Comments on: Washing machine spin speed efficiency figures and drying costs

By: john scott

john scott — Sat, 24 Apr 2010 03:15:09 +0000

This is a very interesting topic . I have lived in the US for about 15 years, and work on commercial dishwashers in Hospitals/ restaurants etc. Because of the high temps that are required to sanitize dishes , many of the built in features are purely safety related, and have little to do with the washing side of things. Over the years manufacturers have moved from mechanical sliding rod type of safety interlocks, (to prevent doors being accidentally opened during use and scalding the operator) to magnetically operated reed switch interlocks , that provide the same protection to the user, but at a considerably , cheaper manufacturing cost. The down side of course is that the overall reliability of the magnetic interlock system is actually way worse, it wont stand up to the slime and grease that gets all over it. and the end result is a less reliable product. The cost to the customer is higher , and they get a less reliable product.
As you say in your blogs, it is all down to marketing and trying to keep the market share, only the customer suffers.

By: Washer and Dryer Sale

Washer and Dryer Sale — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 23:12:39 +0000

This is a great post. Everyone should read this before they go out and buy a new dryer or set. In other words don’t get duped by the slick salesman trying to upsell you on the faster spin cycles. As you mentioned you would have to do 2500 loads of laundry to recoup that expense. Your dryer will more than likely be broke down and gone by that time.

By: Washerhelp

Washerhelp — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 15:09:46 +0000

The spin dryers used very fast but small motors mounted very close to the drum pulley via a very small belt. They could run at high speeds but couldn’t turn a heavy drum full of wet laundry. They had very small gear/pulley ratios so less speed was lost between the spinning motor and the pulley it was turning.

Front loading drums needed a bigger pulley to reduce the strain on the motor when turning large wet loads full of water and it had to be connected by a much larger belt. Both of which means a lot of speed is lost between the rate of the revolving motor and the subsequent revolving drum. The motor on a front loading washing machine probably spins at similar speeds to the old twin tub, it’s the gearing that results in lower drum speeds.

By: WMUser

WMUser — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 01:16:52 +0000

If the intention is to make clothes drier after spinning, why not use an old fashioned spin dryer, as they would spin clothes at about 2800 rpm! Maybe faster? Then put the clothes into a tumble dryer and see how quick they would dry.

I’m sure the old spin dryers (and the spinners in twin tubs) had faster spin speeds because the drum is mounted vertically? I wonder why washing machines or washer dryers don’t spin as fast as the old spin dryers? I know some launderettes have a spin dryer which customers use after the clothes have been spun in the washing machine!

By: jared

jared — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 10:53:59 +0000

thanks for explaining this to the uneducated/uninitiated. My machine broke yesterday. With a family of 6 there’ll be a new washing machine in tonight (machine has probably reached its life span) – you just saved me at least £50.