Thread Number: 63860  /  Tag: Vintage Automatic Washers
Living with a Hotpoint Toploader (UK) 		[Down to Last]

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Post# 864334   1/27/2016 at 14:50 (3,011 days old) by triumphtoledo (Shropshire/Worcestershire)        

After fixing up an old Hotpoint top-loader last year, a 1509/10, which would not have been possible without the support of members of this forum, I thought I would give something back, by explaining how I am getting on with it, seven months on.

So, if you have bought/inherited/stole one of these old machines, such as the 15-series from the 1960s, to the 96-series of the 1990s, and you are unfamiliar with them, I hope that my experience, of using such an old machine, helps.

To give some background, I am married, with two young children, one aged three years, one several months-old. So, perhaps our machine lives in what statisticians consider to be a typical average household. We also have a modern Bosch washing machine (I say modern, it keeps going at 12 years-old) but its rinsing ability is not very good and it could be nearing the end of its days. The Hotpoint is our second/back-up machine.

DISADVANTAGES:
I’ll get this out of the way first. The top-loading Hotpoint uses a lot of water. This may make it uneconomical to run, except for very dirty laundry, if you have a water meter. I don’t, so this does not concern me.

The machine also uses a lot of electricity for hot washes. However, an Economy button means that only hot water from an external source will be used. While this means running costs are still high, for electric immersion boiler equipped homes, if you have a gas-powered combi boiler, which costs less than half to run per kilowatt than electric, or even solar panelling, this does not matter as much. For some 50 degrees Celsius washes, there is no need for the heater to run, as our gas-heated water comes out of the tap at around 60 degrees.

My machine can also be rather too quick at completing washes, which I do not think gives some biological washing powders long enough to work on cool washes. What I do to counteract this, is not close the lid fully, so the machine stops before draining out the main wash water. When I pass the machine again, I knock the lid down again, so the machine continues.

The machine is also rather noisy, when agitating and draining. It is quite quiet when spinning, however. Yet, it is noiser than a modern machine, overall.
I also think that the drum is a little too small. It will wash a double summer duvet but not a winter one with lots of togs (whatever that is). It takes a little more laundry than our 6kg front loader, despite being rated at 10 lbs.

The machine also takes up a fair chunk of space and nothing can be stacked on top of it.

ADVANTAGES
The colossal use of water has a number of positives. Firstly, rinsing is excellent. I washed my newborn’s clothes in the top-loader for this reason. She has had no skin problems, caused by detergent residue remaining on her clothes.

Also, washing very heavily-soiled washing, such as my dirty overalls, or the typical regurgitated milk/wee (or worse) saturated clothing from a baby, there tends to be no need to do a pre-wash. The more water means it less likely for any remnants to cling onto the insides of the machine to fester, too.

Also, if colour does run out of certain items, such as blue jeans, there is less risk of the dye affecting lighter items in the wash. While I try to separate out wash loads (and I still wouldn’t mix white items with darks), the top-loader allows me to mix dark and lighter clothes without wrecking a single item. Light-coloured bras (not mine) have been discoloured in the water-sipping front-loader before. Therefore, I can do one large load of washing, instead of several smaller loads in the front loader. This is useful, and maybe more economical, especially when the three year-old child insists on wearing a specific item of light or bright coloured clothing.

Obviously, it helps to be able to open the lid and drop other items in. This may seem like a small point but, when you have a baby that suddenly pukes all over herself, at least you can pop the item in, without having to wait for a front-loader’s interlock to cool down, or leave the dirty item festering in a corner.

Washing double-duvets is better, I feel. In the front-loader, small items tend to work their way inside the duvet, which is a pain, because they have to be fished out, before the dryer is loaded. This doesn’t happen in the top-loader.

While liquid detergents gunk up front loaders and make them stink, this does not happen in the top-loader. I use liquid detergent (Ariel) in the top-loader for either cool washes for dark clothes, or for washing overalls, mainly because it is generally cheaper than the equivalent powder. I quite like the smell, too.

I’ve nothing to complain about the spinning performance, which seems as good as our 1100rpm Bosch, maybe slightly better. It would be inferior to a more modern faster-spinning machine.

The top-loader also copes better with very absorbent loads, which our front-loader suffers with. Coats, duvet covers, even car covers etc, are more effectively cleaned. There is no excessive foaming on spin, for example.

Cold water washing is also possible, if desired, on 15-series machines. Plus, items that could be damaged in (or cause damage to) a front-loader, such as fabric shoes with rubber soles, cuddly toys, etc, can be washed in the top-loader.

Obviously, the very quick wash times are an advantage too; a proper 40 degree wash can be done in 40 minutes, or so. Baby threw-up 90 minutes before we had to visit family over Christmas - the top loader had everything washed quickly and effectively, allowing enough time for everything to be dried, placed upon baby again and we were not late. Even Mrs Rob was impressed.

Another advantage is that these machines are very sturdily built. Until I rebuilt it last year, the seals and bearings were original on my 1978/9 machine. Having said that, I think that such an old machine needs an inspection every year or so, to check for leaks and that all the various parts are working properly.

Anyway, I hope that my overview may be useful, for anyone contemplating using one of these machines regularly. Do any more experienced Hotpoint top loader users have anything more to add, positive/negative ?

Rob.




















Post# 864339 , Reply# 1   1/27/2016 at 15:23 (3,011 days old) by triumphtoledo (Shropshire/Worcestershire)        



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Post# 864343 , Reply# 2   1/27/2016 at 15:47 (3,011 days old) by chestermikeuk (Rainhill *Home of the RailwayTrials* Merseyside,UK)        
Hotpoint Top Loaders 1509/10

 chestermikeuk's profile picture
Hi Rob, good to hear you got the Hotpoint fully restored and working to order, great machines and so versatile.
Had mine a few years now and its had a full renovation, seals n bearings a few years ago.

Great to use with a combi boiler and / or tanked hot water , would not want to pay the bill for cold water heating ha ha. Like you say a little noisy but worth it for the nostalgia, although the spin brake coming on can give you a nasty shock until you get used to it..I tried to match up the bluey purple colour for renovation, nearest I got is Peugeot Midnight Blue which is a great match. What powder are you using in it?

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Post# 864358 , Reply# 3   1/27/2016 at 16:51 (3,011 days old) by Launderess (Quiet Please, There´s a Lady on Stage)        
Welcome to our world

 launderess's profile picture
*LOL*

Your list is a basic summary of the debate that has raged on in the USA for ages regarding H-Axis vs. top loading washers with a central beater.

In their first incarnations; wringer washers, one could at least save and reuse much of that hot/soapy wash water. Automatics did away with the "dangers" of wringers but also meant sending hot water used just once down the drain. To compensate for this various "suds saving" systems were invented. Many including Consumer Reports (our version of your Which?) didn't think highly of that process. Pointing out the water cooled while being held over and quite frankly still contained dirt from the first load.

Have two front loaders (older Miele and Oko-Lavamat), but yes from time to time you cannot beat a good top loader wash, can you? For now have only the Hoover TT as sold off my Whirlpool "convertible" automatic, but who knows what the future will bring.

Main difference between us here in the States and the UK is we never had self heating top loaders. Thus to prevent setting protein and other stains with a "hot" wash it had to be proceeded by a cool or warm pre-soak or pre-wash. Our machines depended upon whatever temperature water came out of the taps. In days of old households set their water heaters higher so water of 180F (or above) routinely came out of all hot water taps. That or hot water coming out of the boiler or heater was tempered down to 120F for general use but for say the kitchen and or laundry/utility room full frontal hot water was available.

The other main difference here is of course Americans were and mostly still are wedded to using chlorine bleach. In absence of profile and or boil washes one simply bleached the heck out of whites to remove stains/keep things bright.

Post# 864365 , Reply# 4   1/27/2016 at 17:12 (3,011 days old) by Sesteve (London, UK)        

sesteve's profile picture
Hi Rob

As you know I'm a huge fan of these machines - I have a load of really muddy clothes in it at the moment - the water is filthy but I know it will come clean in the end. I was a bit sceptical of the static rinse on both the 1504 and 1509 but it seems to do the job even with modern automatic powders - these can use handwash/twin tub ones too which seem to be designed to rinse even better. My mum swore that her towels always came out softer in the top loader without using fabric softner which was something she hated when she got her built in Neff when the kitchen was fitted out for the first time - that meant the top loader had to go. It does seem to keep things a bit softer.

I always thought that my 1509 must have had a replacement programme knob even though it was a new machine when I got it - I thought it might have been a seconds machine as it is a different shade to the temperature one but I can see that both yours and Mike's to a lesser extent seem to be different shades too so perhaps it was how they were manufactured.

I definitely agree on the annual inspection. They are such workhorses it would be quite easy to not notice some of the leaks that might start off small. I've always thought about taking off the drive nut and lifting the bowl out on a regular basis to try and stop them fusing together but I guess I could do more damage. Anyway, glad you are enjoying it and hope the brake noise doesn't scare the kids too much!

S :)

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Post# 864472 , Reply# 5   1/28/2016 at 09:35 (3,010 days old) by keymatic (London / UK)        

keymatic's profile picture
Hi Rob, nice overall analysis of the machine, and i agree these machines do have their disadvantages as well as advantages.

My mum had a 1509 when i was growing up and always luved the purple touches which were very advanced for the domestic market at that time.

I have a 1504 which i have had for many years now and as Steve briefly touched on i was sceptical of the rinsing, however now 10 years on and I think it does an ok job, I have noticed sometimes that if i do a particularly sudsy wash sometimes there can be a bit of residue especially on dark colours as sometimes the suds linger from the static rinse and merge into the final agitated rinse.

I recently picked up a brand new 9605 and am looking forward to comparing the wash cycles and results on both.

Cheers Keith

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Post# 867900 , Reply# 6   2/19/2016 at 13:46 (2,988 days old) by triumphtoledo (Shropshire/Worcestershire)        
eventual reply...

 Sorry for the delay and thanks for everyone's comments. I hope the thread is useful for anyone looking into these machines in the future.

@chestermike – I use any power really – from Daz Twin Tub, to normal Daz and Ariel liquid. Thanks for sharing the pictures of your machine as well. I was advised about your Peugeot Midnight Blue tip, when I did my machine up. Sadly, Halfords discontinued the colour, so my local paint shop mixed something up as close as they could to match the kick strip – which is near enough (I have some spare, if anybody needs some). I’m wondering if anyone can donate any spare purple buttons, for me to see if I can spray paint them white, with some plastic primer, high-build primer and 2-pack top-coat. I can get them painted along with some other bits I need doing…

@Laundress – Thanks for the information from a US perspective. I think British people are rather more cautious about using a toploader these days, especially as they are now virtually obsolete over here. As I’ve found, they do have their advantages, though, as you also highlight. I had some curtains to wash recently and I didn’t have to take the plastic hanging hooks off – which is one heck of a time consuming fiddle!

@sesteve – One of the main reasons why I decided to rebuild my machine was down to you, so thanks (it’s your fault!) The static rinse seems to do the job, I think, especially on more delicate fabrics, or duvets. I’m glad we have sorted out that the purple dials are supposed to be slightly different colours, though. I am hoping everything is still OK, when I take the back off and see how the machine is fairing in the summer. You may recall, I had a NIGHTMARE sorting out the leaks and very nearly gave up on it. The various clangs don’t scare the kids – they are used to it. Wifey thinks that the machine is useful too, which helps, especially as it doubles-up as an extra wash basket. It only does a few loads a week anyway.

@keymatic – interesting about your findings about residue. I haven’t found that, except on a double bed mattress cover but I think that’s down to some parts of the material being hard up against the agitator.

R


Post# 867920 , Reply# 7   2/19/2016 at 16:24 (2,988 days old) by robliverpool (england Liverpool)        

robliverpool's profile picture
My very first automatic washer was a top loader hotpoint and I loved it. I was only 17 and had my own place and it cost me 45 quid second hand. I lived above a hairdressers and washed their towels daily for them and the machine got them spotless

I would have one of these in an instant if I wasn't on a water meter. Been reading up and in the foreseeable future every home in the UK will have to be fitted with a water meter so make the most while you can.

I know what you mean about the spin. It just purrs away silently. The only issues I had with mine was the waste hose it would sometimes pop off and flood the kitchen lol. Other than that it was fantastic

Post# 867941 , Reply# 8   2/19/2016 at 19:05 (2,988 days old) by Launderess (Quiet Please, There´s a Lady on Stage)        
Curtains

 launderess's profile picture
Tried doing them once in a front loader, never again.

Either use the Hoover TT, wash tubs or a top loader (when one had the thing).

Net and or lace curtains especially require immersion in water IMHO to shift dust, dirt and muck.

Post# 867978 , Reply# 9   2/20/2016 at 04:10 (2,988 days old) by electron1100 (England)        
Great Machines

 electron1100's profile picture
These have always been my favourite Hotpoint washing machines, I bought two broken ones back from work and made one working one, the wash/rinse performance is excellent.

They are also a pleasure to use.

QUILTS
Just out of interest I could not get a double winter quilt in my Hoover 4.5 Kg front loader, but I can wash one double summer quilt in there and as it is an old washer it has very high water levels which are perfect for washing quilts etc, so in the winter I use 2 summer quilts together problem solved of washing quilts.
Gary

Post# 867987 , Reply# 10   2/20/2016 at 05:55 (2,988 days old) by marky_mark (From Liverpool. Now living in Palm Springs and Dublin)        
Water Usage

 marky_mark's profile picture

If you have a water meter, doing a load in the Hotpoint toploader will cost around 30 pence more in water compared to a front loader.

 

Gary's Hoover FL probably uses something like 120 litres per cycle.  I find my modern FL machine uses 60-80 litres for most cycles with 2 high level rinses.  My Hotpoint TL specifies 69 litres per fill, with 3 fills per cycle plus a tub flush.  However, when filled with a normal load of clothes, I find it uses around 170 litres per cycle.  So the Hotpoint is using about 100 litres more than my FL.  If you have a water meter in the UK, you're probably paying somewhere around £3 per cubic metre, depending on your company/region.  This is assuming you have both municipal water and sewerage (sewerage is generally the more expensive component).  I don't think UK metered rates are tiered.  So the extra 100 litres will cost an extra £0.30.  Doing 5 loads per week in the TL will cost an extra £1.50 per week in water compared to a modern FL. 

 

Even so, you may well find that your water bill is lower with a water meter compared to paying the fixed amount for unmetered water.
Post# 868017 , Reply# 11   2/20/2016 at 10:13 (2,987 days old) by fido ()        

5 loads a week sounds like a lot for a toploader which can take quite big loads. I've never used one but I would guess you could do multi temperature washes by starting with a high temperature for e.g. towels, letting the water cool down to 40 degrees and adding your lower temperature items. Such flexibility would be impossible with modern digital machines.

Post# 869612 , Reply# 12   2/28/2016 at 16:19 (2,979 days old) by matchboxpaul (U.K)        
All you 1509/10 owners

 I have to make do with a mere 1509/05 :-)

Only kidding - very fond of it, after all the hard work that went into acquiring and restoring it (thanks to all involved).

Plumbed in, in the garage and brought out to play with occasionally, though I will have to rust treat the inner tub, as some enamel has chipped off :-(

Paul
p.s seen with the 1469 that resides in close proximity to the 1509.

Post# 869613 , Reply# 13   2/28/2016 at 16:20 (2,979 days old) by matchboxpaul (U.K)        

:-)


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