"meirman" wrote in message

OFF TOPIC to the original question, but in 1958, the Whirlpool washer
my mother bought had a sudsmiser option. The washing machine
discharged the wash water to a laundry tub and discharged the rinse
water to a tube that went straight to the drain in the same laundry
tub. Then for the second load of laundry, it would suck up the still
hot and soapy water for the wash cycle, and I guess this time it would
discharge it through the tube.

I haven't seen the Sudsmiser option on any machine other than the one
my mother had.

I remember that. Years ago most laundry was done in the basement or a
laundry room that had a big double tub and the machine emptied into the tub.
Today, you are likely to find the machine emptying into a stand pipe and the
whole thing tucked into a bathroom or closet.

If you go back to the old wringer washer, it was common to do a couple of
batches in the soapy water before draining and rinsing the clothing. Then
the wet stuff was hung outside. Apartments had lines strung out the window
on a pulley.
--
Ed
http://pages.cthome.net/edhome/