Washing machine help!

[Edsheadsaid]

This is pretty pathetic I know, but I could do with some help.

I've just splashed out a fair amount of yen on a pricey Judo gi, and I've decided to figure out what all the settings on my washing machine actually do, so I don't shrink or otherwise maim my investment.

I've been in Japan 4 months, and although my speaking and listening are coming along nicely, I really can't decipher all the settings. The obvious ones, (amount of water used), are indeed, obvious, so if somebody could be kind enough to tell me what the hell all the other bits mean, I would be eternally grateful.

And I've looked everywhere for an English manual online, doesn't seem to exist.

[Mike Oxlong]

Hope you've got at least a 7kg washer, and preferably an 8 or 10kg. The smaller machines just don't handle judogi well. Direct drive is also better than the old belt driven ones.

[Edsheadsaid]

I'm afraid I have no knowledge of the mechanics of my washing machine, it seems quite new, so I'm guessing its 'direct drive', at least it shakes with some ferocity when its up and running.

I've washed my cheapo gi's plenty of times, they fit pretty well, but I only ever wash them individually. I'm just scared of ruining my expensive one!

[Iraira]

[Edsheadsaid]

Thanks a bunch Iraira!

Really appreciate it. And my God, I just noticed that 'zapuzapu' setting. Sure sounds like the setting for those 'difficult' stains.

Thanks again!

[Greji]

I just noticed that 'zapuzapu' setting. Sure sounds like the setting for those 'difficult' stains.

That would be for the skid marks in Iraira's knicers.....

[GomiGirl]

Can somebody explain the "dry" settings on washing machines here?

(I am not very domestic if you haven't noticed.)

[Iraira]

That would be for the skid marks in Iraira's knicers.....

you and I know, despite using it for different puposes, how difficult it is to remove goat blood from most fabrics.

Can somebody explain the "dry" settings on washing machines here?
(I am not very domestic if you haven't noticed.)

Think silk, cashmere, gold, ivory, and all those materials that really shouldn't be washed by anyone except by a professional and definitely not at home by some 5-6 year old washing machine of dubious rep/quality...that's the setting you want to select.

[omae mona]

Damn, Edsheadsaid. You are one lucky bastard that FG and guys like Iraira are around! Back in the day when I couldn't read any of that stuff, I would spend ages looking up kanji and words in my dictionaries (printed, not electronic) to figure out what they were. I remember one particularly anal retentive incident when I spent at least an hour trying to translate the instructions on a bowl of cup ramen. In my defense, it was one of the more complicated ones where you have to pour the water out once and then replace it.

By the way, in my experience, the combination washer/dryer units have very weak dryers. Anything thick or heavy will take 3 or more hours to dry. Mrs. Omae Mona, who is quite content to leave unused lights and TVs on all day long, refuses to use the dryer out of fear of a huge electrical bill. So we constantly have clothes hanging all over our home, inside and outside. It's a lovely sight.

[Number11]

She's right. The dryer is a resistance electrical load that uses far more power than the TV and (fluorescent) lights combined.

[omae mona]

Oh, I know she's right. The point I was trying to make is that the original poster might not want to use his machine for drying his judogi.

[Edsheadsaid]

Yes, I realise I'm very fortunate to have this resource online, I could have taken the picture into work, but I have my self respect to consider

The dry setting is pretty much a waste of time on this particular machine, I hang dry everything, just like everyone else in Japan I think!

[Greji]

Mrs. Omae Mona, who is quite content to leave unused lights and TVs on all day long, refuses to use the dryer out of fear of a huge electrical bill. So we constantly have clothes hanging all over our home, inside and outside. It's a lovely sight.

Ahh, your wife wouldn't have a sister married to an FG living in Western Tokyo, would she?:cool:

[IkemenTommy]

I petition to make this thread a sticky.

[IkemenTommy]