I caught up on laundry the other day.
While the second load was starting and I was hanging the first load, Don exclaimed, "It is so nice to have a washing machine that can do more than a load of laundry a day! And do a better job of it, too."
He was referencing the strained relationship we had with the fancy whiz-bang Maytag washing machine (and dryer) that came with the house when we bought it.
This machine did not, to put it charitably, do a good job washing clothes – plus it took on average two hours per cycle to ... not get the clothes clean. When I expressed my frustration here on the blog, many of you suggested looking for a Speed Queen. One of these marvels came up for sale locally and we snapped it up in a heartbeat, then offloaded the Maytag as quick as we could. We affectionately nicknamed the new Speed Queen "Betty."
That was a year ago October, so Betty has been working for us for fifteen months now with nary a complaint. She does her job with fabulous efficiency. We couldn't be more pleased to have Betty a permanent part of our household.
We've never had a Speed Queen before, but I tell ya ... we're sold.
I use an electric Speed Queen wringer washer, uses far less power than even uprights nowadays. It manages to get clothes much cleaner and wrings out more water than our old uprights did. It is still using all original parts, with the exception of hoses and power cord, so they really do last forever. Way more reliable and better quality than the Maytag wringer washers were, which we also have 1 of those as a backup.
ReplyDeleteHow does the moisture from all those clothes Not ruin your books? I'm assuming the woodstove pulls the moisture from the air and clothes and it vents out of the house through the chimney.
ReplyDeleteWe get such massive amounts of rain I sometimes have to run a dehumidifier along with the heat.
It's just not that humid around here. We've never had an issue of drying clothes on racks putting off much moisture.
Delete- Patrice
Where did you get those tall drying racks? I have an umbrella type, which I do not like. I would like to replace it. And can you put large comforters and blankets in that type of washer? Mama J
ReplyDeleteThe tall drying rack came from an antique store, believe it or not. I wanted it the moment I saw it. That was years ago, and I've used it weekly ever since. The shorter rack just came from our local hardware store. However if you do an online search for drying racks, there are endless home businesses which make them in various shapes and sizes.
DeleteI've never tried to wash a comforter or blanket in our new (to us) machine. Doesn't mean it can't be done; I've just never done it.
- Patrice
I have an older wooden one I got 30yr ago at the ACE handwear store. But last year I got more off amazon. They have several different ones.
Deletehttps://www.amazon.com/dp/B00H7P1GPO/ref=vp_d_pbcet1_TIER1_pbxcovv3_lp_B08F57TMCS_pd?_encoding=UTF8&pf_rd_p=7cbb9399-7882-4c3f-9ac0-6eb23816a04a&pf_rd_r=0A2HFE81CZKSM0EBND5P&pd_rd_wg=XIrHJ&pd_rd_i=B00H7P1GPO&pd_rd_w=JJAMH&content-id=amzn1.sym.7cbb9399-7882-4c3f-9ac0-6eb23816a04a&pd_rd_r=594de960-3b1b-4dff-9e5c-e62e35758eb3&th=1
I was just looking and see Amazon has one that I think I can put sheets on. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08726F616/ref=sspa_dk_detail_4?pd_rd_i=B08726F616&pd_rd_w=RyZtu&content-id=amzn1.sym.eb7c1ac5-7c51-4df5-ba34-ca810f1f119a&pf_rd_p=eb7c1ac5-7c51-4df5-ba34-ca810f1f119a&pf_rd_r=8E4T7FNY3T3M410H3ZEW&pd_rd_wg=RXD72&pd_rd_r=a09fea0b-1de2-48fd-b2cc-78b2d2db840d&s=home-garden&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9kZXRhaWw&th=1
DeleteBeware! I wouldn't wash anything like comforters and blankets in a washing machine. I had several break down inspite of the sales pitch that they would wash them. Fixing these new monsters easily runs over $1000.00 since the first thing they have to do is replace the "motherboard". The computerized mess.
DeleteSo I graduated into taking big bulky things to a laundromat.
The last time I put 1, one, comforter in a big machine and paid $6 to run it by itself, which was also the price of gas to get there. Much of it was bone dry when it came out. Including soiled ares, so I had to run it again. And dry, and I never felt it got clean. The problem at the laundry is threefold. 1) they have somehow reduced the amount of water the machine uses to do its job. 2) The darn thing only runs 16 minutes to fill, wash, rinse, and spin. It needs more time. 3)Temperature isn't hot enough. I like my clothes mostly to wash in hot water if they're dirty because it helps get rid of dirt. The laundromat has tepid water.
The comforter mentioned above I took home and washed outside in a big wheelbarrow with water from the hose. The water got dirty, not bad, but it wasn't color bleeding off, it was tannish water. Anyway, I never wrung it out, just hung it over the deck and flipped and turned it a few times and it dripped and dried by itself. And was clean!
We need to rethink some our laundry. Comforters and blankets would rarely need washing if we used duvets, or even just a cover sheet. Those do go in a machine for easy cleaning.
With this warm weather I didnt run the wood stove yesterday so I used the dryer. Yes, I hate the dryer. It is so inefficient. I should have bult a fire just for the load of towels. They would have dried faster on the racks. I have to run the dryer twice to get them dry. AND yes
ReplyDelete[OCD'ly] I have cleaned out the hose in the wall and keep the front vent clear by vacuuming out the space where the lint catcher DOES NOT catch lint. I have seen stories of " House Fire Due to Dryer Lint" lololo freaks me out.
The sun will be out Thur- Sat- I will put my umbrella close line up
I went through two set of 'smart' washers/dryers in about 7 years before I got my Speed Queen set. This set is now going on 7 years old. Not ever trusting 'smart' machines again if I can help it.
ReplyDeleteAnd when I moved, one of the first service providers I found was the local Speed Queen retailer. Just in case. SJ. now in California
Just think of all the many people who aren't doing all this trial and error stuff!
ReplyDeleteThey will probably be overwhelmed if shtf ! It's bad enough when it hasn't, but is do-able.
Wow-am I impressed !! Per my internet researching:
ReplyDelete>>Who is Speed Queen washers made by?
Speed Queen - Wikipedia
Speed Queen is a laundry machine manufacturer headquartered in Ripon, Wisconsin, United States. Speed Queen is a subsidiary of Alliance Laundry Systems LLC, which billed itself as the world's largest manufacturer of commercial laundry equipment as of 2004.
MADE IN THE USA? Be still my heart!
>>What is the lifespan of a Speed Queen washer?
Speed Queen Front Load Washers vs. Leading Washer Brands ...
25 years
While other washers and dryers can last more than 15 years if they are well-cared for or used rarely, most wear out over well before then. However, the Speed Queen washer lifespan is different. These units are engineered to last for 25 years and are built with durability in mind.
I can tell you what my next set will be. And I spent a fortune on my front loader LGs.....like $2400 for both. They lasted barely 6 years.
I have a LG gas stove. I had it for 4 years before the electric igniter burned out. I had a hard time getting parts and when they did come in, it cost me $400 to have it fixed. I decided it would probably do it again so we bought a beautiful wood burning cook stove complete with warming ovens and water reservoir. It's been two years and the oven is starting to do the same thing. When it finally dies the oven will become a cupboard to store my cast iron while I bake in my cook stove. LG= Lotsa Garbage.
Delete"Smart" water saving toilets require flushing twice...as per example all "smart" noise..
ReplyDelete