Tuesday, January 9, 2018

Why I hate my washing machine -- Exhibit A


A couple of years ago we made a huge strategic error in buying a new washing machine instead of repairing the old one.  Now we have a fancy water-saving model with no center-post agitator.  It supposedly cleans by gently sloshing the clothes around in two teaspoons of water, tossing and kneading and forcing water through them.

I hate it, but that's a topic for another discussion.

The other day I opened the tub after the wash was finished and this is what I found:

The entire load had been tossed and kneaded into a ball, wrapped in a flannel shirt.  So neat and taut, it looked like a ball of dough rising in a bowl.



17 comments:

  1. Is this a top loader? I have a front loader and the issue I found with it is that I have no control over the amount of water is uses. That issue comes into play when washing out dyed fabric. I have learned to always unplug the washer and leave the door slightly open so it doesn't get moldy smelling. I have a separate laundry utility room so it is not a issue with me. I would probably have to wash those clothes again since how clean could they be all in a ball!

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  2. This occasionally happens with the top-load washer at work, which DOES have a center post. (Kennel--we wash lots of towels, and some blankets.)
    I have a front-loader at home, and have not had this happen.

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  3. I think it happens during the spin cycle. Your clothing probably got clean. It is weird, though.

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  4. It's a top-loader. I can call for extra water, and an extra rinse cycle, and I guess the clothes get clean, but I'm never very happy.

    I have never tried to wash out dyed fabric; expect that would be a failure.

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  5. I have a top loader that does the same thing. I inherited it when I bought the house 2 years ago. Happens mostly with sheets.

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  6. Most people I know complain about the lack of water=lack of cleaning and the odor if the door is left closed. When I redid the bathroom--I left the 30 year plus machine right where it is. New is not better.

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  7. My new "efficient" front-loader washer doesn't do this, but it dribbles a little puddle of water out thru the seal with every load. My dryer does this. One dry sheet tightly wrapped around 3 or 4 that are still wet. Crazy-making.

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  8. Yep. My dryer does that too. The fitted sheet rolls everything in the dryer into a solid ball like Shelob, and the outside one is dry. Ugh.

    We have to get a new washer. We are leaning toward a front loader. I keep wondering how those top loader/no agitator thingies even work. Of course, the reason we are buying new is that the agitator in the current model does not work, and I'm not so happy with the cleaning. So essentially, I have a top loader with no agitator...

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  9. Mine does the same thing now and then, has even pulled the cap off the short thing in the middle that helps move the load around. I'm not convinced about how well it is cleaning and rinsing either in that small amount of water so I always set it for a soak after the initial wetting and a second rinse, which I suspect is countering some of the water saving. I do use this machine to wash out my hand-dyes, but I do a lot of soaking and rinsing at the faucet before they go in the machine for the final synthropaling wash. Again, with the soak setting during the wash cycle and second rinse setting. I do like that I can stuff a big item in it like a quilt, mattress pad or rugs and down't have to wind it around the center agitator. But I really do question how clean everything gets.

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  10. This happens with my HE top loader sometimes. I’m pretty sure the clothes are clean. I don’t put large loads in because I don’t think there’s enough water to clean them. That’s my biggest complaint. I used to have an HE front loader and it smelled awful- I couldn’t leave the door hanging wide open. I will never own a front loader again.

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  11. UGH...we are in need of a new washer and dryer(ours are both 21+ years old). I keep hearing about how the new washers just don't cut it!!! Hmmmmmm

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  12. Every one wonder how clean their wash really is? It probably has to do with how dirty it was to start. We often wash things that a century ago would not have been considered dirty....

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  13. My front load washer doesn’t do this but the dryer loves to! I think the only benefit for me is the drain cycles don’t overload the drain and spill water everywhere.

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  14. I have a top loader with agitator. My big problem is the water level. After the wash cycle finishes and before the spin cycle starts I have actually found dry spots of clothing sticking up out of the water that had never gotten wet. How could they get clean if they never got wet?

    I recently bypassed the magnet that says the door is open and stops cycle.(safety thing I know) Clean laundry over safety. Now I can add water to the washer from my laundry sink faucet. Then I try to remember to add some at rinse cycle.

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    Replies
    1. Why in heaven’s name do we put up with this. I hate my washer. It does the same bs. Anyone want to start a group. B.a.Harrison51@gmail.com
      We may have a case to get some sort of replacement. My towels have been shredded and the answer is I load the washer incorrectly

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    2. I just added 3 buckets of water to the sheets , I hate this new washer with no agitator, and yes there have been dry areas on our clothes when rinse cycle starts. I know that's not clean! I have to fill about 1/3 amount of clothes now.how does it save water?

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