Overloading washing machine

Grumpysally

Just found an interesting video on the Which? website
http://www.which.co.uk/advice/using-your-washing-machine/be-greener-with-your-washing-machine/index.jsp
At the very end the researcher mentions the " urban myth" about overloading washing machines.

BTW my machine now working, however repairman says that it's not worth getting it repaired again and should be prepared to replace it next time it breaks down.
Typical just when we're trying to save money more than ever!

elsien

Gangstabird wrote: »

I usually like to be able to flap my hand in it from the top of the drum, for about 9 inches. If you can do this, it's not overloaded. I used to do this as well and have found that clothes get a lot cleaner if you don't do it.

That's what the nice repair man told us as well - a useful guide at work for those people who apparently have never used a washing machine in their life before - (not wanting to be gender specific about this at all..........)

agent_orange_2

AlisonW wrote: »

Repair man has been out, its the motor that needs replacing and apparently the machine is about15 years old. ; ) )

15 yrs old, that a fair old age for a washing machine.

milkybars

If you can find your make and model of washer on the internet they usually come with a weight in kg that your washer is designed to hold.

The easiest way to check the weight of how much you'd usually put in is to weigh yourself on bathroom scales holding the load, then subtract your weight not holding the load (since most people don't own scales that you can easily weight the load directly!).

Also... as my mum used to say... if you need to stuff it in, it's overloaded!

milkybars

agent_orange wrote: »

15 yrs old, that a fair old age for a washing machine.

We had one in a rental property a few years ago that the landlord admitted was 22 years old. It washed perfectly well, if a little noisy. When it stopped spinning one day, I got worried that landlord would be devastated. Turned out it just needed a new belt and it was back up and running again!

Topdogfran

It can also depend on the mixture of fabrics - cotton is more absorbent than man made fabrics, so a full load of towels for example, will weigh more when wet than a load of wooly jumpers and take more effort to spin.

OH tells me 'leave room for the water'