Washing

[MrsExtraOrdinary]

So we are a very large household of 8 sometimes up to 10. Last year I bought a new Miele washing machine which I'm thrilled with as very economical on water and electricity. Although cycles do take a while up to 3 hrs. So I'm beginning to think I need a second machine for occasional simultaneous use on days it's just getting out of hand. Miele cost £900, second machine needs to be more of a budget brand with productive but shorter cycles. I have lots of muddy boys . Looking forward to your suggestions, that include me not moving out

I had an american top loader. In an old house with a gravity hot water system - ie a tank in the roofspace and no pressurized thingy.

It was shite. It had no internal heater so it drained the water tank every time you put a load on. It also took forever to fill (because it's designed for american systems where the hot water is pressurized or something) and it was twice or three times the amount of clothes to dry every load.

I had an engineer from the shop out to it after my clothes started to get bleachy marks on them and he suggested we pay (at our own expense) to put a pump thing into the hot water system just before the washing machine.

I never did that - would have been the price of a new washing machine to do.

Really, unless you're going to have a huge drier and take the cost of the electric to dry clothes all the time, and to heat up the water for the washing load every time, they're shite in the UK.

Plus, automatic washing powder is not recommended in them and you have to have twin tub washing powder.

Crap beyond belief.

Thanks smash I will keep away from those then. I think perhaps I made a mistake about the size of the drum. I think it's only a 7kg. Lots of friends seem to have gone for bigger even though they've got less washing and I read quite a bit that said that larger drums weren't reliable. Wondering now?

Cant help re washer recommendations but for BO smelling clothes, pre soak in white vinegar and it neutralises the bacteria causing the smells DH is allowed to stay since I discovered this!

Chis that is a good tip, Thankyou. How many shirts to how much vinegar? School Blazers can get a bit revolting after a week too

I read somewhere about putting white vinegar in the fabric conditioner drawer - I wonder would it work on vile smelling sports kit?

My dh works on the road and his hi vis stuff is caked in black from the road and it absolutely stinks. I'm wondering whether vinegar might work here too.

I would hose down the hi vis stuff before washing. I try not to fill my machine with mud/similar as it will affect the machine eventually.

It's not mud so much as oily black crud. Yuck

Definitely hose down in that case!

There's another thread about smells and someone else puts the vinegar in a squirty bottle and sprays the offending item.
I tend to chuck a bit on the item or as others said, put some in the conditioner drawer - once you get on top of the smell it doesn't need much

I thought we'd smell like an old fish supper but once the clothes are dry, no vinegar smell!

I think Boyes sell vinegar product in Mr Muscle size/type spray bottles for about a £1. I just buy the food type bottles from supermarket

I do admire you fighting your way through all that laundry. There's only two of us and it feels like a never ending battle!

If your DH has to launder his workwear, you can claim some of the expense through his tax code

Martins money saving expert website has the details

Well it's our own traffic management company so I think it's a case of claiming A box of Ariel now and again.