Recommendations/advice for daily driver Wringer Washer

I need specific advice for a laundry problem and hope that you folks might have a solution.

I am a caregiver for an older relative who suffers from mild urinary incontinence. For various reasons, "Depends" and similar products are not an option. This means that I have to wash an item or two a day that have been wet, and of course it needs to be done promptly.

Up till now I've been washing in a standard upright with low water settings etc. on short cycles. Our local utilities have just raised both the electric and water rates by a large margin, and I need to explore options.

I'm old enough to remember wringer washers (and my nostalgic relatives approve of them) but I have no practical experience with them so I am asking for advice:

1) Factoring out the first cost of purchasing the machine, is there enough savings in terms of electricity, water, and detergent to make buying a wringer washer a sensible purchase? Keep in mind, one load a day, one or two garments, very light soiling, very short wash cycles.

2) Because this is going to be used as a working appliance and not a show piece, what specific make and model should I consider? I was thinking of a late model (1970's) Maytag. Personally, I like Maytag Automatics, and the Wringers look to be well constructed and (most important) plentiful with spares available.

4) What features should I look for? (drain pump etc.)

5) I live in a well-preserved 1910 home with full basement. I am planning to put in a laundry room downstairs and space is not a consideration. I'd like the Wringer to have a semi-permanent set up (i.e., the machine is meant to be used at one station and not wheeled around the room) The washer's relationship to the laundry tub and filling arrangement is of particular interest. If anybody has a picture of that kind of set up, or suggestions, I'd love to hear them.

Thanks,

Bill


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Post# 328765 2/4/2009 at 15:27 (5,558 days old) by scoots (Chattanooga TN)
Checkrate/Likes I need specific advice for a laundry problem and hope that you folks might have a solution. I am a caregiver for an older relative who suffers from mild urinary incontinence. For various reasons, "Depends" and similar products are not an option. This means that I have to wash an item or two a day that have been wet, and of course it needs to be done promptly. Up till now I've been washing in a standard upright with low water settings etc. on short cycles. Our local utilities have just raised both the electric and water rates by a large margin, and I need to explore options. I'm old enough to remember wringer washers (and my nostalgic relatives approve of them) but I have no practical experience with them so I am asking for advice: 1) Factoring out the first cost of purchasing the machine, is there enough savings in terms of electricity, water, and detergent to make buying a wringer washer a sensible purchase? Keep in mind, one load a day, one or two garments, very light soiling, very short wash cycles. 2) Because this is going to be used as a working appliance and not a show piece, what specific make and model should I consider? I was thinking of a late model (1970's) Maytag. Personally, I like Maytag Automatics, and the Wringers look to be well constructed and (most important) plentiful with spares available. 4) What features should I look for? (drain pump etc.) 5) I live in a well-preserved 1910 home with full basement. I am planning to put in a laundry room downstairs and space is not a consideration. I'd like the Wringer to have a semi-permanent set up (i.e., the machine is meant to be used at one station and not wheeled around the room) The washer's relationship to the laundry tub and filling arrangement is of particular interest. If anybody has a picture of that kind of set up, or suggestions, I'd love to hear them. Thanks, Bill

Post# 328783 , Reply# 1 2/4/2009 at 16:58 (5,558 days old) by bobbyderegis (Boston)
Checkrate/Likes Bill: Just my two cents, but it may be most efficient and economical to get a small front loader, such as the little Maytag you see in Home Depot. You could soak the clothes until a small load is ready to be washed. The spin would be very effective as well, so they could simply be hung out to dry. Wringers are fun, but by the time you have washed and rinsed the clothes there would no big water savings than if you used a traditional top loader. And wringers leave quite a bit more water in the clothes. A lot of time would be taken as well. Sorry to ramble. Bobby in Boston

Post# 328871 , Reply# 2 2/5/2009 at 11:19 (5,557 days old) by gmmcnair (Portland, OR)
Checkrate/Likes *I agree....* Wringers are great water and time savers, if you have enough laundry where you can set up the washer, and rinse tubs and do several loads in succession. Your situation doesn't sound like it would be any advantage. Another option you might want to look into is a small pressure washer of the hand cranked variety, coupled with a spin dryer. They take only a couple of minutes to wash a load, do it with about six quarts of water, and the spin dryer leaves clothes very nearly dry. I love mine for small loads. You can get the washer and dryer from The Laundry Alternative. A lot of folks were initially frustrated with their customer service, but that's improved in the last year. Their turnaround time for me was great. Lehmans also carries the washer.

Post# 328874 , Reply# 3 2/5/2009 at 11:59 (5,557 days old) by easyspindry (Winston-Salem, NC)
Checkrate/Likes Wringers do leave quite a bit of water in the clothes; therefore, if you're planning to dry the clothes in an automatic dryer, there would be no savings. The idea of a small front loader seems practical, and saving the soiled clothes in a soaking solution until a full load is ready sounds like a good idea. Think of years ago when baby diapers were cloth. Usually the diapers were held in a soaking tub and washed once or twice a week. A wringer would take up a great deal of your time. Jerry Gay

Post# 329005 , Reply# 4 2/6/2009 at 04:38 (5,556 days old) by whitekingd ()
Checkrate/Likes A wringer washer is great in many ways! I always find that mine take out enough water, depending on the wringer setting. They give you the option of how long to wash, what temperature to wash with, and the control of the rinse water. It seems like it might be more work than you might want to put in, but, they are great machines. Get a Maytag if you choose to go this way.

Post# 329039 , Reply# 5 2/6/2009 at 09:29 (5,556 days old) by foraloysius (Leeuwarden, Friesland, the Netherlands)
Checkrate/Likes It's probably blasphemy in this Imperial Forum, but what about a compact or portable Haier toploader. Small capacity and fully automatic including a spin cycle. CLICK HERE TO GO TO foraloysius's LINK

Post# 329207 , Reply# 6 2/7/2009 at 12:20 (5,555 days old) by scoots (Chattanooga TN)
Checkrate/Likes *Thanks for the input.* Thanks for the input on the wringer washer idea... the consensus seems to be that it's not practical for what I have in mind, so I will probably stick to my present system of using the top loader for small short cycles. Bill

Post# 329231 , Reply# 7 2/7/2009 at 15:46 (5,555 days old) by launderess (Quiet Please, There�s a Lady on Stage)
Checkrate/Likes *Surprised No One Mentioned This* But have you considered a twin tub washer, such as a vintage Hoover or Maytag? Twin tubs are great for doing small loads of laundry quickly, and they spin out much more water than a wringer or most top loaders for that matter. This translates to faster drying times. L.

Post# 329241 , Reply# 8 2/7/2009 at 17:18 (5,555 days old) by ronhic (Canberra, Australia)
Checkrate/Likes *I think* Launderess is onto something there..... I was going to suggest the whole rinse/soak and hold for a smaller load or a front loader (as I prefer them), but a twin tub especially if it has the impeller in the bottom will allow a very small amount of water to be used....

Post# 329253 , Reply# 9 2/7/2009 at 18:22 (5,555 days old) by launderess (Quiet Please, There�s a Lady on Stage)
Checkrate/Likes Twin tubs can be water efficient if tub is filled with warmish water, kept closed and items allowed to soak until a full enough load is ready. Then one only has to drain out the soak water, add hot water and detergent, and let her rip. Rinsing would be very water efficient if one uses the "spray" rinse method, rather than full tubs of water. However considering the laundry in question will be used by someone on rather intimate terms, a series of spray rinses, followed by one deep rinse (with perhaps a small amount of white vinegar added), should do the trick. Though labour intensive and a royal pain to do for long periods, am always amazed on how well the Hoover spin rinse, rinses. Often will bung laundry into the wash tub as above for a final deep rinse, and am always gobsmacked that the water is quite clear. L.