Am I mad to want a twin tub?

[wigglybeezer]

I have a bit if an obsession with finding a second hand twin tub at the moment. I have a very reliable automatic but I find I just can't wash enough stuff at once or do enough loads a day to keep the laundry pile down.
If I had an old fashioned twin tub I could do all the bedding and towels for instance in one go, not to mention actually getting the mud out of DS's rugby kit.
It would suit my way of working to do a big laundry session one morning a week and get everything out on the line ( spin speed much faster in twin tubs too).
I did use one in a student flat so have previous experience.
If anyone has one to sell in the central belt of Scotland let me know !

[DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen]

My mum still goes on about how fab hers was

[stargirl1701]

They use a huge amount of water and are energy inefficient. Not great for the planet, OP.

[Artandco]

Why don't you just eat a larger washing machine? 9/10kg is probably bigger than what you have

We have a 9kg and can fit a king size bedding set and x2 cot bed duvets/ sheets in one wash.

[DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen]

www.lg.com/za/washing-machines/lg-P1460RWPS-twin-tub


Oooooo OP look!

Do they really use more water than a standard machine?

[anotherplace]

One lot of water to heat up for umpteen washes. Wash better than front loader and last longer too.
If I had the room I'd definitely have one.

[wigglybeezer]

They use can use less water because you re use the water from the lightly soiled items on the dirtier stuff, and you can reuse the rinsing water for the next wash too, at least that is what we used to do.

[wigglybeezer]

The wash cycles are really short so I could do the equivalent of 3 x 9 kg loads ( if it was one of the big old ones) in the time it takes for an automatic to do one, OK, I would have to use a bit of physical effort moving things about but I can live with that. It would not use much electricity if I filled it from my hot tap either and the faster spin means less drying time ( I have a huge clothes line).

I am using this thread as practice for convincing DH it's a good idea!

I have just done a big batch cook, after a big shop, that way of working seems to suit my personality better.

[wigglybeezer]

DameDiazepam, that one has 14 kg capacity! Shame you have to live in Africa to get one.

[Longdistance]

Why? Oh why?

They're shittier than shit. My dm had one, and me and db had to do the washing by hand sometimes to get stains and what not out, the water always stank too, especially when we put it in the spinner. They take up loads of room too.

So glad I have a normal washing machine that pretty much does it for me.

[DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen]

Have you looked into getting a machine with a short wash cycle? Some of them are 20 or 30 mins. I only ever use quick wash and everything comes out clean. Oh,I do bedding on 60 and that's still only an hour.

Have you looked on free cycle yet?

[intheround]

I remember my mums twin tub!
It was efficient with water cos a lot of it was reused.
She always had a massive Tuesday evening session with it, and things went up on pulleys or waited to hang on the line the next morning

[Artandco]

Yes our machine also has 20 and 40 mins quick cycles. And even the long 60 degree is 1hr 25mins

[ThatVikRinA22]

why not look for a top loading automatic - like the american ones? my friend has one - its brilliant. the amount you can do in one load is amazing, its faster, but you dont have to stand over it like you do with a twin tub.

i think hers is a whirlpool one....google top loading washing machines. you can get them.

[sonlypuppyfat]

My mum had one. She had to stand over it for hours she was a slave to it.

[ThatVikRinA22]

something like this?

the other thing with my friends is that the spin is so brilliant things are virtually dry when they come out.

[ThatVikRinA22]

here you go - i think this is the one my pal has.

here

not a bad price either. id have one. if i had room.

[DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen]

Top loaders are great as you can toss the sock in that you forgot

[ouryve]

Good grief, how many laundry loads do you need to do a day? I wash and tumble dry 10 full loads a week, in the same machine. If I didn't tumble dry, even on the 2 hour cycle, it's still possible to have 14kg of laundry washed before lunchtime - and that's with a washer with a "mere" 7kg capacity and 1400rpm spin speed.

[wigglybeezer]

I wouldn't get rid of my automatic, I would use both. It's more to do with how I organise the laundry I suppose. My three all wear adult size clothes these days, sweat and shower more do more sports etc. generate much bulkier washing. I just feel I would find it easier to have a main wash day, as it is I tend to pick and mix to make up lots of 6 kg loads and end up with out of sink clean laundry regularly, eg. I think I have washed DS1's school trousers but have only washed DS 2's etc. not to mention the odd socks, the fact that DH and the three DS's clothes all look the same in a hurry doesn't help!
I have a fantasy about doing all four sets of towels and bedding without that impacting on the number of clean pants available.
I may look into a top loader for my next machine but my automatic is going strong, I wouldn't have to plumb in the twin tub you see, I could keep it in the utility and wheel it out as needed.

[wigglybeezer]

Oh dear, I'm turning into one of those annoying posters who won't take advice..

[Viviennemary]

Those top loaders hold loads more washing. I don't know why they aren't used in the UK very much. I suppose it must be a question of fitting under worktops and shortage of space. Twin tubs are awful. My Mum loved hers.

[RoganJosh]

Do you really need to do more than say six loads in a day? I can't really see how it would help. Do explain to me though as I love talking about washing organisation, sad case that I am.

[DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen]

Why can't you have a main wash day with your automatic?

[wigglybeezer]

Because the wash cycles are too long, 1 hour 10 mins minimum, as against 15 mins ( not including spin time ) on a twin tub.

[DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen]

Ah yes, I see that makes things harder and would drive me bonkers, Id never get any washing done!