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CA renter.
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October 13, 2014 at 8:55 PM #778674October 13, 2014 at 9:12 PM #778675
spdrun
ParticipantHopefully, nobody. Monopolies suck.
Though it would be nice to see a standard that allows mobile devices to basically seamlessly VPN into a home network and then speak to your appliances without using cloud servers as intermediaries. Think of a highly adapted deployment of Hamachi.
Turn ONE app on that gives you a gateway to the home. Then you can either talk to different devices via a Web browser (for simple stuff, who needs an app?) or run apps that talk to the devices.
October 13, 2014 at 9:16 PM #778676NotCranky
Participant[quote=spdrun]Kills bacteria? Removes stains? Boils Ebola viruses to death?[/quote]
I think soap and cold water work fine.Proof: I haven’t gotten Ebola yet.
October 13, 2014 at 9:20 PM #778677FlyerInHi
GuestI have lots of whites. The hot whitest white cycle gets the job done.
In my vacation rentals, the towels are all white. Women use the towels to wipe off their makeup! The “whitest white” cycle with some bleach and some oxyclean does the job and makes the towels smell like hotel towels. 2-hour cycle in a whirlpool washer. I learned that from my cleaning lady.
I’ve seen appliances in Europe have only 1 water inlet. They have internal heating elements.
October 13, 2014 at 9:25 PM #778678Participant^^^
Different design considerations. Tank-type or whole-house instant water heaters are common in the US. Point water heaters with the plumbing being cold-only are more common in Europe. Hot water might not be available in (say) a utility room.
On the other hand, US houses might not have the wiring required to support a washing machine heating coil in the laundry room. You’re talking probably 30 amps at 240V, if not more. Whereas a standard North American washer runs at 120V/15A. Same with a gas dryer.
October 13, 2014 at 9:32 PM #778679
svelteParticipant[quote=CA renter]
They make front-loaders, too. And their machines don’t stink of mold/mildew like the other ones do, according to those who’ve had both.[/quote]
Front loaders don’t stink if you leave the door open to allow them to dry out. That’s what we do with our 7 year old GE front loader and it has never had an odor issue.
October 13, 2014 at 11:47 PM #778687CA renter
Participant[quote=spdrun]
Yes, I think some people tweak things to make them work. Of course, none of this should be necessary, IMO, as machines should do what the owners want them to do. HE and other “green” technologies should always be one of the options, but it should always be an option. All too often, the “green” technologies end up doing far more harm than good, like when these machines give out after 5 years instead of 20, or when people have to double or triple-wash their clothes (or dishes, in the case of dishwashers…or flush 2, 3, or more times in the case of toilets, etc.) in order to get the same performance as the “non-green” goods and appliances.
Agreed – but only coupled with higher energy taxes in order to provide economic incentive to adopt more efficient tech when possible. I’d much rather have that sort of thing “enforced” by high taxes so that people would WANT more efficient hardware, as opposed to outright regulatory mandates.[/quote]
Totally agree.
October 13, 2014 at 11:57 PM #778686Participant[quote=Blogstar]What is the benefit of using hot water in the laundry?[/quote]
[quote=spdrun]Kills bacteria? Removes stains? Boils Ebola viruses to death?[/quote]
Yes, spdrun’s nailed it.
Years ago, one of our kids got a MRSA infection. The doctor told us to wash all of her bedding and clothing in the hottest water possible in order to kill the germs. The doctor said she did it with all of her own laundry. I’ve been washing everything in HOT ever since.
Of course, there is nothing like hot water to get rid of many stains, too. It just cleans better.
October 13, 2014 at 11:58 PM #778688Participant[quote=FlyerInHi]I have lots of whites. The hot whitest white cycle gets the job done.
In my vacation rentals, the towels are all white. Women use the towels to wipe off their makeup! The “whitest white” cycle with some bleach and some oxyclean does the job and makes the towels smell like hotel towels. 2-hour cycle in a whirlpool washer. I learned that from my cleaning lady.
I’ve seen appliances in Europe have only 1 water inlet. They have internal heating elements.[/quote]
1. I prefer not to use bleach whenever possible. It’s horribly bad stuff. (But I agree that you should probably use bleach in a vacation rental if guests are sharing towels and linens.)
2. We have a lot of laundry. There is no way in hell I’m going to wait 2 hours for the washing machine to finish one load.
October 14, 2014 at 11:02 PM #778729Hatfield
Participant[quote=Blogstar]What is the benefit of using hot water in the laundry?[/quote]
Hot water is a better solvent than cold water.
October 15, 2014 at 1:19 PM #778786UCGal
ParticipantUnless someone in the house is sick – I tend to use cold water. But I use a little vinegar in the rinse cycle – it provides the antibacterial/antimicrobial properties, deodorizes, and acts as a fabric softener. I also line dry a lot of my clothes – and the sun also acts as a natural disinfectant. Plus I save energy on the dryer.
October 17, 2014 at 1:53 AM #778871Participant[quote=FlyerInHi]What model did you buy and how much did you pay for your speed queen, if you don’t mind sharing?
…Electronics allow more precise cycles. You can’t do the same with mechanical controls.[/quote]
Forgot to answer this before. We got the AWN542 model for $829. Tax was about $70, and installation about $60. Less than $1,000, and is supposed to last for a good ~20 years.
Since most of the other new machines are made to last no more than 5-10 years (and many of them cost over $1,000, too), we should not only have a machine that washes better, but have a machine that will end up costing us less than half of those other new machines over time. And it’s “greener,” too, because of it’s longer life cycle since this requires less mining for raw parts, less environmental pollution in the manufacturing process of a replacement machine, less pollution and energy usage due to transporting the machine overseas (for this machine, since it’s made in the US, and accelerated replacements of other new machines), and less waste/pollution at the end of life of the machine. All in all, a total win, IMHO.
October 17, 2014 at 9:15 AM #778885GuestCAr, you sound a good homemaker what makes sure everything is clean for her family.
but how do you wash large items like comforters in a top load? I find that front loads are better for large items.
October 17, 2014 at 9:21 AM #778886ParticipantDidn’t science prove that it’s better not to raise your kids in a highly sanitized environment? I don’t have a link but it seems like that was news a few years back. Maybe even our pediatrician was saying it.
October 17, 2014 at 4:08 PM #778898Participant[quote=Blogstar]Didn’t science prove that it’s better not to raise your kids in a highly sanitized environment? I don’t have a link but it seems like that was news a few years back. Maybe even our pediatrician was saying it.[/quote]
This is true.
While I like to keep everything clean and sanitary, I try not to go too overboard with it. Our kids get dirty and play outside with other kids every day, and they go to parks and other places where kids (and tons of germs) congregate. My goal is to keep the inside of our house clean. 🙂
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