Most boring question ever about washing machines?

[zebra]

How do you know if you've over-filled, or just have a full load (a front-loader)?
Seriously need to know!

Think a full load should have a little space at the top and not really stuffed in tightly. Just loosely filled.

I would say two-thirds full ought to be the maximum having learnt from bitter experience

Depends what it is. If it's cotton you can stuff it full (because as it absorbs water it squashes itself - with towels I have to lean on the door to close it, but after it's spun they're glued to the sides and the middle is empty.)

If it's synthetics/mixed then no more than 2/3 full, and ideally add a couple of 100% cotton things (eg smallish towels, or large T shirts) to flop down on the other things as the drum goes round and wash them better.

zebra, I did wonder this about you when you said you only have 4 loads a week!

Seeing as someone else had the courage to start this thread can I just ask a question thats niggled me for ages?

When I wash my tops - fitting t-shirts or vest tops - that are 100% cotton - after a few times I find they shorten and the bottom stretches and kind of flares/lightly ripples out. This never happens on tops with added lycra - just cotton. It doesnt just happen with cheap tops either both Asda and Debenhame tops have done it.

Does this happen to anyone else? I only wash them at 40.

am now going to try and get my life back.

Knitted or jersey fabric tops should be hung by the arm seams, that is with the shoulders just draped over the line, and the pegs on the seam that joins the sleeve to the body. That way they keep their shape better. If you hang t-shirts by the bottom hem it will distort them.

When I got a new washing machine I borrowed some bathroom scales (don't have any of my own!) and weighed dry laundry in the crate I use for carrying the wet laundry out to the line. I subtracted the weight of the empty crate. Then I got to see what the weight specified by the manual looked like in terms of clothes in the crate. Generally what Janh says is about right, but as the machine washes by weight not volume you need to have less in the drum if you're washing, say jeans.

Actually most of our clothes are 100% cotton. If I'm doing a nappy load it's 85-90% cotton terry towels. Our machine is on its last legs, though. DH wants to buy a new machine with a 5.5kg capacity and since I have trouble getting this one full, not sure what will happen. Will be on a water meter soon, and for water/energy efficiency, plus reducing wear 'n' tear, don't want to run partial loads.

Hmmm... maybe we'll try 2/3 loads anyway, to see if anything comes out cleaner, if nothing else.