Does anybody else let their washing machine fill up with water before adding clothes?

[Leros]

I used the washing machine at my girlfriend's place for the first time. She freaked out when she saw that I put the clothes in before starting the machine. She was genuinely concerned that the machine would break. Apparently, when she was growing up, her parents taught her that you have to let the machine fill with water and mix the detergent before putting your clothes in.

I've never heard of this before. Is her family just weird or do other people do this?

It personally doesn't make any sense to me since the water level will be dependent upon how much clothes are in the machine.

 

[ahenkel]

I have a front loader so its pretty much impossible to do this.

 

[moshquerade]

I have a front loader so its pretty much impossible to do this.

This.

 

[Jeff7]

...Never heard that one before. Does she know why this is done?


I use my washer as a laundry hamper, so it's full of clothes before the water is ever even turned on.
Procedure:
1) Fill with clothes.
2) Pour fabric softener into cup.
3) Pour detergent onto clothing.
4) Close lid and start.

 

[The Boston Dangler]

i'm pretty sure that's the completely wrong way of using a washing machine

 

[gophins72]

She was genuinely concerned that the machine would break. Apparently, when she was growing up, her parents taught her that you have to let the machine fill with water and mix the detergent before putting your clothes in.

I've never heard of this before. Is her family just weird or do other people do this?

It personally doesn't make any sense to me since the water level will be dependent upon how much clothes are in the machine.

i havent heard of people doing this because the machine will break but i've heard of people doing this to ensure the detergent mixes/dilutes correctly. this was mostly out of fear that the detergent being too strong could ruin some of the more delicate colored clothing.

like others in the thread, i have a front loader so i dont worry about it

 

[Leros]

...Never heard that one before. Does she know why this is done?


I use my washer as a laundry hamper, so it's full of clothes before the water is ever even turned on.
Procedure:
1) Fill with clothes.
2) Pour fabric softener into cup.
3) Pour detergent onto clothing.
4) Close lid and start.

She said that her parents told her two things (which kind of make sense):

1) If you put the clothes in first, the clothes could clump up and jam the machine. If you put the water in first, the clothes will be more spread out and loose.

2) If you put the water in the first, the detergent can mix up better before the clothes are in.

 

[lxskllr]

I start the washer, add detergent, then add clothes as the washer's filling. The argument about letting the washer fill first is for using powder detergent. by letting it fill first, the detergent dissolves better, and doesn't get left on the clothes, but otherwise it doesn't matter.

 

[l0cke]

Never heard that.

Also, pics of girlfriend?

 

[GeekDrew]

When I was younger, my parents had an upright clothes washer. It had instructions printed on the lid that very clearly stated that water should be filling the tub and detergent should already be added before clothes are added. Perhaps it was made back when powdered detergents were most common? Dunno.

 

[IronWing]

I start the machine, let the water fill until it the level rises above the bottom of the basket, I add the detergent (let it dissolve if powder), I add the clothes, I close the lid and pretend I don't hear the cycle complete so I don't have to hang the wet laundry. I don't like the feel of wet clothes on bare skin.

 

[pepperbegs]

I let the machine fill up at least partially because when I add bleach and soap you can damage dark colors if undiluted bleach gets poured onto them.

 

[spidey07]

Technically she's right. You are supposed to let it fill up with water and then add the detergent so it all mixes up well and then add clothes. It won't harm the washer, it's just so you get the detergent disolved and not buried in the cloths fabric concentrated in one spot.

If you read the directions of the washer or detergent it will tell you this.

 

[Cogman]

i havent heard of people doing this because the machine will break but i've heard of people doing this to ensure the detergent mixes/dilutes correctly. this was mostly out of fear that the detergent being too strong could ruin some of the more delicate colored clothing.

like others in the thread, i have a front loader so i dont worry about it

I was reading the label on my detergent (Yeah... I'm weird) and it does actually say to let the machine fill first, then add detergent, then add cloths.

 

[Howard]

Technically she's right. You are supposed to let it fill up with water and then add the detergent so it all mixes up well and then add clothes. It won't harm the washer, it's just so you get the detergent disolved and not buried in the cloths fabric concentrated in one spot.

If you read the directions of the washer or detergent it will tell you this.

It's fine as long as you make sure the detergent gets diluted in water and doesn't get pasty on the clothes as the water rises.

 

[Anubis]

I have a front loader so its pretty much impossible to do this.

same

however before i had one i always tossed the clothes in first

 

[Crow550]

I set mine to small load. Let the water fill up and add in detergent and let it run for 5-10 secs to dilute. Then I stop it. Add clothes in and set it to large.

 

[Leros]

Technically she's right. You are supposed to let it fill up with water and then add the detergent so it all mixes up well and then add clothes. It won't harm the washer, it's just so you get the detergent disolved and not buried in the cloths fabric concentrated in one spot.

If you read the directions of the washer or detergent it will tell you this.

Hmm...

My Tide detergent says to put water and detergent first before adding clothes.

My washing machines disagrees. Step 1 is add clothes. Step 2 is add detergent. Step 3-4 are settings and step 5 is turn on the machine.

 

[KentState]

I always start filling the washer and pour the detergent into the stream. Figure it's better to let it dilute and mix a little.

 

[spidey07]

It's fine as long as you make sure the detergent gets diluted in water and doesn't get pasty on the clothes as the water rises.

I add the detergent as it's filling up and once it's dilluted well add clothes.

 

[TheVrolok]

i havent heard of people doing this because the machine will break but i've heard of people doing this to ensure the detergent mixes/dilutes correctly. this was mostly out of fear that the detergent being too strong could ruin some of the more delicate colored clothing.

like others in the thread, i have a front loader so i dont worry about it

this

 

[Pardus]

No washing machine here, i go to a laundromat. Put clothes in, then put soap, bleach and softener in appropriate bins.

Occasionally, the arms on long sleeve shirts sometimes rip. Been washing clothes this way for over 5-years and never had any problems.

 

[WaTaGuMp]

I wash my clothes in the local river.

 

[PieIsAwesome]

lol, wtf. But I've never used top-loading washers, for me I just stick clothes in, put the detergent and softener in the appropriate bins on the washer, set the correct settings, turn it on, and leave. So easy, and clothes come out clean. Its like magic.

 

[mmntech]

When I had a top loader, I used to let it fill half way. More to make sure the detergent gets thoroughly mixed.