Washing machine woes please help!

[Diymuppet]

Been having trouble with washer since last autumn.

I’m in a soft water area and no matter how little detergent I use it keeps excessively foaming which has led to leaks which is making me very anxious.

Once deliveries are back to normal I plan on buying a new one because to be quite honest I no longer trust this one, but at the moment where I live (not England) due to cv deliveries and installations/removal and recycling of old items is suspended and no idea when it will resume.

Engineers have been out twice and done very little other than tell me off for how I do my laundry! I had some questions for them which they were unable to answer and to be perfectly frank as I’ve since been able to find the answers from reading the instruction manual thoroughly it annoys me that as engineers supposedly familiar with the products they didn’t know basic info about the machine!

I have a repair plan that requires 2 further engineer visits before they’ll even consider replacing the machine which I am now very much feeling wasn’t worth the money!

I currently do all loads on a 40° wash using gel detergent.

Engineer 2 said Powder is better but I looked further online and as he was also saying the problem is pipes clogged with detergent possibly this seems to be contrary to what online advice is as Powder seems to clog even more? So I’m reluctant to try that.

I was advised by engineer 1 to cleanse the machine once a month by doing a hot cycle to help the issue and actually I’ve been doing it roughly 3 weekly and it’s made little difference

The first load after a “cleanse” is just about ok but by the 2nd load it’s recurring.

I’m now trying another cleanse this time using white vinegar to see if that helps any.

So I’ve a few questions:

Anyone else who’s had this problem how did you resolve it?

If you live in a soft water area what detergent do you use and how much?

Do you regularly cleanse your machine and if so how often and using what products if any?

If you have a good reliable machine that doesn’t have this issue again especially if you live in a soft water area what machine is it?

I’m totally bloody fed up with the whole sorry saga!!

I'm in a soft water area. I use aldi almat powder but only about a third of the recommended amount. I also do a 90° prewash cycle with my white cotton bedding fortnightly. No foaming issues here.

Forgot to say - I have A Hoover dynamic next machine

I live in a soft water area. Never use laundry liquid only powder. 90 degree wash every few weeks for white cottons. Touch wood my machines last ages.

Aldi not an option for me but powder noted.

Izzygee - have you tried Liquid/gel and found you had same issues? And Powder definitely doesn’t clog?

Heart sinking at thought of doing a hot cycle every couple weeks!

I know monthly is recommended but with previous machines I never bothered and it wasn’t an issue and my mum has NEVER done this and her current machine is over 20 years old!! And she lives in same soft water area.

So annoying, have they made machines that aren’t as well equipped now?

Oh also - can’t put powder in dispenser drawer as it’s also broken (did I mention I HATE this machine?) so can I put straight in drum? On top of or under laundry?