And still you miss the point . It was pumping water from the tub , across
the lint filter and back into the tub

Unless there are two things, it only pumped water from the tub once, to
fill the machine for the second load. After that, the water circulated
through the machine the same as it did during the first load.

Indeed, two completely different items under discussion.

My olde washing machine, _while washing and agitating_, would suck water
from the tub and pump it through a removable/cleanable lint
filter (looked like a large shoe shine brush) and spray
it over the tops of the clothes. This both made sure the
clothes were getting wet and washed [a], and also filtered
out lint and other particles - such as leaves - from the water.

The other concept people are discussing was where the
washing machine would take the _rinse_ water (which,
being the second part of the cycling [b], was pretty
clean [not up to drinking standards..]), and divert
it away from the sewer line and instead pump it
into a holding tank. This water would then be
used for the wash cycle, dumped out, and then
fresh water brought in for the rinse. (And that
new rinse water would be recycled, etc.)

[a] with top loaders nowadays it's often the case
that some clothes just stay out with parts of them
sticking out of the water, thus never getting
properly washed. I actually have to take a stick
and push them under...

[b] I personally use a second rinse cycle (so it's
wash, rinse, rinse) to clean out the remaining soap.

. Most automatic washers have always
used fresh water for every cycle - though I remember a machine my mother had
back in the 50's that would pump the wash water into a separate tub then

Eyup. I'd love to have one of those for the water savings..
I've been tempted to jury rig a diverter..


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