1959 Sears Kenmore Wash 'N Wear Cycle

This is a no nonsense clip of the cool down cycle on a 1959 Kenmore Model Eighty. The clip begins with about 15 seconds remaining of the wash cycle, and transitions into the cool down cycle with the first partial drain.
This cool down sequence was used from 1958 through 1963 Kenmore and Whirlpool washers, and was part of the Wash 'N Wear cycle. The cycle was modified for the 1964 models and lasted up until 1975.
The intent of the Wash N' Wear cycle was to cool down synthetic fabrics after receiving a warm wash. The theory is that the cooled fabrics won't crease or wrinkle at a lower temperature once they are spun out. This particular cycle drains, fills, and drains several times to achieve the cool down process. The clothing articles would then be dried using a special Wash 'N Wear cycle on the dryer, where the clothing articles are dried at a higher temperature, but receive an extended cool down phase near the end of the drying cycle.
This cycle was later renamed Permanent Press, or Perm Press, around 1966-1967, depending on Brand/MFG.

[@Jerry-dq4om]

My Grandmother had an agitator, just like that one and I really loved it, it was probably a little newer, but a nice old Sears Kenmore.

[@josecorozal8356]

Mi mama tenía una de esa igual.. Y me a dado nostalgia al ver esta lavadora... Mil gracias y mucha salud.

[@TheCollierjr]

I remember this kind of machine. We had one when I was a kid and ours was a SUDSAVER. No Sudsaving ever occurs on wah and wear but our machine had a fast wash, slow drain cooldown and slow spin. Rinse was a fast wash and drain and a delicate spin.

[@TheWASHINGMACHINEBOY]

the lady kenmore permanent press/ wash ‘n wear cycle is more complicated than this machine’s cycle with a combination of cold fills, partial drains and agitations

[@jerryholston6536]

That is a fantastic old Kenmore I think my grandmother have one sort of in that timeframe I know she had a super rubber swirl agitator that she'd had a different type of panel control thing but I loved I loved it I remember how I used to sound before we'll actually as it was starting to spin very unique a lot of woo woo sounds during the wash cycle as well

[@josecorozal8356]

Saludos desde puerto rico mi mamá tenia esa misma lavadoras..y se me salen las lgrimas..Gracias por compartir

[@BroccoliBeefed]

@2:52 sec LOL! (It fills and immediately drains )The permanent press cycle (wash and wear) was such a water waster

[@Ppoqqawqwql6222]

That's why I told them!!!! It spends too much water!!!

[@patcola7335]

You folks ever hear of evaporation and condensation?

[@tvtimetravel]

This is the first video I've seen of the first version of the Kenmore cool-down sequence.

[@m.v.5425]

That crazy permanent press water cool down to prevent wrinkles.

[@KLewisChef]

these designs certainly didn't care much about water and energy conservation back then LOL

[@markfurrer190]

+Kevin Lewis we still dont need to conserve we need to lower water bills and take out politics ,

[@BroccoliBeefed]

I know right? It must have filled and drained about 3 times. That kind of nonsense would never fly today.

[@TheWASHINGMACHINEBOY]

on some washers' permanet press/wash n wear cycle they partially drain then fill and agitate

[@russ5024]

You are correct, but with models that were manufactured a few years later

[@JoshuaAndMom]

Great washing machine! In fact you are extremely lucky to get pretty great life with this washing machine! In fact, no washer as of today beats this great unit. In fact, I have an LG Washer and Dryer set with Steam technology and fearing that the new LG washer/dryer set would break down in no time since it was bought in 2010. In fact, my mom used to work at Sears (Appliances sector of sears) and like her friends that know about appliances said, were right about the old stuff outlasting the new stuff. Well, the big theory is that new High Efficiency appliances will give up in about 5 years or less, and they don;t last nearly as long as the 1950s washing machines do. In fact everything old works the best and lasts a very long long time.

[@patcola7335]

Joshua Graham From what I have heard from service techs...even though those washer from the 50's were heavily built machines....they didn't last too long....reliability improved in the 70's greatly and in the 80's. These old washers though could be worked on and made to keep running. Nothing today is built with the quality and thoughtfulness these older machines had......that's why we see so many turn up. They had thicker steel and porcelain tops and lids....and in some cases even the whole body of the machine was porcelain coated...just to name a few...Hotpoint, Frigidaire, Lady Kenmore...and I think Whirlpool's top of the line "Imperial" washers had porcelain cabinets in the 50's...not sure, but I know that Whirlpool made them that way for their Sears Lady Kenmore line. Quality porcelain coating is why a lot of these washers still look good after so many years.

[@tvtimetravel]

Speed Queen's version was originally named "Durable Press".

[@mgrella63]

my moms washer used to agitate during this cycle while it was filling then stop washing as it drained

[@josecorozal8356]

Hello from puerto rico

[@DeansWasherVideos]

I am late to comment, but why doesn't it agitate for 30 seconds throughout the fill/drain sequence to distribute the cooler water?

[@russ5024]

With models a few years later they did, and with not as many drain & fill sequences

[@tvtimetravel]

I thought the machines of this era paused during the last 2-minute timer increment before the full drain.

[@OckGypsy]

I call this the Mighty Shaft.

[@CaptchaNeon]

No agitator cycle?

[@yvesmarchand9954]

This Whirlpool manufactured (Kenmore was a private label) washer remained largely un-changed mechanically over the decades gong well into the '90s. Only the control panel decor and external finishes changed. My own washer is a version that is badged as the Inglis Liberator. It was manufactured in Canada the 1980s and is still going strong. My parents owned different versions: first an 1954 Inglis, then a 1970s Kenmore and finally a late 1990s Maytag. all manufactured by Whirlpool.

[@BroccoliBeefed]

Yves Marchand largely unchanged? You're so wrong. They switched to direct drives in the 1980s and high speed agitation with 90 degrees agitator arc. ( major difference) The late 70 s saw the introduction of the dual-action agitator. Then in the late 80s for awhile they had the largest wash tub of any top loader. Then in the 1990 s they introduced the catalyst cleaning action and triple action agitator. All electronic controls came sometime in 90 s. Spin speeds got to 800rpm.

[@patcola7335]

BroccoliQueefed He is right BQ...he is speaking of Canada. Canada still had belt drive washers into the 90's being manufactured....I think they went nearly a decade after the US stopped in about '87.

[@tvtimetravel]

On my previous comment on a lack of a pause, I found out that not all Kenmore models from that time had a pause increment.

[@jerryholston6536]

The microphone made a mistake as usual it was supposed to have said how it sounded

[@dorisrealmotherofcalliou3555]

why does it keep draining and filling

[@yvesmarchand9954]

That's the cool-down cycle to prevent wrinkles from setting in. Back when the washer was sold, washes were done in hot or warm water and laundry was prone to heavy wrinkling if a spin cycle was engaged while the laundry was still hot or warm. Now-days with cold water washing possible because of new detergent formulas, that really isn't a problem.

[@BroccoliBeefed]

IT's called 'cool down care ' to prevent wrinkles from setting into the fabric. IT only needed to do that once. Don't know why it was engineered to do that 3 times.

[@patcola7335]

@@BroccoliBeefed What does it matter in the scheme of things ?

[@seana806]

@@BroccoliBeefedit was to gradually cool things down, if things were cooled down suddenly, it would set in wrinkles which would be counterproductive. If you were to hold your hand under the lint filter spout, the water would be warm at first, but with each cool down, it would become cooler and cooler, lukewarm, and just a little above the cold water temperature.

[@jakethecake1000]

Like that didn't require a lot of cold water. Definitely not a green cycle.

[@markfurrer190]

+jakethecake1000 get real next to air there is more water than there is land .. stop emitting your ignorance

[@jakethecake1000]

I don't respond to ad haminems. Shows you have nothing constructive for the discussion.

[@seana806]

That cold water was too cool things down that couldn’t be ironed, or make it to where you didn’t need to iron often.

[@Ppoqqawqwql6222]

my gosh what a waste of water and energy...

[@yvesmarchand9954]

+Fabio Pereira When this washer was built, there was no detergent capable of washing in cold water. This was a very effective way to cool down laundry before the spin cycle engaged to avoid wrinkles being set. Dryers were not nearly as common back then and laundry was typically hung out to dry. If the load was wrinkled, then it had to be ironed - another energy and time-intensive activity.

[@markfurrer190]

+Fabio Pereira no waste on clean and less disease .

[@johnnyhotcakes5217]

Not to mention all this "wasted" water goes down the drain, where it's collected at a waste treatment plant, where the filter waste water, release it back into the streams, where it is collected, at another water plant, filtered, and, chlorinated then sent through the pipes again. some waste of water there bucko

[@johnnyhotcakes5217]

+Fabio Pereira well here in the U S A, we have the option for both, and the world has been in existence since, we have other ways of reusing and recycling all kinds of things, also northern states can't exactly hang their clothes out in winter months due to freezing temps, so maybe unwad your panties go wash them in a stream, and hang em up to dry.

[@johnnyhotcakes5217]

+Fabio Pereira and I find it amusing most of you folks complaining the resources our technology uses, but yet you don't seem to mind the all the perks that come along with all these technologies.

[@patcola7335]

@Fabio Pereira Why don't you think first of why it might have been designed that way ? You tree huggers shouldn't watch videos like this. God blesses us with all things in this life...yes even gallons of water to do our laundry.

[@BroccoliBeefed]

We know why it was designed that way. It is still a tremendous waste of water. IT filled and drained two or three times without agitating. What the hell? Why is that even necessary?

[@patcola7335]

Because it was for permanent press fabric cool down...Just like people said on this thread. Most people still hung their laundry...this saved on ironing.....so do see the overall efficiency ? Your only looking at ...oh my...too much water this....too much water that...... look at the bigger picture.

[@Kubulek17]

pat cola tell that to the kids in Africa dying of dehydration. Wait do you even know where Africa is? Probably not.

[@patcola7335]

Africa has nothing to do with water we are using here. If you care so much about Africans being dehydrated....why don't you use your money to help alleviate the problem ? Pious sentiment that really doesn't mean anything .

[@BroccoliBeefed]

TheCrayCrayGirl Kids dying in Africa has to do with exploitive, cruel regimes and poor family planning. We deserve thoroughly washed and rinsed clothes,which we are not getting because of eco-nazis like you

[@latui7350]

Why is the top of the agitator studded? Also, what a horribly designed and inefficient machine...no wonder people don't buy American shit anymore.

[@troydobyns3803]

Fyi. The top of the agitator is studded coz it serves as a scrubber for super stains.

[@Ififitzisitz]

Is there any way to improve the spin speed? It looks too slow

[@seana806]

All the temperatures and speeds are hardwired into the timer, no real way to change it. Even more my Whirlpool is the same way, no sense in trying to modify it since it’ll require relays and complex circuitry to change the spin speeds and such. Synthetic dress shirts and synthetic clothes don’t hold much water anyways, drying them in a hot dryer makes them soft since the extra moisture at 165F irons out the wrinkles so to speak.