Washing Machines

[senji]

For the purposes of this poll I assume non-combination washing machines - that is that 'clean' washing is at least damp if not wet.

Poll

Comments

[vyvyan]

What a strange thing to ask. What did you have in mind by "valid" anyway? Socially acceptable? Plausible? Intended by the manufacturer?

[ptc24]

Other = being repaired

[lnr]

OK, it goes like this:

Open, empty (usual state)
Open, partially full, dirty, unattended (eg you've thrown in a dirty teatowel)*
Open, being filled, dirty, attended (putting the rest of a load in)
Closed, full, dirty, unattended (the load is ready but you don't want to put it on just yet because it's noisy and you're open plan)*
Closed, full, running (well, yes)
Closed, full, clean (unless you hover to open it the instant it stops)
Open, full, clean, unattended (if it's finished but don't have time to empty it yet)*
Open, being emptied, attended (obvious)
Open, empty (and back to the beginning)

The ones marked with a * are optional, and the last of them is not preferred, but better than leaving it closed.

If you make a mistake and leave it too long in some states the machine will get smelly, and then you might want to use

Closed, empty, running

with a bit of bicarb in the drawer instead of washing powder, to make it clean again. I've also had it in that state when it was being repaired, to try and find the error.

[lnr]

NB open is usually only a crack unless actually filling or emptying.

[naath]

In normal operation the usual states for my washer are "closed, empty" and "closed, full, running" - between these states are "open, emptying" and "open, filling" if I'm called away whilst emptying or filling I'll usually leave it open. "full, closed, clean" is imo a bad state to leave it in for too long but unless I watch it obsessively then it's going to be in that state for a while; "full, closed, dirty" means "now you can turn it on".

I think just about the only *invalid* state I can think of is "open, running" although "empty, running" is a state I don't see much use for.

[uisgebeatha]

Our machine was empty and running yesterday, but we think that was the dude that came out to fix it possibly leaving it on as a test, to make sure we don't have a lake in the middle of the kitchen...;)

[sarabian]

Are you talking about a lauderette? Or at home in a shared house?

Back in my student days, any non running, unattended machine was fair game, clean or otherwise. I don't think you could interrupt them; but then I never tried.