Thread Number: 68561
/ Tag: Modern Automatic Washers
Question For UK Members - American Style Top Loader Availability in The UK |
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Post# 913131   12/30/2016 at 10:08 (2,645 days old) by chrisbsuk (Bristol, uk)   |   | |
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Hi all,
I hope you've had a great Christmas so far! I wondered if any of you could help - my partner and I have a couple of Airbnb places here in Bristol, which we obviously have to go in and clean after one set of visitors leaves, in readiness for the next set. Currently using my Siemens IQ500, which whilst is excellent at washing all the sheets and towels generated, it is just a little too slow - even with Speed Perfect selected it'll take around 1:10 to do a 60*c cycle, and I find the final spin is too short - hence time lost in the dryer. As it'll be full, the normal 60*c cycle will take the full 3:25 - time we don't have 😔 My gut feel is that I need an American Top Loader, because of their incredibly quick cycle times and fairly large capacity - this will compliment the Siemens machine. That is going nowhere! Are any of you able to recommend a store here in the U.K, that still sells these? Looking through the Internet it just seems to be the Whirlpool brand with the crappy base impeller rather than the whole length agitator available here. I'd like one that still uses proper hot water, and lots of it! And the proper agitator. Any thoughts? I'd really appreciate any guidance you could give - I'd also be happy with a 2nd hand one to be honest - although on searching eBay there isn't much around at the moment. Maybe you guys have some contacts? Thanks very much and enjoy the rest of the holidays, Chris |
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Post# 913187 , Reply# 5   12/30/2016 at 17:08 (2,645 days old) by henene4 (Heidenheim a.d. Brenz (Germany))   |   | |
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Just found this. Maybe it helps. Pretty cheap for what it is. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Miele-Professi... |
Post# 913218 , Reply# 6   12/30/2016 at 21:37 (2,645 days old) by chrisbsuk (Bristol, uk)   |   | |
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Guys,
Thanks so much so far! In terms of water pressure and supply, that isn't a problem as it'll be connected to a combo boiler which as you know makes hot water on demand - the washer will be next to it. Hadn't thought on the drying aspect, but now I do I can't have an American dryer as the machines are in a basement with nowhere to vent to - currently use a Siemens condenser dryer, on the rapid cycle, which takes about an hour (after a 1600rpm final spin!) I've started to "watch" that Miele Professional machine! Maybe that is a better option - I thought the rapid cycles on a top Loader may have been a good solution. 😊 Thanks again all, ,chris |
Post# 913233 , Reply# 7   12/30/2016 at 23:25 (2,645 days old) by Launderess (Quiet Please, There´s a Lady on Stage)   |   | |
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An Americans advice if you can stand to it; top loading automatic washing machine may or may not solve your problems regarding bed linen.
Have owned used all and sundry; top loading automatic with central beater, Hoovermatic, 5kg capacity European front loader (Malber, Miele, AEG OKO-Lavamat), Maytag wringer washer and finally tubs, mangle and a posser, and am here to tell you each have benefits but also negatives. The five basic rules of good laundry (wash contact time, water temperature, chemical action, mechanical action, and water level/amount) are constant. Where one is decreased the others must be raised to compensate, and vice versa. Because top loading washers with central beaters use more water and stronger mechanical action they do hold out the prospect of faster cycle times; but at the cost of injuring items after repeated washing. Also because the chemicals are diluted with so much water stain removal isn't often what it could be. Traditionally Americans have gotten around these various shortcomings by using large amounts of chlorine bleach. Yes, top loading automatic washing machines *are* faster. But this can come at the costs of increased energy/resource use and if not careful wear upon your linens. Capacity of such machines is deceptive; one would think they hold more than a 5kg rated front loader, but this not universally true. Often just two large sheets and a few pillow slips is all that can be managed. What you want is for things to turn over in the wash, not merely get thrashed about by the beater. Common to many top loading washers with central beaters is the occurrence of air bubbles when doing linens. Things just then bunch up and won't get drawn down into the wash. Doing wash in an American top loader is going back to how your gran or great-gran did the laundry. Stains must be treated and or things pre-washed/soaked before going into a hot or even too warm wash. Otherwise the heat of water will "cook" in certain stains binding them to fabric, this will make them that much more difficult to shift. It is worth nothing even here in the States commercial laundries most always went with H-axis (front or side loading) washing machines, this going right down through the years. Laundromats were probably the only places that used top loaders and today even they have mostly gone over to front loaders. What you want is either a fully or quasi commercial washing machine with a bit larger capacity than a domestic, and faster no nonsense cycles. If you want something "American" I'd look for a Maytag *Neptune* or perhaps another fully or quasi commercial front loader. Maybe something used from a laundryette supplier... http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Primus-FS10-Co... Here launderette washers complete a full "normal" cycle in about 30 minutes. Cycles generally are: short pre-wash, main wash, two, three or four rinses and then final spin. No heating of water so you need a good and powerful supply of hot from the taps. |
Post# 913262 , Reply# 8   12/31/2016 at 05:14 (2,644 days old) by Paulinroyton (B)   |   | |
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www.armstrong-laundry.co.... |
Post# 913266 , Reply# 10   12/31/2016 at 06:24 (2,644 days old) by Paulc (Edinburgh, Scotland)   |   | |
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This catering supplies company has some USA style top loaders, a couple of them HE, they also do professional front loaders
www.catering-appliance.com/washin... |
Post# 913268 , Reply# 11   12/31/2016 at 07:01 (2,644 days old) by Paulinroyton (B)   |   | |
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Here is a photo of my Electrolux washer. Very fast wash times, just love it. |
Post# 913270 , Reply# 12   12/31/2016 at 07:07 (2,644 days old) by chestermikeuk (Rainhill *Home of the RailwayTrials* Merseyside,UK)   |   | |
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Hi Chris, great to hear the Siemens IQ is still pride of place, sounds like a good idea to review laundry practices, depending on just how much you are doing etc, is it 2 / 3 bed & bathroom sets per place or just 1 from each ? personally I think you have the best set up in terms of wash result with a profile wash front loader, the speed comes from the extraction rate, drying said item and the finishing i.e. do you need to iron the bedding etc..
I used to need to process 6 bedrooms sets (duvet cover, bed sheets, valance, 4 pillows) and 3 bathrooms (12 bath sheets , hand towels, bath/shower mats) and the best set I had was the MaytagAsko`s, had a mix of lightweight and damask bedware, tried a hotpoint top loader but stuff floated around and capacity wasnt great, I found by folding stuff and using a separate spinner I could cut down on drying times, I also used timed drying so say after 20 mins I could pull the bed covers out the dryer and hang them over large rail and they finished without creasing. It may be an idea to buy more spare bedware and towels to avoid the stress of a quick turnaround and perhaps look at a local setup that could wash n dry for you, its all about the cost overheads, time and how much you want to be involved - although I guess on that score you just ordered the Little Giants ha ha. Let us know what you do and how it works out for you !! This post was last edited 12/31/2016 at 09:00 |
Post# 913274 , Reply# 13   12/31/2016 at 07:46 (2,644 days old) by Launderess (Quiet Please, There´s a Lady on Stage)   |   | |
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I'd go with the Speed Queen front loader over the Huebsch YWN TL washer
www.armstrong-laundry.co.... |
Post# 913430 , Reply# 14   1/1/2017 at 05:43 (2,643 days old) by foraloysius (Leeuwarden, Friesland, the Netherlands)   |   | |
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And another advice... lol
This Swiss frontloader has short cycles and high extraction. Schulthess is a commercial brand from Switzerland. www.armstrong-laundry.co.... |
Post# 914109 , Reply# 15   1/5/2017 at 13:15 (2,639 days old) by chrisbsuk (Bristol, uk)   |   | |
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Happy New Year everyone!
Thanks for your replies- sorry for the delay in my reply, I have been travelling back to the UK from Thailand! I'm going to go with a Top Loader for now (don't all go mad!) to supplement my current FL set up, and see how I get on - if it proves to be more trouble than its worth, then I'll get a Miele Little Giant Pair (I blame chestermike for that suggestion!!) I've found a Whirlpool TL on Gum Tree - a few years old, never used, still in its box - so I'm going to get that, and take it from there. Once its set up I'll update you all with some pictures! Looking forward to talking to you all soon Chris |
Post# 914437 , Reply# 16   1/7/2017 at 12:51 (2,637 days old) by Paulinroyton (B)   |   | |
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www.ceonline.co.uk/commer... Nice speed queen Paul |
Post# 914486 , Reply# 17   1/7/2017 at 19:12 (2,637 days old) by panthera (Rocky Mountains)   |   | |
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UK members would stop being so exclusive. It's something the South Americans, Australians, New Zealanders, Italians, Dutch, Germans, Czech and Scandinavian members don't do. That said - there are a lot of US Military bases throughout Europe which use Speed Queen top loaders. You're probably going to find parts for that brand a bit more easily than for any other American brand. Now, having grown up in Germany and spent a good part of my youth with relations in Scotland and Ireland: American top loaders pump an enormous amount of water out of their gigantic tubs all at once. You might want to consider a laundry-sink to catch the truly massive quantity of water. |
Post# 914543 , Reply# 18   1/8/2017 at 02:57 (2,637 days old) by neptunebob (Pittsburgh, PA)   |   | |
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Post# 914560 , Reply# 20   1/8/2017 at 07:18 (2,636 days old) by Launderess (Quiet Please, There´s a Lady on Stage)   |   | |
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Purchasers and or renters are demanding washing machines and dryers; I mean wouldn't you for the kind of money they are paying (rents > 3.5k USD and buying > 2.1 million USD?).
However from pre-war to new construction problems arise placing washer/dryer connections on outer facing walls. Solution? Ja is the condenser dryer! Our AEG repair/dealer for North American tells us they have sold and installed a good number of Lavamat washers and condenser Lavatherm dryers. Bosch, and Miele are also well represented. In fact IIRC neither of the last two sell vented dryers in North America any longer. Know a few who have condenser dryers here and they hate the things with a passion. None have had such a machine before and are totally used to vented dryers that heat with gas. Main problem here in NYC is we are a temperate and humid climate. It really only is cold enough outdoors to use a condenser dryer from (in theory) October or November through maybe April or parts of May. In practice our winters have been warm to the point of it being around 50F to 55F or even near 60F well into December. Being near water of course things are humid outside regardless. As for the summer/warmer times of year, forget it; a condenser dryer just won't work here; well it will if you turn on the air conditioning "low" enough to keep the place chilly. Have yet to use the Lavatherm dryer this year because it just hasn't been cold outside long enough. Maybe Sunday night into Monday, but things are supposed to warm up again on Tuesday. |
Post# 915184 , Reply# 22   1/11/2017 at 17:40 (2,633 days old) by vacerator (Macomb, Michigan)   |   | |
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1960's, true that many American laundry rooms were in basements, but since, most homes have main floor laundries, and some even upstairs where the bed rooms are, with the exception of warmer climate states, where they are even outside the dwelling. |
Post# 915802 , Reply# 23   1/15/2017 at 15:09 (2,629 days old) by chrisbsuk (Bristol, uk)   |   | |
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Hi all,
Thanks again for your advice, really appreciate it. Quick update from me - I got a Whirlpool American Top Loader delivered on Friday evening. The machine was brand new, the guy having bought it a few years back but never used it. Was even in its original box. Found it on Gum Tree and paid £400 for it (about $480 for those of you over the pond!) I've done several washes in it this weekend, and I have to say I'm pretty impressed so far! Things I like; - cycle times are incredibly quick - capacity of the machine - ability to have a warm rinse - the amount of water it uses (!) - I'm not on a meter thank god - the ease of over riding the lid switch to make it work with the lid open 😊😊 - much quieter and stable than I thought it would be - hot wash is hot - its right next to my combi boiler, so plenty of it too! Things I don't like/need to get used to; - no extra rinse function, so I'll have to see how I get on really - the final "high" spin could be a little better, it's fine but could be a little better (guess I'm used to the 1400rpm Siemens and the 1600rpm maytag!) - The additional detergents needed to keep towels white (e.g vanish oxi action) - had to upgrade the drain system to cope with the water flow when it's pumping out - used the hand wash cycle and it's a complete waste of time! So, so far, so good! Here are a few photos of it too. Chris |
Post# 915803 , Reply# 24   1/15/2017 at 15:10 (2,629 days old) by chrisbsuk (Bristol, uk)   |   | |
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Post# 915804 , Reply# 25   1/15/2017 at 15:10 (2,629 days old) by chrisbsuk (Bristol, uk)   |   | |
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Post# 915805 , Reply# 26   1/15/2017 at 15:12 (2,629 days old) by chrisbsuk (Bristol, uk)   |   | |
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Post# 915806 , Reply# 27   1/15/2017 at 15:15 (2,629 days old) by chrisbsuk (Bristol, uk)   |   | |
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Post# 915807 , Reply# 28   1/15/2017 at 15:18 (2,629 days old) by chrisbsuk (Bristol, uk)   |   | |
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Ps - one other thing I don't like is the fabric softener dispenser - I think it may stain fabrics the way it dispenses. I can either dilute the softener or run an extra rinse after the cycle has done and add the softener when the machine is full of water!
I'll see how I get on over the next few months and will sell it on if it doesn't work out. Thanks all again! Chris |
Post# 915832 , Reply# 30   1/15/2017 at 19:23 (2,629 days old) by cfz2882 (Belle Fourche,SD)   |   | |
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Interesting that whirlpool says "Made in USA" right on the control panel-haven't noticed that on domestic market American whirlpools,though my Asko condenser dryer says "Made in Sweden" right on the front panel :) |
Post# 915841 , Reply# 31   1/15/2017 at 19:57 (2,629 days old) by Launderess (Quiet Please, There´s a Lady on Stage)   |   | |
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Welcome to our world!
*LOL* As for keeping whites that way, you now understand why Americans are so wedded to using chlorine bleach. It just works better in the fast cycles and high dilution (lots of water) that comes with top loading washers. Another suggestion would be to try and find some American Tide with Bleach powder. That stuff was developed for American top loading automatics and generally gives brilliant stain and soil removing results. In fact many of the powdered detergents sold by P&G and others past and present work well in top loaders. Especially the vintage stuff loaded with phosphates. Fabric softener liquid; again now you understand why dryer sheets are so popular here in the States. No bothering with having to catch the rinse (the bain of American housewives for ages...), just bung the lot into dryer with a FS sheet. You will save quite a bit on energy costs (dryer) and perhaps get better overall washing results by investing in a spin dryer, and or bunging loads into a front loader with high final spin speed. America being a land of abundant natural resources (and or willing to import) that often are billed cheap use of a dryer didn't and or doesn't bother most households. Even if said machine must run hard/long to bake out lots of moisture from laundry spun at not very high speeds. Average for some time was only around 700 rpms for most American top loaders. Some lower and a few higher including some vintage Frigidaire and others. Besides faster drying use of an extractor can pull out detergent and other residue left behind even after final rinse. |