Adding water to washing machine

EssexExile

ripplyuk said:

EssexExile said:

I can't see it causing any problem, if you put too much in it will think it's about to flood and probably pump it out again. Doesn't your machine the ability to increase the water amount in any of the multitude of settings they seem to have nowadays?

Hold on - 20 litres? That's a hell of a lot. Most people are quite happy with the washing ability of their machines, what are you doing that makes yours so bad? Not enough detergent? Not very good detergent? Overloading?

I’ve no idea but there’s so little water, it doesn’t surprise me that clothes come out still dirty. It’s not just this machine either. The previous one was just as bad. I’ve experimented with different types/quantities of detergent but only adding more water seems to help. It’s never overloaded but doing half loads doesn’t help because the machine weighs the load. Reducing the load also reduces the amount of water. 

ETA: it doesn’t have an ‘extra water’ setting. 

And there you have it, two machines that don't wash well for you but do for everyone else. I'm afraid the common factor is you, as several have said overloading is the most likely cause. The weight of washing is not really a good guide, the industry just couldn't think of a better way to express load size! When you load it the drum should be no more than two thirds full, leaving room for the clothes to tumble around.

ripplyuk

@EssexExile I don’t overfill the machine. Like I said, I’ve experimented with different load sizes. I’ve found it best not to fill over halfway. The previous machine also used hardly any water, which is why it didn’t wash well either. I didn’t realise at the time that lack of water was the problem. I just thought it was a rubbish machine. It’s only when the replacement was just as bad that I realised the lack of water is the issue. 

It’s fine now, as long as I remember to add extra water. I just wanted to check I’m not going to flood the house or something. 

shiraz99

ripplyuk said:

@EssexExile I don’t overfill the machine. Like I said, I’ve experimented with different load sizes. I’ve found it best not to fill over halfway. The previous machine also used hardly any water, which is why it didn’t wash well either. I didn’t realise at the time that lack of water was the problem. I just thought it was a rubbish machine. It’s only when the replacement was just as bad that I realised the lack of water is the issue. 

It’s fine now, as long as I remember to add extra water. I just wanted to check I’m not going to flood the house or something. 

You mean that this is what you (incorrectly) deduce to be the problem. Sorry but having to add any water, let alone up to 20 litres, is absolutely madness. There's either a problem with the machine if it's not cleaning properly or you're doing something wrong with it. I'm sure the manufacturer has done enough R&D on the design of the machine to know just how much water it requires, what makes you think you know better.

Mistral001

This is an interesting thread.  I have always thought that modern washing machines put too little water in them during the wash cycle.  I will try putting more water in the next time to see if I get a better wash. 

Could this apparent water stinginess by the machine designers be a marketing ploy to get a higher energy rating and to entice people who have their water metered?  The result seems to be that many people put smaller loads into the machine to get a proper wash and hence do many more washes than they perhaps would do if they had a machine that was designed to have more water in the wash cycle.

Andy_L

ripplyuk said:

EssexExile said:

I can't see it causing any problem, if you put too much in it will think it's about to flood and probably pump it out again. Doesn't your machine the ability to increase the water amount in any of the multitude of settings they seem to have nowadays?

Hold on - 20 litres? That's a hell of a lot. Most people are quite happy with the washing ability of their machines, what are you doing that makes yours so bad? Not enough detergent? Not very good detergent? Overloading?

I’ve no idea but there’s so little water, it doesn’t surprise me that clothes come out still dirty. It’s not just this machine either. The previous one was just as bad. I’ve experimented with different types/quantities of detergent but only adding more water seems to help. It’s never overloaded but doing half loads doesn’t help because the machine weighs the load. Reducing the load also reduces the amount of water. 

ETA: it doesn’t have an ‘extra water’ setting. 

Is there an "eco"  setting hat it defaults to unless you press another button?

My machine does, using a longer was time but less water. 

ripplyuk

Andy_L said:

ripplyuk said:

EssexExile said:

I can't see it causing any problem, if you put too much in it will think it's about to flood and probably pump it out again. Doesn't your machine the ability to increase the water amount in any of the multitude of settings they seem to have nowadays?

Hold on - 20 litres? That's a hell of a lot. Most people are quite happy with the washing ability of their machines, what are you doing that makes yours so bad? Not enough detergent? Not very good detergent? Overloading?

I’ve no idea but there’s so little water, it doesn’t surprise me that clothes come out still dirty. It’s not just this machine either. The previous one was just as bad. I’ve experimented with different types/quantities of detergent but only adding more water seems to help. It’s never overloaded but doing half loads doesn’t help because the machine weighs the load. Reducing the load also reduces the amount of water. 

ETA: it doesn’t have an ‘extra water’ setting. 

Is there an "eco"  setting hat it defaults to unless you press another button?

My machine does, using a longer was time but less water. 

It has an eco cycle (which I obviously never use) but it doesn’t default to an eco setting. It has a speed button which apparently uses more water but I don’t notice any difference so it must be very slight. 

ripplyuk

shiraz99 said:

ripplyuk said:

@EssexExile I don’t overfill the machine. Like I said, I’ve experimented with different load sizes. I’ve found it best not to fill over halfway. The previous machine also used hardly any water, which is why it didn’t wash well either. I didn’t realise at the time that lack of water was the problem. I just thought it was a rubbish machine. It’s only when the replacement was just as bad that I realised the lack of water is the issue. 

It’s fine now, as long as I remember to add extra water. I just wanted to check I’m not going to flood the house or something. 

You mean that this is what you (incorrectly) deduce to be the problem. Sorry but having to add any water, let alone up to 20 litres, is absolutely madness. There's either a problem with the machine if it's not cleaning properly or you're doing something wrong with it. I'm sure the manufacturer has done enough R&D on the design of the machine to know just how much water it requires, what makes you think you know better.

Results. More water = Cleaner, fresher clothes.