When my clothes are done washing, there is fabric softener on the bottom of the wash near the clothes and sometimes on the clothes, and the clothes are wadded up and twisted so badly. When I load the washer I put the capful or a little less of softener in the designated area, add water to the top to dilute and start the washer. I am sure not to use too much soap or softener. What am I doing wrong that the softener is still left in the wash and the clothes are twisted so badly?
INFO - top loader, approx 6-8 years old (bought it used so this is a complete guess)
EDIT - This happens even when I do smaller loads
MORE EDIT lol - Liquid detergent, loads without softener obviously get rid of the softener problem but I like using softener for most washes, use highest water level available....
I will try even smaller loads and using the highest water level. But this just means more time doing laundry =( There is no way I am convincing DH we need a new one!
Are you using a high enough water level?
Are you using a powdered detergent? Liquid detergent is better for washers. (Powdered for dishwashers.)
Have you tried a load without the softener?
**Added** It might be time for a new O.....you'll just be wasting water now...
your overloading it
with all your additions you have made to your question my guess is you need a new washer yours is toast
well if hubby wont agree you need a new one and you have the money for it make it quit working. go inside of it and cut a wire :) but unplug it first
get the downey ball for fabric softner it releases it in the wash at "just the rite time" everytime ... love it!
I would just use the downy ball instead of using the compartment for it.
Look at the washer part that twists when it is actaully going (you might have to force this to happen by pressing something down). Is it twisting like it should? Some machines twist from both the top and the bottom. Make sure it's twisting properly. Sounds like one half might be broken.
Sadly, it's more economical to buy a new one then get an old one fixed. 6-8 years is about the lifespan.
S. you can go shopping with me =).
Hi S.,
With a better laundry detergent, you can avoid the softener. Most softeners just settle on the clothes and in turn absorb into the body/blood stream. If it's too heavy to mix with the water and go down the drain at the end of the cycle then it is probably not a safe softener. With the clothes twisted, your agitater may need adjusting. That should help as well...
My two cents!
M.
I second the downy ball suggestion or just skipping the liquid fabric softener all together and getting dryer sheets. I have used both and they work about equally well. Now as far as the twisted up clothes, I have no suggestions bc I just can't figure why that would happen. The washer could be on it's way out but if you just skip using it's fabric softener dispenser, maybe you can milk it a bit longer. I use the downy ball quite often and never have a problem, so that would probably be the easiest fix if you love liquid softener, good luck!!
If it is a Maytag or Whirlpool your dispenser is clogged. For all I know other brands do this as well. I used to have to clean out the tube the fabric softener went through every six months or my machine would do the same. It drove me crazy so I bought new front loaders. Ironically my dispenser on the new machine doesn't work right as well. :(
I would suspect, as well, that either you're overloading it... or the machine is broken (either the dispenser or the agitator or both).
A "standard" washing machine can deal with about 4 pairs of adult jeans... and that's it. 10-15 shirts. 3-4 towels depending on size. Whatever it is... NOT shoved in / pressed down... about 1/2 full of clothes. Tons of KIDS clothes can fit in (they're smaller and move freer) but still the "halfway full" mark on them loosely packed. HOWEVER a standard washer can also deal with a queen size down comforter very easily (because the whole thing compacts like crazy when wet =ing about the same size as 3 pairs of jeans).
