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Thread Number: 36225
how big is a typical load for an american who owns a front loader? |
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| Post# 539717 8/26/2011 at 10:46 (4,481 days old) by gorenje (Slovenia) | ||
Hi guys,
I was watching some videos on youtube of front loaders in the USA. I've noticed that nearly in all videos the amount in the machine is very very small comparing to the capacity of the washer. Than I was also wondering if this is also the cause of so frequent unbalanced loads, noise and vibrations. I would ask the American friends who owns a front loader how much they actually load the washer. Here in Europe we tend to use the entire capacity of the washer when we do a load. Especially for a heavy duty load we fill the entire drum. For delicates or other things obviously we put in less laundry, to avoid too much creasing. Do you think you guys in USA are loading less laundry in your front loaders then we do here in Europe and why? Thanks for your opinions Ingemar | ||
| Post# 539723 , Reply# 1 8/26/2011 at 11:00 (4,481 days old) by Iheartmaytag (Wichita, Kansas) | ||
 I think the difference you are seeing is not that the machine is underfilled, but that when the clothes are wet they pack down.
When I wash in my Maytag FL (Duet Clone) 4.4 Cu Ft. capacity. I use the entire drum. They are stuffed, but not packed. One example of a load is (2) King sized fitted sheets (4) pillow cases. (2) Full Sized sheets and (2) pillow cases (1) twin sheet set and (1) pillow case.
Even with this load once they are wet they only about half fill the tub. Once the final spin is over and things are fluffed back off the side of the drum it is almost full again. Though machine will handle this load ok, the all sheet load tends to tangle, so I often mix them with towels and do two mixed loads instead of two same loads.
This load will fill (3) 25 ft long clothes lines.
Another typical load of towels will fill two 25 ft clothes lines.
This post was last edited 08/26/2011 at 14:54 | ||
Post# 539742 , Reply# 2 8/26/2011 at 12:14 (4,481 days old) by joe_in_philly  (Philadelphia, PA, USA) |
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After sorting, I usually don't have a full load. Once in a while I will have a full load of towels or colored clothing that will fill the drum completely (when dry), but that doesn't happen very often. I don't find the washer has any trouble dealing with a smaller load v. a larger one when it comes to balancing for spin. My washer occassionaly will take a while to balance for the final spin when I wash a load of jeans.
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Post# 539749 , Reply# 3 8/26/2011 at 12:38 (4,481 days old) by logixx (Germany) |
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Though not in America, I have a US-style washer: a Whirlpool Duet (although branded as Bauknecht big). Just follow the link below to watch my playlist of the videos. Especially the three videos of washing towels. This would be a full load. And yes, everything came out absolutely clean and fresh. :)
CLICK HERE TO GO TO logixx's LINK | ||
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Post# 539755 , Reply# 4 8/26/2011 at 13:23 (4,481 days old) by joe_in_philly (Philadelphia, PA, USA) |
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I can't imagine such a big load (as seen in logixx's link) would come as clean in my washer, even though it is nearly identical. The longest wash time on my washer is 22 minutes (plus fill time), unless I use extra options or the Sanitary cycle.
The stain treat option can increases wash time to around 45 minutes. A sanitary cycle could wash for well over an hour, but it would spend most of the time heating the water to the top temp, and then be at the hight temp (153F) only about 10 minutes or so. | ||
| Post# 539760 , Reply# 5 8/26/2011 at 13:40 (4,481 days old) by wringingwet (Walterboro South Carolina) | ||
well I have an asko 
and I can stuff that puppy full. Most wonderful washer for whites They have a crappy reputation in the us for service but hell I took that chance and its been 8 years. I do not use paper towels or paper napkins either so it is on the sanicycle a lot and it is about 2.5 hrs if I want a 205 degree wash it is a work horse I love it. The detergent is the cheap kirkland powder and for a full load about 2 Tbs
Philippe | ||
| Post# 539768 , Reply# 6 8/26/2011 at 14:30 (4,481 days old) by arbilab (Ft Worth TX (Ridglea)) | ||
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| Post# 539787 , Reply# 7 8/26/2011 at 17:05 (4,481 days old) by gorenje (Slovenia) | ||
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Thank you guys for the responses.
I can understand that filling up such a big machine it's not always so easy and possible, unless you do mixed loads, but this is not the best idea. Since the drums of the American front loaders are so big a small load (or average) when it's wet it seems even smaller. But in a front loader you can really use the entire drum space. Like "Iheartmaytag" said, the laundry can be stuffed in it. Not packed but you can fill it up, so it's almost a pity to leave so much space unused. | ||
| Post# 539913 , Reply# 9 8/27/2011 at 04:38 (4,480 days old) by ronhic (Canberra, Australia) | ||
They do their washing as they go along and usually on a dail Olav,
For some that may be the case, but certainly not all and I'd suggest that some statistics to go with that statement would be useful with regards to doing laundry daily and not waiting for a full load seeing as you're speaking 'for the Nation'.
The latest ABS data would suggest that, for Victoria at least, the average household does 5 loads or less a week...and if anything like our house (?), that would be lights, darks, whites, towels and sheets.....all done on a Friday night and Saturday morning....
Mind, that also reflects the house I grew up in too....only one load was done on a Wednesday night and then 3 on a Friday night and 3 on Saturday morning.
People wash as it suits their needs. For some, that means running smaller loads more often and for others capacity loads all the time with every variable in-between.
According to our consumer magazine, Choice, the average load washed in a machine in this country is 4.5kg. Now given that the majority of machines I've seen of late on retailers floors are 6.5kg or larger, that means we as a nation (and based on averages) do tend to underload....
Interestingly, it is very rare that I hear 'damn it! I've got washing out!' when it starts to rain these days - 20 years ago, that was more common....maybe people have finally realised that with both partners working it isn't a good idea to do laundry during the week AND have it on the line...
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| Post# 539916 , Reply# 10 8/27/2011 at 05:43 (4,480 days old) by gorenje (Slovenia) | ||
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In my personal case (that don't mean everyone is doing or has to do like me) I wash on Saturdays and Sundays.
The first reason is that the electricity is cheaper and the second is that I have more time so I can dedicate to the care of my laundry since this is a thing I like to do. I don't do mix loads. I reather wait a few days to gather a biger amount of laundry rather than put all together and wash on the lowest temperature. I have a 5 kg machine and for me this is enough. | ||
| Post# 539922 , Reply# 12 8/27/2011 at 07:35 (4,480 days old) by rapunzel (Sydney) | ||
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I'd suggest that some statistics to go with that stateme You are obviously the one with all the stats, how can anyone argue with that? I did base my comments on personal observations that span more than 30 years of living in Australia. | ||
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Post# 539931 , Reply# 13 8/27/2011 at 09:55 (4,480 days old) by DADoES (TX, U.S. of A.) |
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| Post# 539995 , Reply# 15 8/27/2011 at 17:45 (4,480 days old) by ronhic (Canberra, Australia) | ||
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Big isn't always best.... ....as far as I am concerned.
I have held a personal view for a long time that the size of the American made/designed machines are too big with unrealistically low water consumption V's cycle times.You should be able to 'fill the drum to capacity' and wash on a normal cotton cycle, normally soiled clothing without having to select a multitude of 'extras' to ensure a satisfactory result.
By Australian standards, they also are wider than we are now used to having accepted the European 'standard' for kitchen and laundry cabinet sizes. Most cavities for appliances are now 60cm/24" and anything outside of that, that is larger, generally requires custom making. As a result, the vast majority of front load machines retailed here are 59.5cm wide and get their larger capacities by squeezing slightly wider drums into the existing width, which can make load balancing challenging for smaller loads, and/or making the machine deeper for a longer drum - a better solution, but this does place extra strain on bearings.
If it were me looking for a front load machine in the US, I would consider buying one of the older design American brands - Frigidaire 2140? that is a smaller capacity machine than the 'giants' currently offered and isn't energy star rated (or may be to an older standard) OR a European machine such as a Miele or Bosch or ASKO if my budget allowed. The older design should use more water, which with a fast cycle is fine....the European will use a low level of water, but will have a longer cycle - also OK....
But then I'm not driven by cycle times having lived in the UK with a Blomberg and having an Italian machine now..... | ||
| Post# 540050 , Reply# 18 8/28/2011 at 00:06 (4,479 days old) by arbilab (Ft Worth TX (Ridglea)) | ||
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Post# 540062 , Reply# 19 8/28/2011 at 01:17 (4,479 days old) by Supersuds (Knoxville, Tenn.) |
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Something that shouldn't be overlooked
Most, but not all, top loaders have water level adjustment. On many older models it was infinite; the Whirlpool I use has 5 levels. I can wait 3 weeks to do my underwear, and have a full tub, but I choose not to have that much dirty laundry sitting around. It might be slightly more wasteful of water, but there's no water shortage here. I do know people who wait until they have no clean clothes and then stuff in as big a load as they can.
It may be that people on this site tend not to want piles of smelly clothes and thus do smaller than average loads, but we have more single people than normal, too, and I'm sure families tend to wash fuller loads. I don't know if that helps answer the original question or not. | ||
| Post# 540071 , Reply# 21 8/28/2011 at 03:07 (4,479 days old) by ronhic (Canberra, Australia) | ||
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Big may certainly be more.... ....and more is never less when talking about the same thing...
BUT
Big isn't always BEST.....
Washer capacities have morphed over the last 40 years....but particularly in the last 10 years. What was once considered a family sized machine - 10 lb or 4.5kg (Simpson Fluid Drive anyone?) back in 1968, is now not even on the radar for probably 99% of people. Roll forward 25 years and they were now considered small to medium. Add another 10 years, and only the Asian automatics are available in that size.
Ultimately, it's a moot point. Choice's statistics reveal that Australians don't fill their machines.....most think them full when just over half so....interestingly though, the 6 friends that have moved from top to front load machines have been floored when shown how to load them properly oft commenting 'I never put that much in my old fisher and paykel/simpson/hoover top loader'....
Most people do cold wash here and some would argue that negates the need to sort too much....and I certainly never sort based on temperature, only colour....which I'd suggest, but can't prove, most people do (lights, darks and whites).....but then with 2 men in the house, there isn't exactly a load of 'delicates' to wash either. And I've certainly worked with enough 'young'uns' to know some of them don't sort at all.
Bring back the days when clothes weren't cheap to buy and maybe people will care for them a little better. | ||
| Post# 540079 , Reply# 22 8/28/2011 at 04:17 (4,479 days old) by gorenje (Slovenia) | ||
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Yes Big isn't always BEST
"picking up everything and stuffing it into the washer "
Do you think is this the right way to approach to doing laundry? I don't think so. Maybe is more polite that I say, me personaly I would never do laundry this way. Having a HUGE front loader forces people to do mixed loads and wash in Cold (the lowest temperature for those items in the washer that cannot stand a higher temperature) I think sorting is necessary for many reasons: first of all because of the different colours, than because of the temperature that some garments can stant, (so I can for example take advantage of the higher temp. to achieve a better result on some garments), than because of the level of soiling (I would never wash breeches or rugs with the rest of my laundry or even jeans with towels or sheets, or something that I had dressed only once with some other more dirty stuff) than because of the type of textile (delicates with delicates, lint givers with lint givers, lint takers with lint takers and sturdy with sturdy) Ok don't get me wrong, no need to separate in some kind of "17" different piles but at least try to follow these rules. I think that a bit bigger front loader (or washer in general) is OK, because they may come convenient in some cases. But not an absurdly HUGE one. Ingemar | ||
| Post# 540083 , Reply# 24 8/28/2011 at 04:56 (4,479 days old) by ronhic (Canberra, Australia) | ||
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Comforters... Duvets (also called 'Doonas' and 'Continental Quilts') are very popular here and have been for about 30 years or more as the primary bedding cover - replacing blankets.....but 'comforters', I'm not so sure about.
Duvets/Doonas are normally encased in a removable cover...you wash it, not the Doona/Duvet/Quilt. Additionally, many people use a sheet between the Duvet/Doona/Quilt, reducing soiling even further. They really only need to be aired over the line for a day in spring.....
I've only ever washed a Duvet twice....and that was because of an accident that had it soiled through the cover....so the laundrette was my friend then....
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Post# 540094 , Reply# 25 8/28/2011 at 07:46 (4,479 days old) by Jetcone (Schenectady-Home of Calrods,Monitor Tops,Toroid Transformers) |
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Well I think Americans don't fully load their front loaders because for years ever since the 1950's we were told clothes need room to tumble and fall inside the drum to get really clean. And that has carried forward to today, I was very surprised when I bought my Neptune 10 years ago that the manual said "pack the drum full". I couldn't hardly believe what I was reading, I tried it and it worked. But I still don't load my 1950's Bendix more than the recommended 2/3 full. The big difference I see is the Bendix max wash is 9 minutes so it needs all that extra mechanical action to clean. The Neptune and Speed Queen have wash times approaching 25-35 minutes. So I guess that a longer wash gets clean through chemical action and not mechanical action and thats why you can stuff the drums in these new machines. On a side note Americans always overstuffed their top loaders almost to the breaking point. I know many "overstuffers" with top loaders! | ||
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Post# 540108 , Reply# 28 8/28/2011 at 08:55 (4,479 days old) by DADoES (TX, U.S. of A.) |
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As stated above, I think the mega-capacity frontloaders (and some toploaders) on the U.S. market now is part of what leads to unsatisfactory results and complaints. In an effort to generate large loads and make use of the available capacity, many users are combining items and fabric types together that should be done in multiple loads of the proper different cycle and temp choices. | ||
| Post# 540205 , Reply# 30 8/28/2011 at 16:51 (4,479 days old) by gorenje (Slovenia) | ||
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@ Jetcone
"don't fully load their front loaders because for years ever since the 1950's we were told clothes need room"
I was thinking about this and I think you are right! But the reason is not only linked to front loaders but also to top loaders. You in America were told to drop loosely the clothes in the top loader and not to pack the machine so the clothes can freely float around the agitator. That's probably why some people think that the same must be done in a front loader. But the front loaders works in a completely diferent way. | ||
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Post# 540280 , Reply# 32 8/28/2011 at 22:04 (4,478 days old) by Jetcone (Schenectady-Home of Calrods,Monitor Tops,Toroid Transformers) |
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@gorenje Yes come to think of it you're right we were also told to loosely load the top loader as well.
I needed the Neptune brochure to tell me to stuff it full otherwise I would have never tried that.
Funny because as a country we PACK our dishwashers to the point of bursting and never worry about dishes getting clean!
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Post# 540318 , Reply# 35 8/29/2011 at 02:47 (4,478 days old) by Launderess (Quiet Please, There´s a Lady on Stage) |
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Eider Downs/Comforters
For some strange reason Amercians have this idea that eider-downs/down filled comforters need frequent laundering. I cannot imagine why but they do.
Even in Germany and other parts of Europe where winters are cold often very much so, and where eider-downs are *BIG* the thing is never if ever laundered. One is supposed to keep them covered like a pillow and it that which is washed. In some households the duvet is all that is used for bed covering and some sleep nude under that. Other households a sheet and or blanket is used beneath the duvet and that provides several layers of protection. Germany for instance has a long tradition of sheets that button onto the top of the duvet helping keep things in place. Unlike pillows which by their nature must come into close contact with one's body, a properly covered duvet does not do so. However if one or one's pets are going to lay upon the thing, and the cover isn't up to the task/laundered often.... To keep down filled duvets fresh they should be aired, preferably outside each morning after awaking before the beds are made. This allows the down to do what it does naturally; breathe. A few good shakes and or whacks with a beater and things are good to go. Each morning all over Northern European countries you will see down duvets drapped over balconies or window sills each morning to air. | ||
| Post# 540365 , Reply# 38 8/29/2011 at 10:28 (4,478 days old) by iheartmaytag (Wichita, Kansas) | ||
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Mixfinder, Rather than scuttling the machine all together, call for repair. There was a thread not too long ago where someone had a machine that had problems balancing, it was a computer, or sensor issue. My machine, though sometimes, takes a bit to balance, has never failed to complete the load. The only time it had major problems was when I was washing throw pillows off the couch. I finally just paused the machine and redistributed them by hand and it was fine.
I have never really had a complaint about the time it took for a load. The Heavy Duty cycle with no modifiers is 1hr 20 minutes. If you figure you are doing about twice the wash at once, then it's about the same as two loads in a top loader.
If you are in a big hurry, and only have a few items that just needs freshened, there is a quick cycle that takes 30 minutes start to finish. Some items that just need freshened, like a suit jacket. I will toss in the dryer on a steam and it comes out smelling fresh and just needs a little stretching on the hanger to smooth any residual wrinkles.
This post was last edited 08/29/2011 at 11:21 | ||
| Post# 540370 , Reply# 39 8/29/2011 at 10:39 (4,478 days old) by mixfinder () | ||
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Thanks to You iheartmaytag Thank you for the input Harley, I wouldn't have known otherwise. You always seem to be the one who comes to my rescue with the right answers. | ||
| Post# 540411 , Reply# 40 8/29/2011 at 14:27 (4,478 days old) by gorenje (Slovenia) | ||
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Thank you guys for all the responses, I'm happy that you are sharing with me your habits and opinions. :)
Well I agree with all you that having a big machine is convenient for some reasons. Especially when washing duvets or big things like this. I was just wondering why I have seen so many Americans underfill their front loaders, when you can fill it up without any problem. Here is Slovenia we have similar habits as in Germany. I have a duvet covered with the duvet cover (that has the buttons). I change (and wash) regularly the cover together with the lower sheet and I put out of the window the duvet to air. (I don't have any pets at home) I don't use the duvet all the year around. I wash the duvet itself only once a year when the season changes. | ||
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