How to Use a Twin Tub Washing Machine

On this page (10 sections)

1. What do you need before your first load?
2. How do you load the wash tub?
3. How do you run the wash cycle?
4. How do you rinse and drain the wash tub?
5. How do you use the spin tub safely?
6. How do you handle the water and drainage?
7. How do you wash and spin loads at the same time?
8. Which twin tub fits your routine?
9. How do you clean and store the machine after use?
10. What mistakes should you avoid?

To use a twin tub washing machine, fill the wash tub, add detergent and clothes, run the wash timer, then move the load to the spin tub and run the spin timer. Drain both tubs when you finish and dry the inside before the next load.

A twin tub does the same two jobs as a full-size washer in two separate tubs. You set each timer by hand, so a little order at the start keeps the load moving smoothly.

What do you need before your first load?

You need an inlet hose on a faucet, a drain hose with somewhere to go, detergent, and a spot with a little clearance. Set all of that up before you load clothes.

Connect the inlet hose to a standard faucet. The Auertech has two water inlets on the panel, so you can connect the hose to either side.

Put the drain hose into a sink, a drain, or a container you don't mind filling.

Check the drain height before you start. Auertech says the drain height must stay under 45 inches, and its built-in drain pump lets you send water to a higher or more convenient spot.

Leave a little space around the machine so the hoses aren't bent. A bent hose can stop the spinner from draining properly later.

How do you load the wash tub?

Put the clothes in loose, keep the load light, and stop below the maximum water line. An overloaded twin tub gives weak washing and can trip the motor's overheat protection.

Sort clothes by color and fabric as you would with any washer. Wash lighter, dirtier loads on their own so they don't share a tub with items that just need a refresh.

Load the wash tub so the clothes can move freely. Auertech warns that overloading may cause the motor to switch on overheating protection.

For the Auertech's 18 lb wash capacity, keep the load under that figure and below the water line.

Set the water level and start filling through the inlet hose. Add detergent as the tub fills, so it mixes in before the clothes settle.

How do you run the wash cycle?

Set the wash timer and let the agitator work the load, then drain the soapy water. Twin tubs don't run a full program by themselves, so the timer is yours to set.

The Auertech's three control switches handle wash time, wash mode, and spin time. The Giantex wash timer goes up to 15 minutes, and its spin timer to 5 minutes per load.

Choose a time that matches the fabric. Delicates and lightly worn clothes need a short run, while heavier or dirtier items can use more time.

The Giantex lets you set a normal or soft mode based on the fabric type.

Keep the total wash and rinse time within the maker's limit. Auertech recommends no more than 60 minutes for the whole wash and rinse process.

Watch the first few loads through the transparent window so you learn how your clothes behave in the tub.

How do you rinse and drain the wash tub?

Drain the soapy water, refill the tub with clean water, and run a short rinse. A second rinse clears detergent that would otherwise set into the fabric when it dries.

Open the drain valve or start the pump to empty the tub. Check the drain hose first, since Auertech lists a clogged or bent hose as a common reason the machine won't drain.

Refill to the same level and run the wash timer briefly. Drain the tub fully before you move clothes to the spinner.

A tub left half full is heavy and makes the next step messier.

How much should you fit in each wash load?

Keep each wash load under the machine's rated washing capacity. The Auertech's washing tub takes 18 lbs and the Giantex's takes 12 lbs.

Weigh a bulky item like a duvet cover against those figures before adding more.

Aim for a tub that's loosely filled rather than packed. The agitator needs room to push water through the fabric.

If clothes bunch at the top and barely move, take some out.

Smaller loads also spin better. A load that's already at the wash limit will likely need splitting before the spinner.

How do you use the spin tub safely?

Balance the load around the basket, fit the cover plate, and start the spin timer. An unbalanced spinner shakes, bangs the inner walls, and can stop working.

Take clothes from the wash tub one piece at a time and spread them around the spin basket. Put the heavier items on opposite sides so the weight evens out.

Auertech says to balance the spinner to stop it hitting the inner walls or losing balance.

Fit the cover plate over the clothes before you start. Giantex says the cover plate needs to go above the clothes inside the spin tub to avoid high-speed shaking.

Set the spin timer and stand close for the first spin. A thumping sound means the load is off balance, so stop it and rearrange the clothes.

The Giantex spin tub takes 8 lbs, half its wash capacity, so you may need two spins for a full wash load.

How dry will clothes get after spinning?

Clothes come out damp, not dry. A spin tub squeezes out most of the water, and the rest comes off on a rack or line.

Giantex says its spinner reaches only 80 to 90 percent drying, so clothes still need air drying. That's normal for a twin tub and not a fault.

Spin smaller batches for drier results. A packed spin basket holds water in the middle of the load, so a lighter batch spins out more water.

How do you handle the water and drainage?

Drain the tubs into a sink, a drain, or a container, and keep the hose clear. Water management is the main difference from a plumbed-in washer.

Run the drain hose to a spot lower than the machine's outlet. Auertech's drain pump can push water to a higher position if your sink or drain is above floor level.

Without a pump, gravity does the work, so the outlet needs to be low.

Watch the drain for the first minute. If water doesn't move, check for a kink or a clog before you run the pump harder.

Keep the floor dry as you switch loads. A towel under the drain end catches splashes and saves a mopping job later.

How do you wash and spin loads at the same time?

Run one tub while the other spins, using each timer separately. The two tubs are independent, so you can overlap jobs and save time.

Start a wash load in the wash tub. While it runs, spin the previous load in the spin tub.

Auertech says the two separate tubs let you wash and spin clothes at the same time.

Keep the timers in view so nothing runs longer than you planned. The Auertech's three control switches set wash time, wash mode, and spin time independently.

Don't start a spin with a soaking wet load that's over the spinner's limit. The Giantex's spinner takes 8 lbs, so pull out a few items if the basket looks packed.

Overlapping loads work best when each one is small.

Which twin tub fits your routine?

The Auertech 28 lb suits households that want a bigger wash tub and a drain pump, while the Giantex 20 lb suits smaller loads and tighter spaces. Both run on separate wash and spin timers and both need an air-drying plan.

The Auertech's 18 lb wash tub and 10 lb spinner handle larger batches. Its drain pump lets you send water uphill to a sink, and the 1300 rpm motor spins loads quickly.

At 31 lb and 32 inches tall, check the space before you commit.

The Giantex's 12 lb wash tub and 8 lb spinner suit one or two people and smaller loads. At 28 lb and 28.5 inches tall, it fits tighter spots than the Auertech.

Whichever you choose, a drying rack handles the damp clothes the spinner leaves behind. The Amazon Basics rack folds flat and holds up to 32 lb.

If you're still weighing a twin tub against a trip to the laundromat, our comparison of a portable washing machine vs the laundromat lays out the trade-offs. For help choosing a model, see what is the best portable washing machine and how much a portable washing machine costs.

How do you clean and store the machine after use?

Drain both tubs, wipe them dry, and leave the lids open so the inside airs out. A twin tub that stays damp grows mildew and smells on the next load.

Wipe the tubs and the lint filter after the last load. The Auertech's lint filter and the Giantex's filter net both pull out for cleaning.

Rinse them and let them dry before you put them back.

Unplug the inlet hose and hang it so water drains out. Coil the drain hose loosely rather than bending it sharply.

A kinked hose is easy to forget until the next drain won't work.

Leave the lids open for a few hours so moisture escapes. Our guide to how to clean a portable washing machine covers a deeper clean when the tub starts to look dull.

Store the machine somewhere dry with the hoses detached.

What mistakes should you avoid?

The biggest mistakes are overloading, unbalanced spins, and blocked drain hoses. Avoid all three and most twin tub problems never come up.

Don't fill past the maximum water line. Extra water adds weight and splashes over the side, and Auertech lists a 13.5 inch line as the recommended maximum.

Don't start a spin with a lopsided load. Rearrange the clothes instead of letting the tub shake.

Don't ignore a machine that stops mid-cycle. Auertech's motor has overheat protection that shuts it off at 275°F and restarts after 20 to 30 minutes.

If that happens, reduce the load size before you run it again.

Don't leave water sitting in the tubs between loads. Drain them after each use so the machine stays fresh and ready.

Learning how to use a twin tub washing machine comes down to four habits: fill to the line, set the timer, balance the spin load, and drain both tubs. Pick the Auertech for bigger loads and a drain pump, or the Giantex for smaller batches in a tighter space.

Add a drying rack, and your laundry routine runs without a trip to the laundromat.

Frequently asked questions

How much water do you put in a twin tub washing machine?

Fill the wash tub to its marked line with the inlet hose, leaving room for the clothes to move. The Auertech lists a recommended maximum water line of 13.5 inches.

Don't overfill, because the load needs space to agitate.

Can you put clothes straight into the spinner after washing?

Yes, but balance them first. Spread the wet clothes evenly around the spin basket and put the cover plate on top before starting.

An unbalanced load shakes and can stop the spinner, so move a heavy item to the other side.

Why won't the spin tub drain?

Check the drain hose for kinks or blockages first. Keep the hose outlet lower than the machine's maximum drain height so water can flow out.

The Auertech lists a drain height under 45 inches.