Washing machine didn't take powder

[Pinkballetfrog]

I put on a laundry wash earlier and I have the clothes outside on the line now because there is some sunshine.

I just noticed there was washing powder left behind in the dispenser drawer. I don't overload the drawer with powder and I only really eyeball maybe a tablespoon or two and divide it up between the soak department and the wash department.

I am putting on another wash now and I noticed the last wash didn't take much washing powder at all. It probably took some but definitely there was a huge clumps of it left behind.

So how I am wondering if my clothes were washing proberly at all and if I should run another wash again which would be a pain in the ass. I washed a load of trousers if it makes any difference.

Are you running a cycle that includes soak? Would seem overkill for trousers unless you are a farmer or mechanic or something. If it doesn't include soak then would it take the powder? I just put mine straight in the drum and I use a level scoop of washing powder using a napisan scoop. No issues doing that.

Check at the back of the drawer there isn't a bit of plastic that can drop down to hold liquid detergent in the drawer. When I find powder left behind it usually means the plastic wall thingy has fallen down. Your washing should still be fine BTW.

There is that plastic thing but that didn't drop down.

I'm treating a fungal infection on my inside thigh, so with trousers I usually give them a soak before the main wash.

Where is your washing machine? If it's in a cooler part of the house / you don't have heating continually on, at this time of year you will get powder left behind in the drawer as the water doesn't get up to a hot enough temperature to dissolve it all. Just put in a bit less for the next wash. There will have been enough used to wash your clothes. It will clear when it gets a bit warmer again.

Oh ok, makes sense. You do have it on at least 60 I assume. I'd just put the powder in the drum, I never bother with the drawer. I wouldn't worry about this wash, it's mostly the heat that kills the fungi and there would be residual detergent anyway.

Take the drawer out and clean behind, there could de a build up of powder somewhere? Is your water pressure low? Ours is dicky at the minute apparently they are investigating.

Start using 'leaves' - they go straight in the drum, no gunge in the powder drawer.

Yes I would probably get the drawer out and clean it there is probably powder at the back of the drawer blocking it, maybe use a small bottle brush if you have one to give it a good routle round with.

What temperature did you do the wash, if it was quite hot anyway the lack of powder won't matter

We chuck our powder in the drum.

Since I stopped using pods a few years ago* I just put powder detergent directly into the drum (and soda crystals in the drawer.)
Works fine here.

*after reading on here (Piglet John) how they gum up the machine with gunk

I'm another drum chucker. My drawer isn't used for anything.

I've had this before( although I don't use pre soak) in my case I think it was low water pressure at the time, but it could be gunk stuck behind the drawer
You could try cleaning out with a toothbrush
I have a plastic ball dispenser which I put in the drum now,