Washing machines

[Dot]

All depends on how much you want to spend doing washing TERRY.. If it was Margaret I would say get her a front loader less time standing at a machine, less water, but would suit the big bus better, horses for courses like everything.

[dapope]

Twin tub will use less, one lot of wash water, multiple loads, then its just the rinse water.
We had a front loader in the house, took forever

[aussiegirl]

I bought a front loader a few months back for my house. Previously I had a twin tub (my first washer) which was very good at the time, BUT you had to remember to go back to it to put the washing into the spinner. If you used too much washing powder, it would suds up like mad and you would then have to scoop all the excess suds out before you could do anything with it. Next I bought a top loader, which was quite good, but it used quite a bit of water, 60 litres for the minimum wash from memory. I had that washer for close to 25 years with no real problems. It started having problems with the water level indicator, so it just kept filling up!!!

I ended up buying a brand new LG front loader ( Model WD13020D, with a 1300rpm spin cycle. You can choose different spin speeds or no spin, you can put it onto a timer so that you can time it to start washing a few hours before you get up and then you can just hang it out before you leave for work (yes, unfortunately some of us still have to work). Or you can set it to wash on J tariff electricity at night time. Here are the specs for this particular washer


Wash Water Rating - 4.5 Star
Wash Water Consumption - 64 Litres
Washing Noise Level - 46dB
Spinning Noise Level - 60dB
Dimensions(WxDxH) - 600x550x850mm
Weight - 58kg
Warranty - 10 Year Direct Drive Motor Warranty (2 years parts and labour + 8 years on direct drive motor parts only)

The other thing to think about is this. A lot of the new 'hi tech" machines use computer chips and sensors which may end up getting damaged if they are bumped about over rough roads, so in some cases it may be better to chose a very simple basic washer rather than something like I have at home. I do like the front loader and I think it does was a whole lot better than my old top loader. With the 1300 rpm spin cycle, the clothes come out feeling just damp when the cycle is finished, so they don't take very long to dry out on the line. If you do need to put them into a dryer they take a lot less time to dry due to the spin cycle taking so much water out of the clothes to begin with.

The cycles vary depending on which one you select. If you put it on the "cotton"cycle it can take anywhere up to 2 1/2 hours depending on how much you put in it and the weight of the wash load. You can do a "quick 30" but that is really for just small loads up to 2 kg and lightly soiled washing. A bulky wash can take about 1 1/2 hours. If the indicator tells me that it will take 2 1/2 hours, I just pause the cycle, select another cycle and see what that comes up as. Usually it will take just over an hour, and that is with the bowl very full.

But horses for courses and everyone is different.

[Jon and Kay]

We have used a front loading LG washer/dryer for the past 5 years. Don't lock it down when we travel. Only problem ever has been a failed waste water pump ($30 delivered to Geraldton)

It washes 7.5kg in 35 minutes on shortest cycle, about 40 litres of water and 30ah from the batteries. We use it in the afternoons a couple of times a week, after the sun has charged the batteries, it runs from our 1500 watt inverter, but draws no more than 150w unless the dryer is used or a hot water cycle is used.

You do not need to use smaller units unless space is at a premium.

[generdawg]

...so your 7.5kg machine is a big household sized unit Dottie?

It may come as a surprise, but I rate a washing machine over and above an internal shower. And I rate an internal shower highly.

Dottie's getting a large machine so that when we all get together, the communal washing time will be shorter due to the large capacity. Only trouble is that I haven't quite broken the news to her yet.

The number of times that I rooly needed to wash and could not find a laundrette/Laundromat* would be countless! And the times I've suffered through dirty malfunctioning machines that happily gobbled up my dough without actually cleaning, would be significant.

Another side benefit of a washing machine would conceivably be the requirement for fewer changes of clothes - eg three pair of jeans (for me) instead of five.

As for types, I would prefer front loader due to efficiency, performance and water volume. However, they are heavier - at least the one I had in the house was. The extra weight in my machine was to counter the very high rpm spin rate. Another thing in their favour would be the advantage of front loading for restricted access. Bill's A'van set up is nifty, with his top loader on slide outs from the cupboard space. Slide outs may be necessary with a top loader if access above is restricted or non existent.

Because top loaders are lighter, many carry them in the toad, but if given the choice I would prefer at least a 3.5kg size to accommodate bedding and that may be too large for some of us (me too) to manhandle on a regular basis. Hey girls; want to impress your man? Unload the washing machine from the toad and set it up.

dawg (* I do NOT like or use caravan parks and even when in a town, parking convenient anywhere near the laundry is rare)

[pet-els]

I have a Sphere 2.5kg top loader roll out of cupboard.
Just finished a load 38 minutes. Very happy.

[T1 Terry]

So, we're back to a household size front loader. we have an electrolux 7kg front loader at home, it takes ages to wash a load, but you can stack a lot into it. There is only one cycle that does a decent wash that allows cold water, otherwise it fills with cold water and then wants to heat it, that would be hard on the batteries. On the cold wash cycle you can only have a 900rpm spin, so you need to do a seperate spin on Cotton cycle to get more water out, a pain in the butt. Friends bought a Miele front loader, it won't do a cold wash no matter what you try, so it's heavy on the power use, but light on the water, I will check out the LG range. Margaret is against a front loader at the moment, but I'm guessing it's to do with this unit we have, so I had crossed them off the list, time for a rethink.

Thankyou everyone for your help.

[Swisslulu]

Woohoo, have signal! Moved the router into an overhead cupboard and now works well at Pilliga Bore Bath. Terry, we have the 2.5 kg twin tub which, according to the dimensions mentioned should have fitted under the bed. Unfortunately, the dimensions stated did not include the control nobs on top so no go under the bed. It now travels on the back seat of the Cruiser. A 5 kg twin tub would be a better option if you have the room as I find 2 weeks worth of dirty clothes requires several dark loads and, as you say, only 1 sheet and pillow case per load, but i am still very happy to spend about 2 hours doing the ritual every 2 weeks or so. The beauty of the twin tub is the ability to set the length of the wash and spin cycles. I start out with whites/lights, save the water and reuse as the loads get darker, using common sense as to when fresh water is needed. Ecoballs and wool wash do not need a rinse cycle. The twin tub spins very dry so drying is very quick. Wouldn't be without our twin tub and if we ever go for a new van/MH, I'm not sure a built-in auto machine would be my choice.

[Dot]

Bet you would if it came with a crate of Duriff (pardon the spelling)

[T1 Terry]

Hi Lesley, can you tell me more about the eco balls, sounds interesting.