March 29, 2024
BANGOR DAILY NEWS (BANGOR, MAINE

Front-load washers clean clothes better

Dear Jim: I need a new clothes washer. I heard about quiet, efficient front-loader models, but since they use less water, I worry about allergies from ineffective rinsing. Do they really wash and rinse well? — Peg J.

Dear Peg: Front-loading washers (horizontal axis) are superior in most ways to top-loading ones that are most popular in the U.S. In Europe and most of the world, efficient front-loaders are predominantly used. Front-loaders typically are designed with very high-quality materials for a longer life.

A front-loader design allows the washer and dryer to be stacked on top of one another to save floor space. Also, the ease of access to a front-loader for the physically-impaired is a consideration with our aging population.

By design, front-loaders wash more effectively than top-loaders. By using less water, less detergent and less energy to heat the water, the annual savings of operating a front-loader can be as much as $100. Also, the gentle washing action minimizes damage, fading, etc. of your clothes.

Instead of filling a tub with water and using a plastic agitator to move the water as in a top-loader, a front-loader uses gravity. As the tub spins on a horizontal axis, the clothes gently tumble through the sudsy water. An automatic sensor determines the proper water level for the size of the load.

Since the tub is only partially filled with water, the clothes actually fall through the air from the top of tub as it spins. This allows them to fan out before they reach the water and swish through it again. There is very little clumping of clothes so they are thoroughly cleaned.

Many of the models have built-in adjustable water heater elements that can raise the wash water to as high as 200 degrees. This improves cleaning and is ideal for washing children’s clothes and during cold and flu seasons.

With a horizontal axis and no agitator, a front-loader spins several times faster (up to 1,600 rpm) than a top-loader. This improves rinsing. An electronic brain senses if the load is unbalanced. If so, the tub automatically stops, rotates back and forth to even it out and spins again.

For effective rinsing, some models use a suds sensor. If too many suds are present, it automatically runs additional rinse cycles until the suds are cleared. You can also select models with manual settings up to seven rinses.

Combination space-saving front-loader washer/dryers do both the washing and drying in the same unit from start to finish. You put in the dirty clothes and take out clean dry clothes. Portable models are available on casters that have small built-in water heaters so only cold water is needed.

Write for (instantly download — www.dulley.com) Update Bulletin No. 866 — buyer’s guide of 12 front-loader and combination washer/dryers, capacities, speeds, cycles and features. Send $3 and a business-size SASE to James Dulley, Bangor Daily News, 6906 Royalgreen Drive, Cincinnati, Ohio 45244.

Dear Jim: We have insulated steel doors on our house. They are old and the magnetic weatherstripping has finally worn out, but I cannot find replacements at any home centers. Where can I get it? — Sarah H.

Dear Sarah: You are probably going to have to contact the door manufacturer for the magnetic weatherstripping. Since it is fairly thick, you will need the proper size and mounting method for your specific door design.

Another option is flexible bulb or foam weatherstripping that you can find at any home center.


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