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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To not know how our washing machine works?

26 replies

Tootsiepops · 03/02/2017 09:08

Can someone who is better at being an adult explain to me where all the powders and liquids go in the washing machine please?

I have a one year old, so now have a need for stain remover and fabric softener in addition to the detergent (I use tabs, so they go in the drum with the clothes) - but what compartment is for what in the washing machine's little pull out drawer?

I have an older machine and there's no indication on it anywhere, and everyone else just seems to know.

OP posts:
specialsubject · 03/02/2017 09:20

Those of us who know do so because we still have the instructions! Are they online somewhere?

Btw You don't need fabric softener, no one does. And shouldn't the powder get the stains out?

FruSkogKattOla · 03/02/2017 09:23

I think it depends on the make of the machine what each compartment is for. Ours is a quite old Zanussi. There are three compartments in the drawer. Left hand is pre-wash, middle (which is slightly wider than the LH) is main wash and right hand (which has a lid with a series of holes in it) is the fabric softener.

Are you sure that the compartments aren't marked? It's not very obvious on ours, but if you look closely the wording is indented into the plastic.

WhoKn0wsWhereTheTimeG0es · 03/02/2017 09:27

Ours is LH main wash (biggest hole), middle FC (smallest hole, flower symbol), RH prewash. And agree with not needing fabric conditioner, we never use it, I don't like the fragrance or how floppy it makes clothes.

mambono5 · 03/02/2017 09:27

what brand and serie is your machine?

KanyesVest · 03/02/2017 09:30

If you're putting tablets in the drum, I'd just chuck a scoop of vanish in the same way. I'm also a grown up.

Original poster
Tootsiepops · 03/02/2017 09:32

The machine was here when we bought the house so no instruction manual, but I will have a look online. Drawers aren't marked will check again though with my glasses on

I do think the fabric softener is making my daughter's clothes feel nicer. We're in a hard water area and sometimes stuff dries practically brittle, and her vests rub on her arms and give her a rash.

If there's a powder out there that gets the orange food stains out of white vests, I'd really like to buy it! So many ruined tops...

OP posts:
scaryteacher · 03/02/2017 09:34

Disagree about not needing fabric softener. The water in Belgium is so hard that my jeans crunch if washed without it.

BabyHamster · 03/02/2017 09:35

Try vanish oxi action for the food stains. Soak first then wash at 60, ideally with biological washing powder.

Yura · 03/02/2017 09:36

Put them in the sun - sunny window will do. Works best in summer (obviously), but carrot/tomatoes stains magically disappeare in the sun :)

Glastonbury · 03/02/2017 09:56

Our hotpoint is:
Left hand section - fabric conditioner
Middle section - pre wash
Right hand section - washing powder

Ethylred · 03/02/2017 10:00

There will be a Youtube clip explaining this.

traviata · 03/02/2017 10:02

people often suggest putting white vinegar in the rinse water to stop the crunchiness, apparently there's no vinegar smell.

strawberrypenguin · 03/02/2017 10:03

Biggest slot is often main wash but all machines vary. In mine the left is main wash

CharlieDimmocksbosoms · 03/02/2017 10:06

Take a photo of inside the drawer.

Floofborksnootandboop · 03/02/2017 10:09

Are you able to post a picture?

Ohtheterribletwos · 03/02/2017 10:14

Sunshine gets tomato baby food stains out!? Can't wait to try this now! Grin

liz70 · 03/02/2017 10:14

We have a Bosch. Viewed from above - left compartment - main wash, middle (blue with flower symbol) - fab con, and right compartment for pre wash.

TooSmittle · 03/02/2017 10:29

If not labeled in writing, the compartments will either have numbers or symbols. 3 or the flower is for fabric softener.

I chuck a scoop of vanish straight in the drum with the washing liquid and don't ever use the prewash programs, but that's only for the whites so they don't go dull. Anything very dirty from playing I just use one of the longer, tougher cycles (cottons) and they come out fine, but this is for robust children's clothes. Don't be throwing your new cashmere sweater in on a cotton cycle because you got a dab of mayo on the sleeve! The best thing I ever found for spot stain removal was a bar of vanish soap. Dampen the fabric, squiggle the bar on it, wash like normal. Gets everything out!

On a side note - do people really not use fabric softener?? My mum always did, everyone I know well enough to have seen their washing routine does, I always do too. The odd few occasions I've run out the clothes seem rough and so much harder to iron. I never even realised it was optional!

NeedsAsockamnesty · 03/02/2017 11:47

Often the biggest section in the drawer is for the main wash.

You can use liquid, powder, and stain remover in that section, the smallest is for softener or that in wash disinfectant stuff the smallest large section is for prewash stuff.

It is worth being mindful that it's also possible to put detergent straight into the drum unless the boys says not to

Purplestorm83 · 03/02/2017 12:14

Vanish spray gets pretty much everything out, no need to soak etc, just spray on stain, rub fabric together for a couple of seconds and chuck in the washing machine with everything else.

CakeNinja · 03/02/2017 12:19

I just chuck a tablet in the drum and fabric softener in the flower compartment! Always use softener otherwise my clothes feel crispy.

dementedpixie · 03/02/2017 12:21

Take a picture of the inside. I have a large compartment for the main wash, a smaller one for prewash and then one with a removable bit that is for the fabric softener. I use washing up liquid and water on stains before washing in the machine

jcne · 03/02/2017 13:28

I never got this lesson either. i washed everything with only softener for about 9 months when i first moved out Blush i still don't get it. old machine, no manual, an aisle full of miracles in the supermarket. ¯(ツ)/¯

PuppyMonkey · 03/02/2017 13:33

squirt vanish spray on stains

Put a tablet in the washing machine drum

Turn on the machine

If you need full instructions just google the name and model and you can print off full written instructions.

WhoKn0wsWhereTheTimeG0es · 03/02/2017 13:52

We have really hard water (kettle needs descaling frequently) but have never used fabric conditioner and our clothes definitely aren't crunchy. DMIL sometimes washes out clothes when we are staying and uses it and they feel weirdly floppy and it takes ages to get the fragrance out again.