Thread Number: 31288
Don't Forget the Downy!
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Post# 472342   10/30/2010 at 07:21 (4,898 days old) by mayguy (Minnesota)        

One of my co-worker was setting up the new Maytag washer display that we got in. He was taking the stuff out of the basket to put in a bag to hide behind the machine, and noticed he had the Downy Ball! I am like "You got to be kidding me! A brand new washer, and need to use the Downy Ball!?"

I go over and looked inside the machine, and sure enough, there is no spot for the fabric softener!





Post# 472343 , Reply# 1   10/30/2010 at 07:22 (4,898 days old) by mayguy (Minnesota)        

Looks like we need to tell the washer we have the ball in there.

Post# 472344 , Reply# 2   10/30/2010 at 07:23 (4,898 days old) by mayguy (Minnesota)        

Control Panel

Post# 472345 , Reply# 3   10/30/2010 at 07:24 (4,898 days old) by mayguy (Minnesota)        

Inside shot.

Post# 472353 , Reply# 4   10/30/2010 at 08:12 (4,898 days old) by logixx (Germany)        

logixx's profile picture
Indeed, the manual says you have to use the Downy Ball... :-/

Post# 472355 , Reply# 5   10/30/2010 at 08:37 (4,898 days old) by toploader1984 ()        

oooo, please post videos!! i have been waiting to see this new machine in action

Post# 472362 , Reply# 6   10/30/2010 at 09:27 (4,898 days old) by mayguy (Minnesota)        
Toploader1984

Afraid I am not able to post video on this machine since we have no hookup at the store.

Post# 472369 , Reply# 7   10/30/2010 at 10:26 (4,898 days old) by Pulsator (Saint Joseph, MI)        
Video

pulsator's profile picture
I own the Whirlpool version of this machine (mechanically identical) and I'm quite pleased with it! Here's a video of it washing a large load of whites!

CLICK HERE TO GO TO Pulsator's LINK


Post# 472376 , Reply# 8   10/30/2010 at 11:08 (4,898 days old) by toploader1984 ()        

thanks pulsator, good turnover

Post# 472377 , Reply# 9   10/30/2010 at 11:14 (4,898 days old) by golittlesport (California)        
you got to be kidding me??!!

golittlesport's profile picture
The fabric softener dispenser is a Downy ball???? C-H-E-A-P

Post# 472422 , Reply# 10   10/30/2010 at 18:53 (4,897 days old) by mark_wpduet (Lexington KY)        

mark_wpduet's profile picture
Yeah! Having to use the Downy ball is pretty pursafunctant! (made up word)

Post# 472441 , Reply# 11   10/30/2010 at 20:24 (4,897 days old) by Maytagbear (N.E. Ohio)        
This is a perfect example of

what is sometimes called "de-contenting." The thought of a ridiculously expensive washer without a true fabric softener dispenser is beyond ridiculous!


Furthermore, every time I have tried a Downy ball (several times,) I never got it to work correctly, even though I followed the directions.


Disgustedly,


Lawrence/Maytagbear


Post# 472470 , Reply# 12   10/30/2010 at 22:14 (4,897 days old) by cphifer5115 (Jackson, TN)        

cphifer5115's profile picture
the one and only time i used a downy ball i found the fabric softner leaking into the wash water

Post# 472488 , Reply# 13   10/30/2010 at 23:11 (4,897 days old) by qsd-dan (West)        
you got to be kidding me??!!

qsd-dan's profile picture
X2!

TRUE Maytags had centrifugal fabric dispensers since 1964 (Patent issued in 1959). They also didn't need some ridiculous knob to let the machine know that a totally separate, not to mention "cheesy" device has dispensed fabric softener. Actually, what IS the point and function of that knob, anyway?

1 step forward, 2 steps back.......


Post# 472529 , Reply# 14   10/31/2010 at 02:25 (4,897 days old) by dj-gabriele ()        

Gosh, I'd be embarrassed to sell one of those machines and call it "automatic"! And what happens when one loses the ball or it breaks? I'm sure it has a high purchase price! And if I wanted to use another brand besides of downy ultra would that work anyway?

Post# 472532 , Reply# 15   10/31/2010 at 03:36 (4,897 days old) by nrones ()        
This is a HE washer, right?

Here is a link from Downy website.
It clearly says "DESIGNED FOR TRADITIONAL (NON-HE) WASHERS".
And now, they are selling it with HE washer... also, telling the machine if we put the ball in?? ridiculous.


CLICK HERE TO GO TO nrones's LINK


Post# 472537 , Reply# 16   10/31/2010 at 04:17 (4,897 days old) by logixx (Germany)        

logixx's profile picture
Actually, what IS the point and function of that knob, anyway?

It changes the rinse on the Normal cycle from spray rinse to deep rinse.


Post# 472539 , Reply# 17   10/31/2010 at 05:16 (4,897 days old) by laundryshark (Cedar Rapids, Iowa)        
Downy Balls in Machines.

Personally, I choose not to put the Downy Balls into our coin operated machines. The balls do not always pop open to release their fabric softener. Sometimes, the balls get stuck between an agitator fin and the tub or end up hiding up a pant leg *and still unopened!* Therefore, I am more than satisfied in using the little dispensers for transporting small quantities of Downy into the laundry center. I do not mind the exercise in checking in at the right time to manually open the dispensers to pour in the contents right after the first spin has finished. I immediately take the balls back so as not to misplace them in the laundry center. I have six of those Downy Balls that I bought from Walmart a few years back. Back in the late 1990s, I had a roommate who had a Downy Ball and I thought it was a neat little thing that I eventually got around to buying my own set of six. Can't remember if they were 99 cents or $1.99 each. Still have all six balls in good shape. At least they still serve a little bit of a purpose.--Laundry Shark

Post# 472550 , Reply# 18   10/31/2010 at 09:41 (4,897 days old) by toploader1984 ()        

ok.... when the downy ball opens, being as the machine just basically "saturates" the clothes rather than submerging them how is the downy ball supposed to get rinsed out and dispense correctly??? i must be missing something.

Post# 472577 , Reply# 19   10/31/2010 at 12:07 (4,896 days old) by appnut (TX)        
i must be missing something

appnut's profile picture
I don't think you are. I think you are exactly correct. And what happens if you want to use the downey ball and the extra rinse option? I just watched the video Logixx found on the new Whirlpool Cabrio and it had the 2nd rinse option selected. It's just like any other top loader without a FS dispenser that's timed to the options, it's gonna dispense on the 1st "deep" rinse.



This post was last edited 10/31/2010 at 12:52
Post# 472592 , Reply# 20   10/31/2010 at 13:03 (4,896 days old) by toploader1984 ()        

i think that is almost as bad as whirlpool saying in thier owners manual NOT to use chlorine bleach in their front loaders because it could result in premature mechanical failure, but yet the machine has a dispenser whith the words "chlorine bleach" on it.

Post# 472612 , Reply# 21   10/31/2010 at 15:35 (4,896 days old) by Pulsator (Saint Joseph, MI)        

pulsator's profile picture
They were sneaky sons-a-bitches with the whole "2nd rinse" thing. When the 2nd rinse is selected, it does *NOT* do 2 deep rinses even in the FS option is selected. Instead, it does one deep rinse and then a shower rinse afterward.

Post# 472620 , Reply# 22   10/31/2010 at 16:17 (4,896 days old) by appnut (TX)        
it does one deep rinse and then a shower rinse afterward.

appnut's profile picture
jamie, that's not the sequence in the WP Cabrio 54500 that Logixx found. The sequence is wash, spin, rinse, rpin, rinse, and final spin. Both rinse it stops and fills and is a "deep" rinse.

Post# 472621 , Reply# 23   10/31/2010 at 16:51 (4,896 days old) by Pulsator (Saint Joseph, MI)        

pulsator's profile picture
Well, that's the sequence in my WTW5550XW... lol, it kinda sucks. I have to use the Heavy Duty cycle to achieve 2 deep rinses. Normal and Eco-Normal both have that awful deep then shower rinse. Even in the Heavy Duty cycle, softener is dispensed in the first rinse, not the second despite the separate flushed dispenser.

Post# 472628 , Reply# 24   10/31/2010 at 17:28 (4,896 days old) by appnut (TX)        

appnut's profile picture
Jamie, wow, that sucks!!! A new tidbit of information to file away.

Post# 472657 , Reply# 25   10/31/2010 at 19:49 (4,896 days old) by Maytagbear (N.E. Ohio)        
Another thing.....

What does the "deep clean" setting mean?



Still disgusted,


Lawrence/Maytagbear


Post# 472662 , Reply# 26   10/31/2010 at 20:12 (4,896 days old) by appnut (TX)        
Deep Clean

appnut's profile picture
Adds additional agitation and soak time to the selected cycle.

Post# 472667 , Reply# 27   10/31/2010 at 20:24 (4,896 days old) by appnut (TX)        

appnut's profile picture
You have to buy one of the Bravos X models to get automatic fs dispener and not a Downey ball. From what I can see, the above model is the only one in the HE series which needs the downey ball.

Post# 472697 , Reply# 28   10/31/2010 at 21:40 (4,896 days old) by mayguy (Minnesota)        

I agree, this is the only one so far.

The cheaper GE had the one down on the agitator.


Post# 472708 , Reply# 29   10/31/2010 at 22:03 (4,896 days old) by Maytagbear (N.E. Ohio)        
You can wrap a piece of *hit

in cashmere, but you still have a piece of *hit.


Lawrence/Maytagbear


Post# 472744 , Reply# 30   11/1/2010 at 00:25 (4,896 days old) by PeterH770 (Marietta, GA)        

peterh770's profile picture
Let them do whatever they think is going to clean clothes, but one of those impeller monstrosities will never be in my house!

Post# 473170 , Reply# 31   11/3/2010 at 08:44 (4,894 days old) by JaredH ()        
Maytag Centinnal..

HE?!?!?!?!? eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeewwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww!

Post# 473441 , Reply# 32   11/4/2010 at 20:36 (4,892 days old) by dirtybuck (Springfield, MO)        
Downy Balls

Hell, just go to a local gay bar in which they have Sat./Sun. night drag shows, donate them, and the performers can use them as falsies (or better yet..tits).

:)


Post# 473443 , Reply# 33   11/4/2010 at 20:39 (4,892 days old) by appnut (TX)        

appnut's profile picture
Bill yo are so bad lol.

Post# 473447 , Reply# 34   11/4/2010 at 21:13 (4,892 days old) by mayguy (Minnesota)        

Oh my! LOL

Post# 473449 , Reply# 35   11/4/2010 at 21:24 (4,892 days old) by dirtybuck (Springfield, MO)        
Downy Balls #2

Laundryshark:

You mentioned you still have some Downy dispensers in pretty good shape. Has there been a time when you've showed them to someone, and did they gasp and exclaim "Oh my! What balls you have!"?

How about yourself? Do you look at and admire your balls often?

LOL!! OK, I'm finished...it's out of my system! :)

(And yes, Appnut...I am BAD! Hence the screen name.)



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