Using My New Speed Queen Washer and Dryer
One of the responsibilities of being a homeowner is to make sure all the necessary appliances are always in good, working order.
Here at my Bedford, New York farm, my stable team does quite a bit of laundry - at least a couple loads a day to wash all the saddle pads, horse blankets, towels, etc. To keep up with all the laundry, I have a washer dryer set dedicated to just these items. Recently, we determined these machines were due for replacement - they were several years old and starting to malfunction. Thanks to Speed Queen, we now have a new residential washer and dryer with large drum capacities and special cycles specifically designed for heavy duty loads.
Here are some photos, and some useful laundry tips, enjoy.
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- There’s a big delivery arriving at the stable and the horses are curious to see what it is. Here is handsome Bond watching all the activity from his stall.
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- Just outside – our new washer and dryer from Speed Queen. Speed Queen was founded in 1908 in Wisconsin by Joe Barlow and John Seelig as Barlow & Seelig Manufacturing. As young entrepreneurs, they started out by taking existing machine designs and improving them. In 1922, Speed Queen was the first company to introduce washers with nickel-copper tubs. And in 1928, they renamed the company “Speed Queen.”
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- Speed Queen makes a variety of residential and commercial products, from 25-pound capacity tumblers to 250-pound washer-extractors, and dryers. These units are models FF7 and DR7 front loading machines.
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- The stable laundry room is located in the basement of my stable office building. Because the stairwell is narrow, we needed a powerful washer and dryer that would fit through all the doorways and down the stairs. When shopping for appliances always map the route to the room where the appliance will go and measure the spaces exactly.
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- Here is our new Speed Queen washer on the left, and a matching dryer on the right. Another good tip when purchasing a new washing unit is to make sure the doors are hinged on the most convenient sides. Our washer opens out to the left while the dryer swings open to the right. Doors are not in the way when unloading and loading.
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- On the day the machine was installed, my stable manager, Helen Peparo, set aside some saddle pads to wash. These pads are placed on the horse’s back and under the saddle – they can get quite dirty after a ride. As with anything that needs washing, never skip the prep work—take a look at the labels for any washing instructions.
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- Helen was eager to test out the new machines. Speed Queen’s Pet Plus cycles are specially designed for removing hair from fabrics.
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- Speed Queen’s washers take all kinds of detergents – liquid, powder, and pods. I only use the gentlest unscented liquid detergents for all the washing done here at the farm.
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- Speed Queen’s washer panel has easy to read options and allows one to customize the cycle for specific needs and times. Always be sure to configure the correct washer settings for a load. A regular cycle is best for sturdy and dirty items, while the permanent press setting is fine for the average load. Use hot water for white loads, warm water for the average load, and cold water for bright colors.
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- Helen moves the saddle pads into the dryer. Most dryers have settings that allow one to choose how dry the items would be. The permanent press setting has a cool-down cycle at the end to reduce wrinkling. On air fluff, the dryer circulates air but adds no heat.
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- This dryer has a large drum capacity for a large load of towels or horse blankets. The dryer also includes a Pet Plus feature for removing hair as well as anti-static capabilities. To prevent the dryer from overheating, always clean the screen or filter after every use, and remove accumulated lint from behind the dryer.
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- Here’s Helen ready to tack up one of my handsome Friesians with a clean saddle pad.
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- Once Hylke is secured and safe outside the stall, Helen starts to prepare him for a ride. All the horses are well exercised – they are ridden every day and spend most of their time in large pastures here at the farm.
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- Hylke remains very still – he is such a good boy. The saddle sits on the saddle pad as well as a non-slip pad so nothing slides during the ride and both rider and horse are comfortable with the equipment.
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- This was a very mild autumn day – it hit 70-degrees by the afternoon. Helen takes Hylke out for a short ride.
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- And then all the horses are turned out in my Run-In paddock, the largest here at the farm. These boys are more interested in grazing than posing for the camera.
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- The Friesian is most often recognized by its bold black coat color. Bond’s coat stands out in front of the changing foliage. Friesians also have long, arched necks and powerful sloping shoulders, compact, muscular bodies with strong hindquarters, and low-set tails.
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- My Fell Pony Banchunch is on the left and Rinze, the patriarch of the stable is on the right – such beautiful horses enjoying a lovely autumn afternoon.
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