Agreed. I have a front loader here in Canada (having grown up in England it's what I'm used to) and I don't use special powder.
Why do British Flats have washing machines in the kitchen?
- Thread starter Brent
- Start date
- Status
Agreed. I have a front loader here in Canada (having grown up in England it's what I'm used to) and I don't use special powder.
Gas is cheaper than electric but its more costly to install if you don't already have it. I was just referring to electric dryers and still it burns a lot of gas. As for electric with the element and tumbler motor, its about a 5kw draw, so 5kw hours for running the dryer for an hour. Here its around a dime a KWH, so its 50cents to run a dryer for an hour more or less.
Oh, and newer houses built on slabs are done that way because it is cheap. If you ever have any real plumbing or some other type problems, its under the concrete. Since it is right on a concrete slab there is no ground clearance in case of flood, and heating bills become more in the winter due to the floor getting the direct heat from the ground and so the floors stay cold. The reverse is true in the summer when you get some cooling from the ground. I lived in one for a while so I know, but they do have nice solid floors and are quieter with people walking around. I would think it warm places like southern california and florida that this would be the way to go. I guess it depends on the region.
You guys do realize that it's possible that these are machines which are made differently, and possibly could not work with normal detergent even in smaller doses?
There is no "magic" detergent. The so-called special detergent for those machines is concentrated. Even the normal amount called out for by the manufacturers for so-called "normal" detergent is too much.
I've been doing this for over two years and have a very good grasp of how to calculate the proper amount of detergent regardless of manufacturer.
One additional variable that's causing problems is that the water is obviously very soft (meaning treated). Soft water lathers even the smallest amount of soap in great volume.
At least when we lived in the UK, most people had their washer in the kitchen and dried their laundry outdoors, at least in the suburbs where everyone had their own garden. The situation's different in inner cities, but even there it's possible if you have a balcony. Could take days if you didn't watch out for rain showers, though.
Here in Finland everyone has their washer in the bathroom or in a separate utility room if they live in a single-family house. Most people don't have dryers because we run our heating for about 7 months of the year, and central heating tends to make interior air too dry. So it actually improves air quality to hang your laundry up to dry.
Here in Finland everyone has their washer in the bathroom or in a separate utility room if they live in a single-family house. Most people don't have dryers because we run our heating for about 7 months of the year, and central heating tends to make interior air too dry. So it actually improves air quality to hang your laundry up to dry.
Nope.
In fact back in Australia I've seen detergent boxes that tell you how much to use for top loaders and how much to use for front loaders.
No Hoover should give a human being a double polaroid
Not even one with triple spin cycles, turbo washing and a self-adjusting water levels?
Front loaders are far superior. They're much more gentle on clothes.
I remember those days. Though our dryers worked. Too well. Very keen on shrinking stuff if you didn't time them just right!The washer-dryer I linked upthread has an 8kg wash capacity and 5kg drying capacity. That's gotta be close to a toploader, I'd have thought. You don't need special detergents either (you just vary the quantity used).
Very true! It's untidy .... but with the price of London real estate, a washing machine in the kitchen is all there is space for. Just sold my tiny (just 54 sq. m. and the kitchen is in the living room!) two bed flat in London (it's not even central London .... in NW6 travelcard zone 2) .... it was sold for £625k.
Ah, the old washing machine in the kitchen thing. We have that in our house as well.
But if you think about it, it's extremely disgusting. How would you feel if in a restaurant, the staff's dirty underwear would be carried into the kitchen and washed next to the plates where your meal is cooked and served? Washing powder stored next to the salt.
It's only okay because it's at home.
But if you think about it, it's extremely disgusting. How would you feel if in a restaurant, the staff's dirty underwear would be carried into the kitchen and washed next to the plates where your meal is cooked and served? Washing powder stored next to the salt.
It's only okay because it's at home.
The spin cycle on this one ended long ago.
Closing
Closing
As fascinating and enriching as this discussion of British wash machine placement from four years ago was, let's leave it to enjoy the afterlife in peace. Closed.
- Status
Similar threads
