# Simple Clothes Washer Question. **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 7, 2001, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-clothes-washer-question/67959 "2001-06-07T18:56:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Demo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/demo/32/8472_2.png) [@Demo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Demo)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2001, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-clothes-washer-question/67959/1 "2001-06-07T18:56:20Z")
How does the washing machine know when the proper water level is reached in the washing tub? I’m curious because I want to know if I should put my clothes in while it is filling or if I am fooling the washer into thinking it has more water in it than it actually has. You’d think after 28 years I’d know how to do laundry. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![sailor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a587f6/32.png) [@sailor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sailor)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2001, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-clothes-washer-question/67959/2 "2001-06-07T19:11:36Z")
I had a _big_ argument over this with a girlfriend some years ago because i wait for the tub to fill before I put the clothes in and she puts them in first. There is no “correct” answer. Water level is water level and that’s what stops the water flow. A bit more or less water is going to make no difference. ---
**Author:** ![Scarlett67](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scarlett67/32/7387_2.png) [@Scarlett67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scarlett67)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2001, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-clothes-washer-question/67959/3 "2001-06-07T20:25:24Z")
According to Mr. S, some washers are on a timer. This caused problems with the washer his family used to use in the house we’re living in now, because the water pressure was low and the timer would shut off the water before the level was adequate. Of course, he could be full of caca. It’s happened before. ---
**Author:** ![Manduck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/manduck/32/256_2.png) [@Manduck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Manduck)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2001, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-clothes-washer-question/67959/4 "2001-06-08T00:28:18Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Scarlett67 \* > \*\*According to Mr. S, some washers are on a timer. > > Of course, he could be full of caca. It’s happened before. \*\* I vote for caca. The timer idea doesn’t make a lot of sense, because the timer would have to “know” how much laundry you put in the washer and how fast the water was flowing in. > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by sailor \* > \*\* > I had a _big_ argument over this with a girlfriend some years ago because i wait for the tub to fill before I put the clothes in and she puts them in first. > \*\* FWIW, a washing machine repair guy once told me that you should always put the clothes in _before_ turning on the water, to prevent overflowing. ---
**Author:** ![Demo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/demo/32/8472_2.png) [@Demo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Demo)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2001, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-clothes-washer-question/67959/5 "2001-06-08T01:25:19Z")
Hmmm, maybe it’s not so simple. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2001, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-clothes-washer-question/67959/6 "2001-06-08T01:54:13Z")
In home ec, I was taught to put in detergent, allow the washer to agitate to dissolve the detergent, THEN put the (pre-treated) clothes in. Now, I put in the detergent as the water is filling, then put the clothes in the washer after the detergent has dissolved, but as the washer is still filling. Incidentally, when setting a water level, remember that you can’t get clean clothes from filthy water. In other words, don’t be too stingy with the water, or you’ll have to rewash the clothes, thus defeating any savings in water, energy, or money. ---
**Author:** ![stuyguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ec9cab/32.png) [@stuyguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stuyguy)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2001, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-clothes-washer-question/67959/7 "2001-06-08T02:17:56Z")
Can’t vouch for every single washer out there, but I know (cause I took one apart) that some rely on a rubber diaphramed pressure switch on the bottom of the outside wash basin. They know the basin is full by the weight of the water+clothes inside the machine. ---
**Author:** ![sailor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a587f6/32.png) [@sailor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sailor)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2001, 4:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-clothes-washer-question/67959/8 "2001-06-08T04:56:43Z")
My reasoning was the same as Lynn’s. Great minds think alike. While this really makes little difference one way or the other, what I do is dissolve the detergent well, then put the clothes in, let it agitate just a few seconds and then stop the washer and let the clothes soak for a while. I want to make sure the detergent is well dissolved at this point. Then I restart the washer and let it finish. The idea that if you put the clothes in later the washer may overflow I think is not warranted. The clothes probably only raise water lever by a negligible amount. Also the timer thing seems quite difficult to believe as you would need a fixed water pressure or the washer would not fill or would overflow. I do not think any washer would use this system. ---
**Author:** ![thinksnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thinksnow/32/2849_2.png) [@thinksnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thinksnow)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2001, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-clothes-washer-question/67959/9 "2001-06-08T05:06:34Z")
**Lynn** , you might want to [rethink](http://www.whirlpool.com/resource/resource.htmls) that idea. Low-water usage machines are actually quite good. ---
**Author:** ![galt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/35a633/32.png) [@galt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/galt)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2001, 11:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-clothes-washer-question/67959/10 "2001-06-08T11:40:06Z")
> [@](#): > > **Re: More water is always better?** > > **Lynn** , you might want to [rethink](http://www.whirlpool.com/resource/resource.htmls) that idea. > > Low-water usage machines are actually quite good. Well, in Lynn’s defense, “more water is always better” isn’t quite what she said. She said that too little water is bad, which is true by definition (otherwise it wouldn’t be “too little”). ---
**Author:** ![bernse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a9a28c/32.png) [@bernse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bernse)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2001, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-clothes-washer-question/67959/11 "2001-06-08T13:28:09Z")
Lets throw another wrench in this. I have a front loader. Lets say I am washing a big load of towels or jeans. It fills with water and starts washing. After a few moments of tumbling and the water gets sucked up by the said clothing/towels, the machine _knows_ to add more. How in the hell does it know to do that? I love watching that machine. It has a window, you know… 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/50afbb/32.png) [@Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duck_Duck_Goose)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2001, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-clothes-washer-question/67959/12 "2001-06-08T13:58:16Z")
Sheesh, you people. I’d like to introduce ya’ll to a nifty website called “How Stuff Works.” > **[How Washing Machines Work](https://home.howstuffworks.com/washer.htm)** > > A washing machine is actually an amazing device once you get inside. Learn about the agitator, the pumps, the controller and much more! > [@](#): > > [_many large color photos edited out_] > > The level sensor uses a pressure switch to detect the water level in the tub. > > Figure 21. Water level control switch > > This switch controls how high the tub fills with water. > > The big end of the hose pictured in Figure 22 connects to the bottom of the tub, while the small end connects to the switch. As the water level in the tub rises, water rises in the hose also; but the air in the hose is trapped, so as the water rises, the air is compressed. > > Inside the housing of this switch is a little piston. The pressure in the hose pushes the piston upwards. When it is raised far enough, it pops up and closes an electrical contact. This set point, where the contact is lost, is adjustable, and in Figure 23 you can see the cam mechanism that is connected to the adjuster knob on the control panel of the washer. As the cam turns, it presses a spring against the cylinder, making it harder for the cylinder to pop up. This means that the water level will have to rise some more before the pressure in the hose will be high enough to trigger the switch. And most manufacturers recommend that you put the clothes in first. [http://www.ebuyguru.com/BuyingGuide.asp?categoryID=25&articleID=97](http://www.ebuyguru.com/BuyingGuide.asp?categoryID=25&articleID=97) > [@](#): > > Detergent goes first > Read the directions on the detergent pack to determine how much detergent to use… The detergent is on the bottom, so it has first contact with the water and can start to dissolve. By the time the tub is full, it will be completely dissolved. But you shouldn’t wait until the tub is full to put the clothes in, and here’s why. > [@](#): > > Put the Clothes in > Don’t just dump the clothes in the machine. Its [sic] important to distribute the clothes evenly. The weight of the clothes should be evenly balanced around the inside cylinder in order to prevent the inside cylinder from spinning off its track during the wash, and ensure even and fair washing among the clothes. Also because… From [http://www.maytag.com](http://www.maytag.com) , the Ideas & Advice article “Fabric Damage”, which would not make a link. > [@](#): > > Overloading > If too many items are in the washbasket, they cannot circulate freely. This can result in excessive abrasion or snagging. For best results, a top loading washer should be loaded loosely with dry, unfolded clothes, not to exceed the top row of holes in the tub. In addition, it is important to use plenty of water for the size of the load. Front loading washers can be loaded completely full of dry clothes, but not packed tightly. ---
**Author:** ![thinksnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thinksnow/32/2849_2.png) [@thinksnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thinksnow)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2001, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-clothes-washer-question/67959/13 "2001-06-08T17:53:57Z")
To the OP, you’d think there would be a flow-meter, similar to fuel pumps, that can guage the volume of water going by and adjust accordingly (small, med. or large loads.) But I see **DDG** posted a description that would seem to work, too. So, I guess that’s that. 😉 To my hijack: I wanted to say something about the “new” front-loaders that are coming out. IIRC, they use something like 1/3 the “normal” amount of water pre wash. I say “new” because, also IIRC, they’ve been standard use in Europe for some time. ---
**Author:** ![thinksnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thinksnow/32/2849_2.png) [@thinksnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thinksnow)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2001, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-clothes-washer-question/67959/14 "2001-06-08T17:55:59Z")
Uh, that was “…they use something like 1/3 the “normal” amount of water **per** wash.”