I’ve got one of the Speed Queen TR-7 top loader models that purportedly cleans only middling well.
The thing is, the tests are typically done using the “Normal/Eco” cycle and it’s called out specifically I the owners manual as being intended for washing lightly soiled loads. It goes on to say that most loads are best serve with the Heavy Duty cycle. Which not incidentally does a fine job cleaning.
FWIW, this isn’t limited to Speed Queen. Bosch dishwashers describe the “Normal” cycle as for “lightly soiled” dishes and “Auto” for normally soiled ones. Guess what cycle the EPA and Consumer reports use for their testing?
All that aside, it’s also got a couple of features the OP would like. One, it’s got the auto sensing water level and the ability to set the water level to three or four preset levels independent of the amount of laundry.
Two, it’s got an “Extra Rinse” button that you can use on any cycle.
So in their case, moving up a water level or two and adding a rinse could accomplish a lot of rinsing.
Get yourself a top loading washer with an agitator. Either an older second hand one or the Speed Queen as you mentioned. They use a ton of water, and are not particularly gentle on clothes. But they also let you run a cycle in about 30 minutes and will definitely use enough water to rinse out detergent. They clean perfectly fine.
One of the reasons some people favored Speed Queen machines was that they had entirely or mostly mechanical controls and that Maytag appears to as well. When I was a kid, our washing machine stopped working and after talking to the staff at an appliance parts store, my father and I replaced the mechanical control (while returning the old one to the store so it could be refurbished for resale). Some problems with the electronic controls on many machines are unfixable or at least not fixable at a reasonable cost.
Well, I have a Maytag top-loader, and it definitely uses much less water than you would expect from a traditional top-loader. Much like a modern front-loader, it evaluates the load, and adds the appropriate amount of water according to the amount of laundry and the settings you pick. Overall, I like it much better than the LG front-loader, but I’m biased against the latter because the stupid thing failed with a main bearing problem after just five years, and as a one-person household I do laundry about as infrequently as you might imagine, so the LG was hardly overused. Still pisses me off – it was an expensive piece of shit.
That’s very dependent on the model you buy. The TC-5 models (not TR-3,5 or 7) are the “Classic Clean” mechanism that is very much a 1980s throwback style that pummels and grinds any dirt out of your clothes rather roughly.
I meant to say “front-loaders” here. Mea culpa. There are loads of cheap, reliable old fashioned top loaders. But if you really want a front loader, that’s the only kind I’d buy.
Oh and one thing- even if there was a machine or a set up or a detergent that got rid of the itchy detergents- they wouldnt kick in for a while, until all the old itchy detergent is washed out- several washes.
I don’t think it’s that bad. A single 90 minute “heavily soiled” cycle with a could of sopping wet towels, hot water, fast spin, and an extra rinse does, in fact, remove enough of the soap.
That looks like a newer model but very similar to the Maytag I’ve had for a few years now. The agitator looks identical, the “bumps” around the inside of my tub are larger than on this model. I’ve been very happy with it, and it definitely hasn’t been rough on anything. As I mentioned, it meters water according to the amount of laundry and the settings you select, but in general it uses much less water than traditional top-loaders, but more than a front-loader normally would. I consider that a feature, since I want the laundry to get good and soaked. It uses high-efficiency (HE) detergent.
I specifically wanted one with an agitator as opposed to one with just ridges on the bottom of the tub as from what I saw in YouTube videos the washing action on those didn’t seem like it would be very effective.
What is Medic Rinse? I see an Extra Rinse button on mine, but no way to select the temperature for that, and nothing labeled Medic.
Anyway, we use cold water plus a small amount of generic detergent powder on the normal cycle with no extra rinses, and all our clothes have come out clean. We never had an issue with any loads, nor any detectable residue or odor.
I suspect our needs, habits, and sensitivities are quite different from the OP’s.
We’re perfectly happy with our front loader, although I have to reiterate that I have no faith it will last very long. Our first LG washer had its display break within a few months (it still worked, but we couldn’t see the display anymore). Despite that, we still bought another LG, because it was cheap and big and worked well mechanically, even if the electronics aren’t great. Figured it would still be cheaper to replace every few years than actually paying for a high quality unit.
From what I can see, “Medic Rinse” is a rinse cycle that heats the water to 40˚C to do a more thorough rinse. You probably don’t have it on yours if you don’t see a “Medic Rinse” option, but OTOH you have the option of an extra rinse cycle. From what I can see in the owner’s manual the number of rinse cycles in the newer machines with Medic Rinse is fixed; all the button does is activate the heater on the final rinse. I could be mistaken but I didn’t see an option for an extra rinse.
What does medic even mean…? Like paramedic? Is it an European term?
The model I have is just a big lame touch screen. It has no degrees or buttons:
I have no idea what those other cycles do, like whatever “perm press” or “allergiene” mean, or why I’d need a turbo or steam in the washer. Too many marketing features. I just use normal and it seems fine
I should correct my error in saying that “newer machines” have the “Medic Rinse” feature. The control panel picture I posted is from a machine around 10 years old that is now discontinued – yours is undoubtedly newer. I have no idea, though, how the features compare or even what they mean! Like you, I mostly just use the “Normal” setting on the Maytag, but I do have it set for two rinse cycles. I also tend to use less detergent than Tide recommends.
If you select “Rinse+Spin”, the time indicator reads 18 minutes, but if you then hit the “Medic Rinse” button it goes up to 44 minutes(!!). That does not sound like it is not adding at least one extra rinse. I did not actually run the cycle, though; I was in a hurry
Who knows? I suspect it does not really mean anything (not a “European term” or anything like that), leaving you to peruse the manual, and is therefore a prime example of bad design. My guess, of course (coupled with the pacifier/dummy icon) is that it is supposed to evoke soiled baby clothes, hospital bedsheets, stuff like that that you might imagine could do with an extra, hot rinse.
A 44 minute extra rinse with warm water that i could add to a regular cycle is exactly what i wish i had. I suspect it’s not allowed under current US regulations. It’s not energy efficient. (Unless it prevents you from running an extra 90 minute hour water cycle, but I’m obviously an outlier.)
I suspect it’s not allowed under current US regulations. It’s not energy efficient. (Unless it prevents you from running an extra 90 minute hour water cycle, but I’m obviously an outlier.)