Adventures with a wringer washer.

Jul 14 19:58 UTC 2011

      It has lived in the basement for years. I never thought that I 
would actually be using it, and more than that, liking it. But I do.

      The thing is a Speed Queen wringer type washer, circa 1950. I used 
to hate it, but now that were on the same page, we get along. 

     The automatic washer that was in the basement stopped working. She 
had the wringer machine and I asked her if it worked. It did. I got out 
the oil and oiled the wringer, plugged it in, and let the oil do it's 
job. There are no hoses to fill it. You have to stretch a hose from the 
sink to the machine. So I filled it, added some Tide, and the clothes 
and everything was peachy. That is, until it came time to drain it. No 
drain switch. No nothing. A hose on the side of the machine, nothing 
else. I foolishly put the hose over the sink then I searched for that 
magic switch that would let it drain. There was none.

      It seems that the hose lays down on the floor, and preferably into 
a drain. Why didn't I think of that? Perhaps I was expecting too much. I 
then set to wringing the clothes through the now non squeaking wringer. 
I almost caught a finger in it, but I managed to get that first load 
done.

      I have a routine now. Wash, wring all the clothes, return clothes 
to tub, rinse for 5 mins, wring twice, hang on the line. It works well, 
and the clothes come out clean.

      I have also discovered a few things. Wringer washers let you 
decide how long you want to wash. It can be 5 minutes or 30 minutes 
depending on your mood and the dirtyness of your laundry. Double 
wringing is as good as any spin cycle and it's kind of fun too. I like 
the old girl, and I hope that it lasts for a few more years. It is true, 
that old does not have to mean useless. 

Comments?

response 2 of 10:

Jul 15 04:06 UTC 2011

I would support a double rinse for getting traces of the detergent low enough
to not be irritating.

response 4 of 10:

Jul 15 15:51 UTC 2011

resp:0 That sounds like a cool washing machine although I think I'll
stick to more modern appliances. :) 

resp:3 I think the soap companies, in an effort to sell more soap,
recommend the maximum amount that one can use without it becoming a
problem. I use about 1/3 -1/2 the recommended amount and that works well
for me. 

response 6 of 10:

Jul 15 17:30 UTC 2011

Try using less than 1/3.  I still see lots of suds in the second rinse water
when I use a teaspoon of concentrated liquid.

response 8 of 10:

Jul 16 00:35 UTC 2011

I can't look at the screen for longer than 3 seconds or my eyes start 
bleeding.  This can't be good.

response 10 of 10:

Jul 16 02:10 UTC 2011

My left eye just exploded.  What a mess.