Washing machine not using fabric softener
06 August 2010, 11:39 AM
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Washing machine not using fabric softener
Me and the mrs have a zanussi washing machine. It's been really reliable and can't be more than 4-5 years old. For some reason recently it's not been using the fabric softener that she puts in the compartment for it. Cleaned out the pull out drawer where you put the powder etc, also cleaned out the filter at the bottom of the machine. A bit stuck for ideas now as she's even tried watering the softener down to see if that helps. We generally use surf wash powder and comfort fabric softener. Since it's stopped sucking the softener through the clothes don't smell as nice and sometimes need a second wash due to smelling musty.
Can't really afford a new machine so wondering if there's anything to try like a cleaning solution or anything. Help or tips would be much appreciated, thanks.
Can't really afford a new machine so wondering if there's anything to try like a cleaning solution or anything. Help or tips would be much appreciated, thanks.
06 August 2010, 11:48 AM
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Me and the mrs have a zanussi washing machine. It's been really reliable and can't be more than 4-5 years old. For some reason recently it's not been using the fabric softener that she puts in the compartment for it. Cleaned out the pull out drawer where you put the powder etc, also cleaned out the filter at the bottom of the machine. A bit stuck for ideas now as she's even tried watering the softener down to see if that helps. We generally use surf wash powder and comfort fabric softener. Since it's stopped sucking the softener through the clothes don't smell as nice and sometimes need a second wash due to smelling musty.
Can't really afford a new machine so wondering if there's anything to try like a cleaning solution or anything. Help or tips would be much appreciated, thanks.
Can't really afford a new machine so wondering if there's anything to try like a cleaning solution or anything. Help or tips would be much appreciated, thanks.
in this weather they do often smell a bit musty if left for a couple of days.
I would suggest removing the drawer again and pulling it apart and checking the small waterways are clear and that the drain from that part of the tray is clear.
You can pour some boiling water into the compartment to flush it as this may well help
We run our machine every two months on its hottest/longest setting just to keep it clear
06 August 2010, 11:55 AM
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in this weather they do often smell a bit musty if left for a couple of days.
I would suggest removing the drawer again and pulling it apart and checking the small waterways are clear and that the drain from that part of the tray is clear.
You can pour some boiling water into the compartment to flush it as this may well help
We run our machine every two months on its hottest/longest setting just to keep it clear
I would suggest removing the drawer again and pulling it apart and checking the small waterways are clear and that the drain from that part of the tray is clear.
You can pour some boiling water into the compartment to flush it as this may well help
We run our machine every two months on its hottest/longest setting just to keep it clear
06 August 2010, 12:12 PM
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You need to start adding vinegar 
We stopped using fabric conditioner a year or so back (iirc i posted about it) as it just gunks the machines up, especially if you do loads of low temp washing.
We usually add a splash of vinegar on every wash now, works a treat.
Took a while to get rid of the gunk though
We stopped using fabric conditioner a year or so back (iirc i posted about it) as it just gunks the machines up, especially if you do loads of low temp washing.
We usually add a splash of vinegar on every wash now, works a treat.
Took a while to get rid of the gunk though
06 August 2010, 12:31 PM
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If you pour a pint of sarsons finest into the machine then you smell like a chipshop 
Our first load of washing was met with a mass amount of disproval from the sceptical missus
"no, no trust me it will work, the internet said so"
We use about halfway up to the max line in the conditioner drawer, with distilled white vinegar, keeps the machine running sweet as a nut, google it
She is a total convert now though.
Its the old gunky crap in the machine that makes the smells.
Our first load of washing was met with a mass amount of disproval from the sceptical missus
"no, no trust me
it will work, the internet said so" We use about halfway up to the max line in the conditioner drawer, with distilled white vinegar, keeps the machine running sweet as a nut, google it
She is a total convert now though.
Its the old gunky crap in the machine that makes the smells.
06 August 2010, 01:01 PM
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I think I've found the problem...
I unscrewed the top off the washing machine and switched off the water supply tap to it. After some unscrewing and cut knuckles I managed to pop out the feeding tray inner. Took this apart and the problem is in the top half of it where there are several little tube passings. They're coked up in some black crap which I've tried to get out the best I can. Loads of little holes and funnels and the side which is blocked up is from the fabric softener.
So I've cleaned it best I can and will put it all back together.
Gonna try the distilled vinegar and see if this maybe detaches the rest away. In the meantime gonna look and see if I can just buy the inner tray new from somewhere instead of forking out for a new machine.
Calgon tablets any good to prevent this again? As the mrs isn't convinced vinegar will make clothes smell like like fabric conditioner.
I unscrewed the top off the washing machine and switched off the water supply tap to it. After some unscrewing and cut knuckles I managed to pop out the feeding tray inner. Took this apart and the problem is in the top half of it where there are several little tube passings. They're coked up in some black crap which I've tried to get out the best I can. Loads of little holes and funnels and the side which is blocked up is from the fabric softener.
So I've cleaned it best I can and will put it all back together.
Gonna try the distilled vinegar and see if this maybe detaches the rest away. In the meantime gonna look and see if I can just buy the inner tray new from somewhere instead of forking out for a new machine.
Calgon tablets any good to prevent this again? As the mrs isn't convinced vinegar will make clothes smell like like fabric conditioner.
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06 August 2010, 01:18 PM
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The black stuff is usually mould!
Every time your nice new fabric conditioner is sucked down into the machine, it passes over the mouldy crap, urrgh.
Every time your nice new fabric conditioner is sucked down into the machine, it passes over the mouldy crap, urrgh.
06 August 2010, 01:50 PM
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I've put it back together now after getting more of the crap off with boiling water... proper little engineer me 
When I pop out to pay the weekly bills I'll pick up some distilled vinegar. My trusty mum said do a few rinse washes to get the stuff through and unblock any more of the black mould. I thought a nice hot wash would suffice but didn't realise the heat element was at the bottom of the machine
Hopefully have good news in a few washes time. Micky, thanks for the vinegar idea, I owe you a pint should our paths cross
When I pop out to pay the weekly bills I'll pick up some distilled vinegar. My trusty mum said do a few rinse washes to get the stuff through and unblock any more of the black mould. I thought a nice hot wash would suffice but didn't realise the heat element was at the bottom of the machine
Hopefully have good news in a few washes time. Micky, thanks for the vinegar idea, I owe you a pint should our paths cross
06 August 2010, 01:56 PM
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I've put it back together now after getting more of the crap off with boiling water... proper little engineer me
When I pop out to pay the weekly bills I'll pick up some distilled vinegar. My trusty mum said do a few rinse washes to get the stuff through and unblock any more of the black mould. I thought a nice hot wash would suffice but didn't realise the heat element was at the bottom of the machine
Hopefully have good news in a few washes time. Micky, thanks for the vinegar idea, I owe you a pint should our paths cross
When I pop out to pay the weekly bills I'll pick up some distilled vinegar. My trusty mum said do a few rinse washes to get the stuff through and unblock any more of the black mould. I thought a nice hot wash would suffice but didn't realise the heat element was at the bottom of the machine
Hopefully have good news in a few washes time. Micky, thanks for the vinegar idea, I owe you a pint should our paths cross
More importantly how is the speech writing going???Is the big day this weekend? i cannot remember for the life of me, back into NGH Wednesday and out yesterday, twice this week that i have had an overnight in 'the general' - hospital that is
06 August 2010, 02:02 PM
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The active ingredient in fabric softener is a chemical called ester quat which sets at about 25degC.
Fabric softener is a solution in water of ester quat, fragrance and colour.
Steve
Fabric softener is a solution in water of ester quat, fragrance and colour.
Steve
06 August 2010, 02:05 PM
#13
These modern concentrated softeners are a right pain in the ****:
The siphon tube on a our Miele keeps getting blocked up as its simply too thick. (noted by the drawer being full to the brim after its finished washing).
Luckily, I still have one "old fashioned" softener bottle which I can poor the concentrate in and dilute it 50:50 with water. This seems to have cured it.
The siphon tube on a our Miele keeps getting blocked up as its simply too thick. (noted by the drawer being full to the brim after its finished washing).
Luckily, I still have one "old fashioned" softener bottle which I can poor the concentrate in and dilute it 50:50 with water. This seems to have cured it.
06 August 2010, 04:40 PM
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These modern concentrated softeners are a right pain in the ****:
The siphon tube on a our Miele keeps getting blocked up as its simply too thick. (noted by the drawer being full to the brim after its finished washing).
Luckily, I still have one "old fashioned" softener bottle which I can poor the concentrate in and dilute it 50:50 with water. This seems to have cured it.
The siphon tube on a our Miele keeps getting blocked up as its simply too thick. (noted by the drawer being full to the brim after its finished washing).
Luckily, I still have one "old fashioned" softener bottle which I can poor the concentrate in and dilute it 50:50 with water. This seems to have cured it.
Hopefully sqaved me £250-£300 on a new washing machine
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