It seems there is some confusion. The IntelliQ W4000 series machines are 8 kilo machines. Where as the 24" width (European-size) machines come in sizes between 5 and 6 kilos (depends on models/product offerings in your country). The W3033 is a 5.5 kilo machine (smaller than the 6 kilo Professional "Little Giant".) In comparing the 6 kilo machines versus the 8 kilo machines, the difference in capacity has to due with the fact that the 8 kilo machines have a tilted drum. The physical attributes affect the physics of it in operational terms so you can't "stuff" the machine like you can the try horizontal-axis 5-6 kilo machines. Doing so (and I have found out from experience) will either cause damage to your clothes or machine. The users manuals states to leave about 4 inches of space from the top, so in essence that 8 kilo machine become more like a 6 even though the drum size is smaller. To cut to the chase though, I have washed in a 5 kilo Miele 1 King size fitted sheet, 1 King size flat sheet, and 4 king sized pillow cases with great results and room to spare a towel or extra pillow cases. So to answer your question, you CAN wash your king duvet, sheet and pillow cases in the smallest of the machines. I dried the load in two separate drying to minimize wrinkling.

Just to let you all know. Sunsetter customer service is pretty darn good, I'll tell you that. After installing the awning, DH noticed a small hole slightly larger than a pinhole in the fabric. It wasn't a huge deal, but concerned that it may run or become a weak spot as time went on and the sun continues to beat down on it, we called Sunsetter to see if there was an easy fix for this. They offered us #1 a clear patch to go on the outside of the awning, making it less noticeable from underneath or #2 an entirely new awning fabric. We didn't want a patch for a couple reasons...First, the people behind us are elevated slightly and have perfect view of the top of our awning. Also, over time, we were concerned the patch would loose adhesive, curl up on the sides and just look bad. Plus, we just got this awning and can't see spending the money we did to just patch it, not matter how small the hole, and then it wouldn't even match the color. The hole is obviously a defect in this particular roll of material since there was not damage to the package and the thing was packed up unbelievably well. Maybe if there was some type of tube of acrylic that hardened to the same color and you couldn't notice it, we would've chosen something like that, but not a clear plastic patch. Another surprising fact about this whole thing...Sunsetter asked me if I wanted the same color fabric! They were ready to allow me to order whatever color fabric I wanted from their selection. We stuck with the taupe because that is our favorite color fabric anyway and aren't fans of the striped awning fabrics. But I thought that was pretty impressive on the part of Sunsetter customer service. They really seem to want to make the customer happy.

If it only drops a few degrees below freezing, I wouldn't particularly worry about it. Roses are pretty tough, actually. It's when temps get below --oh, let's say 25 degrees--that the roses might be seriously harmed. In most cases, however, it is just the tips that freeze and you can trim off the frozen ends (trim back to white centers in the cane). Even here in Kansas, we get that late winter/early spring thaw-freeze cycle. Today just happens to be the "official" last freeze date here. Which is readily true most years, but a couple years ago, we got a brutal late freeze AFTER this date--lost several roses that year! But most years, it will just slow them down as you trim them back a second time. In about a month, your roses will be blooming and beautiful--though possibly a bit shorter than usual. So what to do when late freezesthreaten? I used to haul out sheets and blankets and towels, but now I mostly just ignore the late freezes. Not much I do will change what Nature has in mind--so I just get out my pruners, if needed, the next day and continue hauling leaves out of my gardens and feeding the roses. Let's face it--I'm getting too old to fight Nature any more. : ) Kate

Haven't used any type of commercial fabric softener in decades. Occasionally I use vinegar to help remove smells. No need to worry about your clothes smelling like vinegar. They don't. I occasionally use vinegar to wipe down the cutting board, counter or wipe out the microwave. It's actually a disinfectant. And once dry, there's no smell. My sister uses vinegar to wash her floors. The cats won't walk on it while damp (they don't like the vinegar smell) but she knows when the floors are dry. The cats are in the kitchen. o vinegar smell. I fill the fabric softener dispenser in my current machine with white vinegar. The old one I used a Downey Ball and some would dilute the vinegar in the ball but I wouldn't. I'd fill the ball with white vinegar and toss it in. Worked great. And as I said, no vinegar smell. Think about it for a minute, it's diluted down so much there really isn't anything left to smell. And of course you're rinsing after too, most likely. I don't like smelly clothes which is why I hated commercial softeners and most detergents. Why do people think clothes have to stink before they can be clean? Amazes me. When clothes smell, it's time to wash them IMO. And for those who have static problems, you're issue is not caused by not using softener or not using enough, the problem is that you're over-drying your clothes. Cut back the drying time, save yourself money in two ways, less electricity (and possibly gas) and no softener. I use dryer balls to assist in drying (which they do). Supposedly they help with static which they might, but I can't prove it one way or the other. Grainlady bought some of the anti-static version and she says they help a lot. Since I don't have static issues since I quit over-drying the clothes, I really don't have need to try them. And FWIW my towels and jeans are as soft as anyone's. The occasional time they're a little stiff, I know I didn't rinse them well enough as already mentioned. So when I wash them again, I use less or no detergent depending on the amount in them. And some say dryer sheets are good for cleaning shower doors. I can't confirm.