always the Whites, Underwear, Socks, Towels. Hot water and Bleach were in the wash water. The second load was the white linnen sheets and pillow cases. Once the Whites were wrung out they landed in the deep tub of the kitchen double sink which is where the first rinse took place then was wrung out and the sheets went inthe same rinse water. She then emptied out the washer and filled with cold water and a few drops of BULLDOG Bluing to do the final rinse of the white clothes and White linnen sheets then they went to the line, she would save this rinse water and throw in detergent and proceed to to the light color wash. This load was then wrung out and rinsed in the laundry tub 2 times and hung on the line. Once this load was done my fathers work clothes then got the hot wash with detergent and lestoil(my father was a car mechanic with greasy clothes) and this load got the double rinse also. I will say that she did let the work clothes wash for about a half hour or so then rinsed them twice. My mother was not a Fabric Softner user although there was always that bottle of Final Touch on the shelf. Once I got into high school and started making money I then took her to Sears and we purchased the Kenmore 700 washer this was in 1969.
|
Post# 544212 , Reply# 20   9/17/2011 at 23:49 (4,575 days old) by Tomturbomatic (Beltsville, MD)   |   | |
Checkrate/Likes
 
     
Bill, you are a good son. |
Post# 544242 , Reply# 21   9/18/2011 at 06:25 (4,575 days old) by ricky5050 (Durham Britain)   |   | |
Checkrate/Likes
 
     
I can see what your bf means but it was the norm here, water was precious and hot water even more so so by the time the tub was filled and heated by fire gas or electric it was used again and again. Starting with the cleanest clothes through to the dirtiest and darkest as the water cooled. As long as a good detergent and good rinsing I don't see a problem. My mam when using twin tubs would,say that water was " poisoned" and new would filled after a few loads. Ask him to think about this tho a load in a twin or single tub washer would be small so doing 2,3,4, loads in the same water would be no different to stuffing all of the laundry into a modern large capacity machine and have it rumble around in a smaller dirtier amount of water. The advantage of your method assuming you start with whites is water is saved and no Color transfer occurs.
Richard. |
Post# 544710 , Reply# 24   9/20/2011 at 13:14 (4,572 days old) by ingliscanada ()   |   | |
Checkrate/Likes
 
     
When I was young, most of the homes in our neighbourhood (including ours) were on septic tanks. So many of us had suds-saver washers to lessen the waste going out. Gary |
Post# 544752 , Reply# 26   9/20/2011 at 16:04 (4,572 days old) by maytagmike (Burlington, Vt)   |   | |
Checkrate/Likes
 
     
|