Thread Number: 48498
are you sure you are using the 100% of the capacity of your washer?
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Post# 702680   9/11/2013 at 12:56 (3,850 days old) by johnnyb ()        

Hello AW.org world again.
After 2 years away, its time to write a post again!
Some days ago , I visited a new friend in Austria. She is from US and she works here the last 3 years. I went to her place to make her some company as she was alone as she had to do some boring housework. One part of that work, was the laundry part.
I was SO surprised when I saw her washing machine! A LG 26Pounds (12kg) washing machine for a single person!!
I asked her why she has a such a big machine and the reply was, that sometimes she need to wash a lot of clothes so she needs space.
After shorting her clothes, she told me "now Look, its been 2 weeks without doing laundry and look how many clothes I have to wash!". She start putting the first load with towels and bedseets on the washer, and when she Finish, the washer was not even in the half loaded!! But her reaction was still something like "oh my god, its full" .
I dont know about yuo guys, but when I bought my first crapy machine 10 years ago (an Indesit one) , when they came to Install it, they show me that the full load is when you press down the clothes and there are 5 fingers available in the washer.
OK, I know that for synthetics the load should me less, and for delicates not more than 2KG.
One year ago I bought a Miele, and from the Miele center they installed again the machine and they show me how the full load looks like and AGAIN it was full and only 4-5 fingers available on the top when you push the clothes down.
I have a 6KG washer (around 13pounds)and within the week I m doing about 4 loads for 2 persons. (changing T-shirt 2 times a day and towels every 2 days)

how much do You load your washer? Until now, everything gets clean. and trush me guys, I cook a lot at home and the kitchen towels usually are extreme dirty with olive oil and tomatoes. and I dont use and booster.

Here is a video how much clothes I put when I do a regular cycle with mixed cottons.


CLICK HERE TO GO TO johnnyb's LINK





Post# 702685 , Reply# 1   9/11/2013 at 13:10 (3,850 days old) by DirectDriveDave ()        

I go by what has been told to me for many years. No higher than the top row of holes. Works every time.


Post# 702689 , Reply# 2   9/11/2013 at 13:19 (3,850 days old) by Hoover1100 (U.K.)        
I fill it as you say

right to the top until i cannot put any more clothes in it. This is how I was brought up to fill the machine and feel that anything less is just plain wasteful.

 

It is rare to see any videos on the internet of a U.S. front loader with anything more than a small handful of clothes in the bottom of the drum, I have certainly never seen one where the machine is more than half full.

 

This is probably why they think our machines are so "tiny" when infact, our machines wash about the same amount of clothes in one load as their enormous ones do.

 

 


Post# 702691 , Reply# 3   9/11/2013 at 13:29 (3,850 days old) by henene4 (Heidenheim a.d. Brenz (Germany))        

Well, our Panasonic with 70l drum just is filled that the clothes are piled loosley. Then, when soaked, a not overloaded wash should not be higher the 3/4 of the drum.
I was wondering about how big US FL and TL are, like, 5 cuft. or even just 4, that would be twice as much as our washer. And a 4 person household is saying it is to small??? How is that we "only" got 2.5 and 2 cft, and we have bigger german washers...


Post# 702692 , Reply# 4   9/11/2013 at 13:35 (3,850 days old) by johnnyb ()        

I never run the washer if its not 100% full.
We are two persons and we never had a case that we need to run the washer with one pound of clothes. even the delicates we wash them on hand. I cant find any reason to wash sensitive items on the washing machine. for what? for the automatic rinse?

John


Post# 702697 , Reply# 5   9/11/2013 at 13:53 (3,850 days old) by Mich (Hells Kitchen - New York)        
I personally...

mich's profile picture
Never fill the Drum more then 75%, as I want the clothes to have room to move, and tumble freely.

I've never understood why people fill there washer with so many Clothes, so much so that the door barely shuts close, and expect them to move around, or even get clean.



Post# 702701 , Reply# 6   9/11/2013 at 14:06 (3,850 days old) by henene4 (Heidenheim a.d. Brenz (Germany))        

But as our cycles take 1h 30 min+, a "full load" is no problem at all...

Post# 702704 , Reply# 7   9/11/2013 at 14:35 (3,850 days old) by electron1100 (England)        
full up

electron1100's profile picture
I always fill to the top, once the clothes are wet they sink down to about 3/4 plenty of room to tumble about, plus my machine has high water levels so that helps aswell.

It often amuses me when some one is showing off the latest supersized machine and it has a just a few items in the bottom of the drum, ah well ;-)

Picture of the machine on a whites wash fully loaded, 4 pillow cases, double fitted sheet, double duvet cover, double mattress cover, T-shirts, T-Towels and other odds and ends


Post# 702709 , Reply# 8   9/11/2013 at 14:48 (3,850 days old) by norgechef (Saint George New Brunswick )        
I plug mine half full

I have a traditional top load washer that is about 3.5 Cu.Ft and I feel that I can stuff it about half way or a little more and still get good circulation. Personally I am impressed at how much I can fit in one load especially compared to Whirlpool direct drive top load washers.

Post# 702719 , Reply# 9   9/11/2013 at 15:22 (3,850 days old) by dj-gabriele ()        
Sure my machines run full all the time...

Anything less than a full load is a waste of detergent and utilities.

Since the machines are designed to wash a full load (meaning the full available space of the drum) it's a good thing to use all that can be filled.

See the attached discussion I opened some time ago and all the debate it ignited...

Of course a "full" 5 kg load for the machine (I weighted it!) is made of:

2 bottom double sheets
2 top double sheets
4 pillowcases
2 face towels
2 bidet towels

and the drum can accept it nicely filling completely but without the need to compress the load.


CLICK HERE TO GO TO dj-gabriele's LINK


Post# 702726 , Reply# 10   9/11/2013 at 16:43 (3,850 days old) by ronhic (Canberra, Australia)        
This comes up time and again

ronhic's profile picture
...and it is, generally speaking, North Americans who do not fill a front load washing machine to capacity and maintain the 'duvet' or 'comforter' argument when it comes to buying something that, to European and possibly Australian eyes, is simply enormous.

I've told before of my encounter with a North American lady in a laundrette in the UK.

Confronted with 2 very large garbage bags of washing to do and nothing but a line of front load machines, she did look more than a little perplexed. She started to load and then went to shut the door when the washing only came to the lower edge....I jumped in and said she could 'put much more in' and she did...a few more items.

I commented again that 'you can put a lot more into these machines' to which she replied 'You can? Are you sure it'll wash?'. 'Yes, it'll wash - MILLIONS of Europeans can't be wrong'.

More washing went in until it was just under half full. I tried again. A couple more items. Just over half full now. That was it.

It took this disbelieving woman 3 machines to wash one bag of laundry.

Then she sat and watched intently.

Now I have no doubt that she had not used a front load machine before. However, this is a laundrette with 15-20 machines located in a busy area. There were other machines going that were filled to capacity. Do people not LOOK at what others are doing in order to learn how to do something?

Another example.

We had Canadian friends staying with us 7 years ago who were absolutely amazed at how much my 'teeny little' (5kg) washing machine could take - Janet stood there and watched as I just kept putting more and more in until the full laundry basket of washing was just 'swallowed'.

Sure, there was minimal space left for anything - but that's how you wash with a decent front load machine - FULL. Janet commented that she 'probably would have made that into at LEAST 2 loads...possibly 3' and then when it was done that 'I had no idea that you could wash so much, so well in a machine that size'

A distinct lack of education, exposure to good practices and manufacturers who are both tied to ideals that are strangling good machine performance (legislated efficiency) as well as scared witless of litigation means that ultimately the consumer loses.

There is also the way that capacity is represented in the US that doesn't necessarily reflect the capability of certain machines when compared to others. By that I mean that using the 'cubic feet' measurement alone does not tell a person how much something can wash - it represents a volume measurement. It could also be argued that the provision of a weight alone, such as kilograms or pounds, also doesn't give sufficient information to the user to enable them to get the most out of their machines.

Quite simply, BOTH should be provided.

Cubic feet/cubic metres - to show overall usable capacity

Pounds/kilograms - to show maximum capability (to wash a COTTON load containing items of mixed sizes)

If you look at the advert below and note the items shown at the end, it IS a 5kg/11lb load....manufacturers don't appear to do this style of promotion anymore. I'd argue that they know that the machines they sell that are rated at large weight capacities are simply incapable of having that much dry weight washing put in them in the first place - Whirlpool was caught out here 15 years ago. When their US made top load machine was filled to the claimed amount of washing it was so full the lid was at 45 degrees!

Maybe they were targeting size queens?

Anyway, when it all boils down to it, I agree with everything you've said above regarding 'capacity' and how to utilise it appropriately to get the most out of your machine both from an economy (water/detergent) perspective and from a mechanical one (balancing, optimised spin).


CLICK HERE TO GO TO ronhic's LINK


Post# 702734 , Reply# 11   9/11/2013 at 18:04 (3,850 days old) by mrb627 (Buford, GA)        
Washing machines

mrb627's profile picture
Front loading washing machines are entirely different animals over here in the USA. Ours simply cannot be treated in the same manner as the UK machines. Between the energy restrictions, lower water usage, flimsy component construction...etc. they simply cannot handle long term overloading and still produce clean clothing.

Malcolm


Post# 702745 , Reply# 12   9/11/2013 at 18:56 (3,850 days old) by aptone1 ()        

in the US almost all new machines have a load sense algorithm so they add less water to small loads. The energy star program all but demands it. I think the speed queen units are the only full line exception. I have a 5 cu. Ft top load and have seen the water level in the basket vary from 2 to 10+ inches. The only time I have seen any performance degradation from this is when I wash very dirty car and shop rags, even then I was not sure more water would have gotten them much cleaner. I know in the past machines were advertised with weights but there were serious questions regarding what the what fabrics were used in the test load. The practice is no longer used. I would say the machine is overloaded when the clothes stop turning over in the drum. Before the load sensing machine I would say I easily used twice the water per item washed. If I am typical I would guess most loads here are severely over estimated. It will be interesting to see how the new machine holds up using the much lower water amounts. If Malcolm is right I may be shopping again in a few years. I would guess the power needed to turn more clothes in less water is much higher.


Post# 702747 , Reply# 13   9/11/2013 at 19:13 (3,850 days old) by wayupnorth (On a lake between Bangor and Bar Harbor, Maine)        
100% every time

wayupnorth's profile picture
I usually add more water in my old Maytag and use a stick to push everything going around like it should. I do 1 load of white and one of darks when the hamper is full. I am on a septic system so its not good to do multiple little loads. I think the ex large button for water level must be permantly froze there.

Post# 702775 , Reply# 14   9/12/2013 at 00:43 (3,850 days old) by mark_wpduet (Lexington KY)        
European front load machines

mark_wpduet's profile picture
are MUCH MUCH better (at least from what I've learned on this forum) than most U.S. front load machines.

We don't have a boil wash! (even though the Sanitary on my Duet gets plenty hot)
We don't have deep rinses (or at least that option)

It's not FAIR!

The drums are LARGE, however, you don't want to load it over 3/4 full, otherwise, the clothes will NOT come clean or be rinsed well. They need all the big drum room to move about all over instead of just barely moving around from being filled to the max.


Post# 702778 , Reply# 15   9/12/2013 at 01:24 (3,850 days old) by dj-gabriele ()        
almost all new machines have a load sense algorithm so they

European machines have that feature since they started being manufactured, either automatic (since the 80s) o manual selecting reduced load.

But it was also stated that while doing two half loads compared to a full load one wastes 50% of the resources because while the machine automatically reduces water level and electricity use, you can't go lower than a certain threshold to make it wash, so a full load wash is always recommended.


Post# 702852 , Reply# 16   9/12/2013 at 11:58 (3,849 days old) by Haxisfan (Europe - UK / Italy)        
No wash day, no instructions, wash as I go...

haxisfan's profile picture
I don't really follow any particular criteria to fill up the drum... in my case the less the better, so I can effortlessly cope with drying, folding and storing. Naturally... I don't mean to start the machine with a single pair of socks... like my lodger used to do... despite the fact that I was charging him below average rent!

It's not practical whatsoever for me to match everything to create a full load of laundry... I am perhaps too picky and I end up separating everything not just by colour and type of fabric... but by level of dirt as well. For example, I cannot wait to accumulate a full load of office clothes (my suits or shirts and trousers)... these are generally very lightly soiled and I don't like to put them together with the other clothes that I wear around the house or underwear in general. Same for my gym sweaty stuff... they all go in separate loads... and sometimes separated even further depending on the colour. This is not as complicated as it seems... I just do it mechanically and I often end up having many small loads (like 2 or 3 kgs). I do wash all the towels together reaching a reasonable size load... same for the bedding.

I think a big machine is handy for bigger items that can also be washed in a domestic environment... and while it remains true that a full load yields some savings over two half loads... I haven't personally found this to be an issue. I've been using a 6kg (13.23lb) machine and I was often filling it up to near capacity with certain loads... but since I've also been using a larger machine (8kg=17.64lb), by putting the same size load, it's regarded as a reduced load and as a result, the latter uses exactly the same amount of water and electricity as the smaller one.

Above all... for me, it's practicality! I can easily deal with a small load of clothes in the morning before leaving home to go to work... or in the evening before going to bed... or between dinner and watching a movie: wash it... dry it... fold it... whenever I have a window of time ;-)


Post# 702854 , Reply# 17   9/12/2013 at 12:14 (3,849 days old) by joe_in_philly (Philadelphia, PA, USA)        

joe_in_philly's profile picture
I don't often fill my FL washer. After sorting, the average load fills the washer about half way. I usually can fill the washer after a trip, or when doing towels.

Can a full load be dried without wrinkling in a euro sized dryer?


Post# 702857 , Reply# 18   9/12/2013 at 12:33 (3,849 days old) by Haxisfan (Europe - UK / Italy)        
@joe_in_philly... Definitely!

haxisfan's profile picture
That's another thing I was meant to mention in my previous comment... small/medium loads come out of the dryer completely crease free ;-)

Post# 702859 , Reply# 19   9/12/2013 at 12:41 (3,849 days old) by Haxisfan (Europe - UK / Italy)        
@joe_in_philly... Definitely!

haxisfan's profile picture
That's another thing I was meant to mention in my previous comment... small/medium loads come out of the dryer completely crease free ;-)

Euro size dryers are not that petite anymore nowadays... so, even a reasonably large load of clothes can be arguably wrinkle free after drying. I still find that large cotton sheets would be a bit of a challenge for the ironing maniac... not me.


Post# 702866 , Reply# 20   9/12/2013 at 13:01 (3,849 days old) by dj-gabriele ()        
European dryers

You can buy a 9 kg washer and a matching 9 kg dryer.
Gosh, even washer-dyers nowdays can cope with 6 kg of drying!


Post# 702872 , Reply# 21   9/12/2013 at 13:14 (3,849 days old) by Iheartmaytag (Wichita, Kansas)        

iheartmaytag's profile picture
I always wash full loads where applicable. On TL washer to the first row of holes. FL I was advised to do a controlled wad and stuff not pack.

Towels, sheets, items of such a full load stuffed not packed once wetted are about 1/2 to 3/4, a load I did this weekend was
2 King sized sheets
4 pillow cases
2 Twin Sheets
1 pillow case

I have in the past also added the 2 full sized sheets and 2 pillow cases but it took forever to balance, so by lightening the load it finishes quicker.

Now for No iron, permanent press items. I usually only load about 1/2 to 3/4 full dry so they have room to tumble with minimal wrinkles. I do notice more wrinkles with the FL machine than I did with the TL.

The matching dryer is an 7.5 or 8 cu. ft monster and I was always told to load a dryer 1/2 full of wet items so they had room to tumble. For the record, the sheets were hung on the line to dry.

My main objective is the same with the dishes. I put dirty items in, I want to pull clean items out. I am satisfied with the outcomes with my German made, American machine. (Maytag -Duet clone)


Post# 702901 , Reply# 22   9/12/2013 at 14:54 (3,849 days old) by Mich (Hells Kitchen - New York)        
I don't wanna start anything..

mich's profile picture
But, American (FL) Machines are a completely different level of Washing, compared to European anything.

It takes a lot of adjusting, to even get a decent amount of Tap COLD water, in the few "Rinse" cycles were allocated. Let's not even forget the fact that, it's hard to even get ours to fill with so called "Hot" and "Warm" temperatures.

Despite "advanced" load sensing senors, and electronic controls running them, there so Water conscious, that we simply can't overfill, and get clothes even barely damp.

I, along with other Americans, simply cannot comprehend the idea of loading them so tightly packed. Well, I guess, some can, but, I don't think there really paying attention to whats going on in the tub.

Don't even get me started on our Environmental & Eco Mess...


Post# 702912 , Reply# 23   9/12/2013 at 15:35 (3,849 days old) by Whirlpolf ()        
always full (hand width rule)

I pack both my EU front loaders and my US top loaders as full as they can get:

Front loaders: Just chuckablock minus a small air space (turning your flat hand on top of the clothes must still be possible).

US top loaders: upper row of perforation holes means full.

I don't own a US front loader, but I used a friends Bauknecht Big machine (equivalent to the Whirlpool HEt3 machines, or is it HE3T?) - the only difference: The Bauknecht is self-heating, the US Whirlpool is just mixing hot and cold water from the taps.


Besides, I HATE the Euro kilogram indication, most of the time it is a fake.
You simply cannot get an 8 or even 10 kg load into a 85 x 60 x 60 cm machine (6 or 7 kg may be a realistic maximum).
For any larger loads than 7 kg you need to have an oversized (meaning oversized for regular Euro kitchen measurements = American sized) larger washer with larger drum diameters (so it must be 90 cm high or more such as Bauknecht or Hotpoint Ariston).

Cubic liters or cubic feet are much more honest, I think = that is the real space volume.
Then again "normal" or "super" or "extra large", even "king size" or "canyon capacity" machines do not sound like neutral facts either...

Whatever: When clothes do not flop and tumble down (FL) or do not raise and get sucked down again respectively (agitator TL): That is when I have overfilled them. (A learning curve)




Post# 702925 , Reply# 24   9/12/2013 at 16:15 (3,849 days old) by joe_in_philly (Philadelphia, PA, USA)        

joe_in_philly's profile picture
I believe the Bauknecht Big is equivalent to the Kenmore HE3t (made by Whirlpool), or Whirlpool's "Duet" version.

Some models have a built in heater, but not as powerful at the Big's heater. The HE3 is the Kenmore model without a heater, and the Kenmore HE3t has a heater. The "t" stands for "thermal." The Kenmore HE3, HE3t, HE4t, and HE5t are no longer made. The Duet name lives on with Whirlpool's current models.


Post# 702933 , Reply# 25   9/12/2013 at 16:45 (3,849 days old) by frontloaderfan (Merrimac valley, MA)        

frontloaderfan's profile picture
I fill my 2012 Frigidaire FL to the very top of the drum with dry laundry when I wash. When the clothes get wet, they come about 3/4 of the way up to the top of the drum. An average load of whites in my house is five pairs of baker's pants, five white t-shirts, five pairs of socks and two or three bath towels.

In order to get hot water in the machine, I run the adjacent tap until it comes out as hot as it will go then I start the machine. The machine tries to dumb down the hot water by adding extra cold water, so I'm there with my two gallon watering can full of hot tap water. I usually add an extra two gallons to each of the "rinses" as well. Until I get my water level sensor modified, this is the only way to ensure that the clothes actually get clean.

I wrote Frigidaire about the machine not spinning after the wash cycle because the clothes were so knotted due to the low water level in the machine and received no reply, so I stand there like it was 1913 instead of 2013 dumping water into the machine with a watering can. Welcome to doing laundry in the 21st century...


Post# 702949 , Reply# 26   9/12/2013 at 17:45 (3,849 days old) by aptone1 ()        

The bigget load I put in my tl was 5 pants, 13 shirts, 3 towels, 13 underwear, and 13 pairs of socks. It was full to the middle of the top of the plastic balance ring when dry. After it added water it was about 2 inches below the top of the metal basket. It turned the load very well and when it was finished spinning the load was about 1/3 of the way up the basket. It did a great job on my two week bachelor load. I work in an office so none of the clothes were really dirty but it did get out a food stain or two. The dryer seemed to take forever, it does not seem to match the size of the washer. I don't really care about the water savings but it did save a lot of time. Three or four loads in one shot worked out great. I had to use cold water due to the colors but adding a long soak seemed to even things out on the cleaning front.

Post# 702968 , Reply# 27   9/12/2013 at 18:51 (3,849 days old) by Launderess (Quiet Please, There´s a Lady on Stage)        
Since My AEG Lavamat Has Load Sensing Technology

launderess's profile picture
That will display in percentage the amount of laundry in tub we can "see" what makes a full load.

Based upon two recent loads; one a mix of bath linen and cottons, the other a queen sized cotton blanket with a few terry cloth hand towels thrown in for balance measure, reaching 120% load factor each time.

This seems odd to me since each load once fully saturated with water left about 1/3 to 1/4 of free space between top of load and wash tub. In short much more than the proverbial fist distance, but never the less Lavamat said the weight was more than 100% of load factor/capacity.

Yes, the washer performed flawlessly and got the job done without all the banging, clanging and OOB problems of the Miele. However in interests of preserving long washer life have made notes and won't be doing such things often if indeed again.


Post# 703016 , Reply# 28   9/12/2013 at 22:27 (3,849 days old) by washer111 ()        
Nope!

You see, when you start using the more "specialist" cycles on the Miele, rather than bog-standard "generic" cycles, one cannot load as heavily due to increased water usage/decreased maximum load sizes.

 

For instance, Automatic Plus has a maximum level of 5.5Kgs, Delicates/Minimum Iron 3.5Kg and Darks/Denim at 3Kg. These cycles also use far more water than Cottons (For example Minimum Iron Washing at Door-Seal level, Rinse 1/2 way up the glass), take less time and are much better on your clothes with the increased water-level.

The result of this is your clothes are cared for much more than when you just "stuff it in" on Cottons, you get better rinsing and your laundry is done in half the time (About an Hour for Delicates/Min. Iron/Darks/Denim). It might not save water, but it saves clothes, which ultimately is far better for the planet (Compare extra water usage with the manufacture and transport of clothes half way round the globe from China and having to replace these items more often)

 

The fullest we get is maybe sheets/towels, which are 3/4 of the way up the drum when dry. The sheets don't tumble too much, so we always use Pre-Wash and Water Plus at the very least (And always wash much hotter), adding a Soak if we have the time for it. This ensures the results are good.

 

But on full loads, Euro machines are quite a bit more "liberal" with their water usage. I think the American machines need to focus on being ability to wash the full load with water levels comparable to Euro machines, rather than just huge capacities that will never be realistically cleaned and rinsed.

The other issue is that Euro machines can be absolutely "stuffed," and good results can still be expected, even if the machine is only "tiny" in comparison to the load (5Kg machines can possibly loads larger than this with no issues).


Post# 703065 , Reply# 29   9/13/2013 at 07:19 (3,848 days old) by electron1100 (England)        
Load Sensing

electron1100's profile picture
As Dj-Gabriele states machines in fact going back to the 70s as far as I remember have had load sensing, albeit not digital but mechanical via the water pressure switch, the machine will have minimum water level for washing at, if this drops due to absorbent loads the pressure switch senses the water/pressure drop and opens the inlet valve to raise the water to the required level so yes machines have had load sensing for a very long time, and of course being mechanical they are adjustable :-))).........not that I have ever fiddled with mine ;-O

Post# 703070 , Reply# 30   9/13/2013 at 08:00 (3,848 days old) by Launderess (Quiet Please, There´s a Lady on Stage)        
Load Sensing

launderess's profile picture
Am here to say that my Miele w1070 yes, will sense the load in that it will keep water levels at certain preset. That is about five US gallons for "normal" cottons and permanent press, and ten for rinses. However as to using less water automatically for smaller loads, no it does not do that at all.

Pressing the "half load" button will cause the rinses in "normal/PP" to use less water (the default wash level IIRC), but does not affect the main fill for the wash.

One knows this because tested the thing several times when unit was first purchased. Easy method was to allow the machine to fill on a normal "cottons" cycle but with a full load and the "Half Load" button pressed. If the unit did take on less water trust me this machine lets you know when it is unhappy. In particular the pump when air is being sent down. Not a bit of it; washer filled as normal and carried on.

The other test would be to release the "Half Load" button which would cause the machine to fill to full level, again not a bit of it. However if one does this during a rinse cycle the machine will stop and top off the drum with another five or whatever gallons of water.

Of course the Lavamat and Miele are two different beasts from different ages. The Miele simply starts to fill with whatever water level a cycle calls for (again absent modification by the HL button. OTOH Lavamat starts each wash new wash cycle by first tumbling drum with wash but no water, then sending down a small amount of water. Only after this "test" does the machine begin to fill for the wash. Lavamat knows how much laundry it has to cope with and gives water levels based upon that information. It will stop and top off the tub if water is absorbed by the wash causing the level to drop, but unlike the Miele it can adjust water usage to match load size.

Like the Miele however one is advised to load the tub differently for silks, delicates, woolens, easy irons and fashion fabrics. For cottons and "easy care" the cycle choice is the same but the machine can "tell" what it's got and is programmed to vary the cycle accordingly.


Post# 703080 , Reply# 31   9/13/2013 at 09:29 (3,848 days old) by electron1100 (England)        
AEG

electron1100's profile picture

Gosh such refinement is astounding, makes us wonder how we ever lived without it :-)


Post# 703084 , Reply# 32   9/13/2013 at 10:24 (3,848 days old) by PassatDoc (Orange County, California)        
@ronhic: agree

I have a laundry center with three sorting bags, and I divide routine laundry into three categories, each of which has its own washing or drying needs in my machines:

1. All-cotton perm press shirts and trousers (my office wear), which need either Perm Press or Normal wash cycle/Warm, and Perm Press drying cycle on Medium heat

2. Towels and bed linens: Heavy cycle on Hot, with Towel cycle drying on Warm or Hot.

3. All-cotton t-shirts, jeans, etc which won't get dry on Perm Press dry, so I wash these on Normal/warm and dry on Normal/Warm.

I wait until the each sorting bag is full: I have more than enough clothing and towels and linens to last for weeks in the closets/cabinets. The drum on my Frig 2140 FL is roughly 80% full when I wash. The only time I might not run a full load would be for something special like sweaters or sofa pillow covers (delicate or handwash cycle on Cold) simply because I don't have enough of the items to fill the machine.


Post# 703100 , Reply# 33   9/13/2013 at 11:27 (3,848 days old) by DADoES (TX, U.S. of A.)        

dadoes's profile picture
 
Every load is not a maximum but I'm surely not afraid to push it to the limit when opportunity arises.


Post# 703192 , Reply# 34   9/13/2013 at 22:37 (3,848 days old) by logixx (Germany)        

logixx's profile picture

Some manuals for US washers list weight in kilos. This is the manual for the Mexican LG WT 5101. Kind of disappointing to see how low the recommended load for some cycles is.


Post# 703193 , Reply# 35   9/13/2013 at 22:41 (3,848 days old) by logixx (Germany)        

logixx's profile picture

And here's a recent Duet doing a full load of towels - with the time adjusted.

 





Post# 703199 , Reply# 36   9/13/2013 at 23:47 (3,848 days old) by Launderess (Quiet Please, There´s a Lady on Stage)        
She is from US and she works here the last 3 years.

launderess's profile picture
There you have your answer to many of your questions.

If the person in question had no previous experience with front loading washers until her or his arrival in Austria, or for that matter even if she or he had the American way of laundry is always where possible have a large washing machine.

This tradition comes obviously from top loading washers with central beaters dominating the washing machine market. Even if such machines have capacity from 2lbs to 20lbs water levels can be manually adjusted to suit.

The other thing is Americans have *LONG* been wedded to the tradition of doing the wash once a week or even putting it off longer. We know of persons who literally do not do the washing until every last bed linen, undergarment, bath linen, shirts, and so forth are soiled. When you wait that long to do the washing you're going to need a large washing machine, at least in theory.

Again with top loaders if there was say only a "medium" load of darks the water level could be set to that amount. Therefore in theory water is not being wasted. If the front loader in question does not "load sense" to mean less water is used for smaller loads, then it can be rather wasteful.

One hears from repairmen and washing machine repair sites that this trend of Americans of purchasing uber-sized washing machines but rarely using full capacity actually harms the washer. Aside from special cycles a H-Axis washers are most efficient on so many levels when loaded at or near rated capacity. It certainly does the bearings or support systems any good if the washer cannot balance properly due to an inability to distribute loads that are too small.

Have never understood the logic behind purchasing 15lb or higher domestic front loaders when in actual use loads rarely go above eleven pounds. Oh but they say "we have bulky bedding like duvets and quilts". Yes, but how many times per year do you launder such items. Or, are you laundering them to death just because now you can at home?


Post# 703208 , Reply# 37   9/14/2013 at 02:32 (3,848 days old) by ronhic (Canberra, Australia)        
Average loads

ronhic's profile picture
Launderess,

I think you'll find that average loads are even smaller than that.

Our consumer magazine, Choice, asked consumers to fill either a top load or front load machine with clothes until they thought it full. When choice weighed the washing, the average was about half the stated capacity of the machine.

As a result of this, Choice now test every machine with a 3.5kg (8lb) load.

Apparently its about the same in the UK too when it comes to how much people put in a machine.

It may be different in the US and Canada because the machines have more volume, but doesn't your own consumer magazine test a given weight across the board?



Post# 703543 , Reply# 38   9/16/2013 at 11:47 (3,845 days old) by DADoES (TX, U.S. of A.)        

dadoes's profile picture
 
Large load.


Post# 703544 , Reply# 39   9/16/2013 at 11:48 (3,845 days old) by DADoES (TX, U.S. of A.)        

dadoes's profile picture
 
Loaded.


Post# 703610 , Reply# 40   9/16/2013 at 20:02 (3,845 days old) by DADoES (TX, U.S. of A.)        

dadoes's profile picture
 


Post# 703611 , Reply# 41   9/16/2013 at 20:03 (3,845 days old) by DADoES (TX, U.S. of A.)        

dadoes's profile picture
 


Post# 703628 , Reply# 42   9/17/2013 at 00:24 (3,845 days old) by A440 ()        

Glen,
That is an impressive load in your Calypso!
I would love to find on of these washers in good shape. All the machines I find...you know that rest of the story.
Please do a video when you get a chance of your Calypso with the load you showed here.
It would be such an amazing archive video. I know this machine can handle this and so much more.
Glad that you are enjoying your machine so much!
This is my favorite modern top load machine hands down!
Brent


Post# 703759 , Reply# 43   9/17/2013 at 20:47 (3,844 days old) by DADoES (TX, U.S. of A.)        

dadoes's profile picture
 
Video request noted.  :-)


Post# 703781 , Reply# 44   9/17/2013 at 22:31 (3,844 days old) by washer111 ()        
WOW!

That is an impressive load Glenn! I had to save that photo for future reference.

 


Post# 703796 , Reply# 45   9/18/2013 at 00:05 (3,844 days old) by A440 ()        

Thanks Glen!
I hope it is not too much trouble.
You videos are always so good!
And you have such fun machines!
Brent


Post# 705281 , Reply# 46   9/25/2013 at 12:56 (3,836 days old) by laundromat (Hilo, Hawaii)        

laundromat's profile picture
I pack mine full (Duets ,Troms and Frigidairs) leaving enough room for them to move freely about. I mean business washing clothes for two teenage kids, a triage nurse, a construction worker,five dogs and myself. I wash pillows,sofa cushions,dog beds,bloody nurse outfits,king size bedspreads, tennis shoes, car Mats and area rugs in them. I use Gain (not HE) detergent and fabric softener. I will admit, I rigged them to use more water ( it now fills up just past the window.base.) than before but that really made a big difference. Just recently I washed the eight foot hall runners,one at a time with the kitchen slices .They came out so clean that Gretchen assumed they were new.

Post# 705306 , Reply# 47   9/25/2013 at 15:00 (3,836 days old) by Rolls_rapide (.)        
Reply #41

I noticed the detergent: is it "Era" ?

It has the same type of dispensing tap as Ariel Liquid had in the UK, around 1998 / 1999. I had a bottle, purchased in Asda supermarket.


Post# 705389 , Reply# 48   9/25/2013 at 21:16 (3,836 days old) by DADoES (TX, U.S. of A.)        

dadoes's profile picture
 
I noticed the detergent: is it "Era" ?
Era, yes, but that's not what was used on the pictured load.


Post# 705390 , Reply# 49   9/25/2013 at 21:23 (3,836 days old) by hooverzodiac12 (Melbourne, Australia)        
I dont know about anyone else but we definatly use the whole

hooverzodiac12's profile picture
You might have a few things to say about this load in particular haha

Post# 705391 , Reply# 50   9/25/2013 at 21:24 (3,836 days old) by hooverzodiac12 (Melbourne, Australia)        
Like a commercial electrolux machine

hooverzodiac12's profile picture
After that spin

Post# 705392 , Reply# 51   9/25/2013 at 21:26 (3,836 days old) by hooverzodiac12 (Melbourne, Australia)        

hooverzodiac12's profile picture
But for a normal load the drum is full with a 5 cm gap up the top if i push it down and it usually ends like this:) if anyone wants any asko vids just let me know im happy to make some

Post# 705432 , Reply# 52   9/26/2013 at 03:15 (3,836 days old) by freshlinen (south africa)        

hooverzodiac please send some vids to my e-mail ridhwaan@hotmail.com

I own aeg lavamat9000 exactly the same as this one you have.


Post# 705480 , Reply# 53   9/26/2013 at 13:14 (3,835 days old) by henene4 (Heidenheim a.d. Brenz (Germany))        

Today I washed a full dark load of colours in our Panasonic and, yeah, know the clothesline is 3/4 full. And as I washed a nother white load in the AEG, it is completly full...

Post# 705600 , Reply# 54   9/27/2013 at 06:43 (3,834 days old) by donprohel (I live in Munich - Germany, but I am Italian)        
Yes, I am...

sure that I am NOT using the 100% of the capacity of my washer.

And honestly speaking I couldn't care less: quite often 100% capacity means poor washing, poor rinsing, and too much tangling


Post# 706002 , Reply# 55   9/28/2013 at 21:49 (3,833 days old) by volsboy1 (East Tenn Smoky mountains )        

volsboy1's profile picture

Is there any F.L. washer's that are made in Europe.I have not had good luck with U.S. made F.L. washer's they don't use enough

water at all.I want one but I good one that will work and is not the size of a refrigerator.

Let's not talk about politics here or who did what to who.Go to the other forums if you want to do that it ruins it for other folks.

Your new here but there are other places to talk about this kinda of stuff,this is not the place at all.

 


Post# 706307 , Reply# 56   9/30/2013 at 09:23 (3,831 days old) by brucelucenta ()        

I have lived these 57 years and have seen and used various automatic washing machines and dryers during those years. I know that the front load domestic washers were mostly all a one tumble direction until around the mid to late 80s. Those machines had a small capacity, poor washing ability and poor extraction for the most part. The Bendix is probably what turned people against front loading machines in the 40s and 50s. The Westinghouse models weren't as bad, but still left much to be desired too. I have seen and used many many top loading machines both solid tub and perforated ones. How much you put in your machine has a great deal to do with how well and uniformly it washes your clothes. The only top load machine I have ever seen wash better with a big load is the 1-18 top load Frigidaire washer. Lint and sediment is sometimes a problem with top loaders. Front loaders do not have that issue at all and today's front load washer with a reversing drum eliminates the tangling and twisting problem too. In my opinion front load washers are the only way to go.
They wash clothing about as well as any top loading machine and do it with less water and detergent. Most of them have very large capacities. The main benefit for me is that clothing comes out virtually lint free. For me that is a big plus!


Post# 706633 , Reply# 57   10/1/2013 at 18:28 (3,830 days old) by Unimatic1140 (Minneapolis)        
Who's seen the movie the Ugly American? <---Don't...

unimatic1140's profile picture
answer that!

I've deleted a bunch a posts in here as they were waaaaaaaay off topic and some were downright rude and offensive, which is highly unusual here at aw. I really hope that was a one time deal.

This is a great thread that doesn't need to be hijacked with politics, that's what Dirty Laundry is for where I almost never delete anything (almost doesn't mean never however).

Frank I'm getting a sick headache Now back to our regularly scheduled program.


Post# 706659 , Reply# 58   10/1/2013 at 20:00 (3,830 days old) by mrb627 (Buford, GA)        
FL or TL debate

mrb627's profile picture

My local Speed Queen dealer reports that the current trend is turning back to TL machines in the US.  Two out of three customers have suffered a bad experience and ditch the FL machines for good old style machines where they can see the wash water.  They have eliminated Samsung from the sales floor and expect that LG will follow by the end of the year.  The only TL HE machine they have on the floor is the Maytag Bravos XL.  He states that the Speed Queen machines virtually sell themselves.

 

Go Speed Queen!

 

Malcolm


Post# 706679 , Reply# 59   10/1/2013 at 23:06 (3,830 days old) by kb0nes (Burnsville, MN)        

kb0nes's profile picture
Malcom,

Does you local SQ dealer sell all brands? I'd wager if you look at sales through the SQ lens that they are selling TONS of top loaders now. They are about the only remaining decent option for those that want an old school conventional wash machines.

My hunch is that the TL / FL debate will largely be over in 15 years or so, but my crystal ball is out for polishing currently.


Post# 707082 , Reply# 60   10/3/2013 at 20:12 (3,828 days old) by volsboy1 (East Tenn Smoky mountains )        

volsboy1's profile picture

They are selling tons of them Speedqueens and this guy here gets old top loaders and rebuilds them because they have mechanical dials and metal gears in them for 800$ for the SQ and $125 bucks for a rebuilt washer and he gives you a year warranty his business is booming big time.

My Sister and brother go through these new front loaders every 3 years and buy another, which for the life of me I do not understand

is it not more wasteful throwing out these machines than one that uses more water but lasts for 15 years or more.The water is not like gasoline the water goes to

the septic tank and filters out on the way down to the water table.


Post# 707117 , Reply# 61   10/4/2013 at 00:22 (3,828 days old) by foraloysius (Leeuwarden, Friesland, the Netherlands)        
Full capacity

foraloysius's profile picture
Here is a video of somebody washing 75 t-shirts in a Duet:







Post# 707123 , Reply# 62   10/4/2013 at 00:39 (3,828 days old) by NYCWriter ()        
There's really not enough "tumble" action ...

... going on in this washer to wash those t-shirts effectively.

Post# 707126 , Reply# 63   10/4/2013 at 01:44 (3,828 days old) by foraloysius (Leeuwarden, Friesland, the Netherlands)        

foraloysius's profile picture
A lot of European frontloaders tumble like that and they get A-ratings for cleanability.

Post# 707132 , Reply# 64   10/4/2013 at 04:01 (3,827 days old) by mrboilwash (Munich,Germany)        

mrboilwash's profile picture
There`s still penty of tumble action, we have been doing so sucessfully for about 60 years in Europe.

But to be fair you really cannot compare US FL with EU front loaders.

Unlike most US FL machines the Duet gives at least a somewhat decent washtime for a full cotton load, but still there is the lack of a cold start. Guess the "warm" water is barely lukewarm 5 minutes into the cycle.
No, I wouldn`t fill it up to capacity and expect top results.




This post was last edited 10/04/2013 at 05:23
Post# 707133 , Reply# 65   10/4/2013 at 04:24 (3,827 days old) by chestermikeuk (Rainhill *Home of the RailwayTrials* Merseyside,UK)        
At Last

chestermikeuk's profile picture
A decent machine load on film, there`s enough tumble in that to get them clean with the right amount of powder HE detergent!!, You only have to focus on any of the green / orange t-shirts to see how they move from the middle to the side of the load, and the load on the outside will certainly get a good wash action...

Our detergents are formulated to work best with a cold to selected temperature profile wash by the use of a 240v heater , I guess its one way not having a heater is that the US government and eco bods have to cover themselves in case everyone started using 240v heated front loaders, which would just overwhelm household supplies and the national grid infrastructure!!

I love using top loaders but the trade off for me in terms of energy used, water and detergent costs - a front loader it will be - each to our own circumstances!!


Post# 707145 , Reply# 66   10/4/2013 at 05:52 (3,827 days old) by DADoES (TX, U.S. of A.)        

dadoes's profile picture
 
Per request, a brief clip of my Calypso running a large load of towels/cottons (check the video description at YouTube for details on what is in the load).  Sorry for the rather low video quality.  I didn't use any additional lighting, and this is a new camera so I'm not yet onto its quirks.

Anyway, the clip shows how the Calypso does rollover and rotate the items.  Watch some of the items as the clip progresses -- the salmon-colored towel, a sock, red-striped dishcloth, etc. -- to see how items roll from outside to center as the load simultaneously rotates counterclockwise through the recirculation stream.






Post# 707174 , Reply# 67   10/4/2013 at 08:32 (3,827 days old) by washman (o)        
Yes

I am.

CLICK HERE TO GO TO washman's LINK


Post# 707185 , Reply# 68   10/4/2013 at 10:28 (3,827 days old) by logixx (Germany)        

logixx's profile picture

The tumbling action in that Duet is sufficient, if the cycle time is long enough. This is how European machines work (larger load = longer overall cycle). Naturally, the fact that European washers must heat their own water increases cycle time as well. My Duet could wash a medium load at 40C in 40 minutes - with two rinses - had I connected the washer to warm water. However,  its relatively weak heater at 2000 watts (given the size of the machine) forces me to use longer cycles. I have washed loads as large as the one in that video and got perfect results - I just needed to select a long enough cycle.

 

Alex


Post# 707577 , Reply# 69   10/6/2013 at 14:33 (3,825 days old) by electron1100 (England)        
Miele Video On Youtube

electron1100's profile picture

Talking about people who don't like to overload there machines have a look at this video it is priceless :-)


CLICK HERE TO GO TO electron1100's LINK


Post# 707594 , Reply# 70   10/6/2013 at 16:05 (3,825 days old) by chestermikeuk (Rainhill *Home of the RailwayTrials* Merseyside,UK)        
"Not The One I'd Have Chosen"

chestermikeuk's profile picture
Oh - Don't Miele' do Multi- Fabric Washes Then?

Post# 707859 , Reply# 71   10/7/2013 at 23:47 (3,824 days old) by A440 ()        

Dadoes that for the awesome video!
The circulation of the towels is very impressive!
Brent


Post# 707860 , Reply# 72   10/7/2013 at 23:48 (3,824 days old) by A440 ()        

*thanks* for the awesome video...


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