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Housekeeping

Find cleaning advice from other Mumsnetters on our Housekeeping forum.

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Original poster

Laundry troubleshooting - share your wisdom

24 replies

ElizabethAllen · 22/12/2011 23:15

Where am I going wrong?
I wash towels / face cloths / bath mats at 60deg on a 90 min wash (all white - no clothing or bedding goes in with the towels)
Bedding and white/light underwear and socks also washed 60deg 90m wash (all white or light)
Dark or coloured socks and underwear and heavily soiled clothes washed at 50deg 80m wash
Dark and coloured clothes washed at 40deg 70m wash
Using Persil Bio powder for whites or lights and Tesco Colour Powder (GHI recommended) for coloured or dark washes.

I live in a hard water area and use the amount of powder recommended by the manufacturer on the box.
I don't use fabric conditioner as it irritates my DS's eczema.
I tumble dry towels, bedding, socks, underwear and the kids trousers. Everything else is line dried or dried indoors on an airer.

The problems:
The dark clothes are coming out with white smears on them.
Clothing is becoming bobbly and worn looking
I cannot get away without ironing even though I use the reduced creases 600 spin and remove soon after the machine has finished.
Machine has mould marks in the seal.

Any tips or alternative detergents greatly appreciated.

OP posts:

racingheart · 22/12/2011 23:18

Maybe try changing to washing liquid. The white smears could be undissolved powder - I get that sometimes.

Do you always leave the w/m door open as soon as the wash has finished and when it's not in use? that way, you'll avoid mould.

Maybe do a boil wash with one of those machine cleaner packs.

We live in a hard water area too and it does cause far more problems that I'd imagined before we moved here.

ivykaty44 · 22/12/2011 23:21

I think you are washing to much, the cycles are too long and also to much washing powder or liquid is causing the white smears.

reduce your washing powder by a quarter to a third and reduce the washes to 40 degree washes for clothing and only use a 60 degree cycle for bedding and towels

ivykaty44 · 22/12/2011 23:23

I do a 1400 spin and still don't have to iron the clothing, I give it a really good shake and smooth the item out before placing on airer and then to finish of I air on the radiator in the evening.

AlfalfaMum · 22/12/2011 23:27

I always use about half the recommended amount of washing powder (2 thirds the recommended if very dirty!), so you might try that first off.
If that has no effect on the white smears, you could try an extra rinse
Wipe out the seal every so often because gunge will collect there. Bio washing powders tend to create more gunge apparently, so a non-bio might be a better option (I always use Fairy non-bio for everything and don't have any problems).

Also, you could check the filter of your washing machine, or maybe even the drainage pipe might be a bit blocked?

hollyonthesleigh · 23/12/2011 07:10

The mould on the seal needs a good scrub,have a read here,gives some good tips about maintaining your washing machine.

PigletJohn · 23/12/2011 15:55

white smears are excessive powder

give it a maintenance wash, at HOT HOT HOT with just your white cotton towels and NO powder.

If it foams up, that will be which the excess powder dissolving in the hot water and washing away. Do it again until it stops foaming.

Pull out the powder drawer and scrub it in hot water. Scrub out the slot it fits into as well to remove any powder residue. If there is black mildew use kitchen spray cleaner with bleach, let it soak in, then scrub with a nylon washing-up or toothbrush, especially the "ceiling" of the slot where the water holes are. Use the same spray on the mould in the rubber door seal, and run a sponge along the grooves in it.

You can probably use less powder. Most people use too much.

I like to put the powder in through the door as I don't like clogged powder in the drawer, slot and filling pipe.

PigletJohn · 23/12/2011 15:57

p.s. for 40 deg sock washes, a liquid will disperse better than a powder in the cool water.

Flyingoutofcontrol · 23/12/2011 21:11

Or, stick your drawer in the dishwasher!

I did this and cannot believe how much easier and how much cleaner it is!

Original poster

ElizabethAllen · 23/12/2011 23:36

Thank you everyone for taking the time to offer your advice.

I'll try using less detergent and switching to liquid for the coloured washes. I've run the machine through on a 90deg wash with some soda crystals, the drawer and slot were clean and mould, powder and gunk free! I already clean the filter every couple of months. The door seal will get some attention tomorrow.

OP posts:

BastedTurkey · 24/12/2011 14:59

I pretty much do what you do but use less detergent and use water softener tablets instead and this made a big difference.

We are in a really hard water area

sprinkles77 · 24/12/2011 15:15

I second less detergent and water softener (I use the powder from sainsbury's). Clean the drawer and its slot as described by piglet Also take care not to over load the machine: no more than 2/3 full. Obviously check pockets for tissues etc. I know you cannot use fabric softener for DS, but you could for everyone else: maybe do a wash just for him with his clothes, bedding and towels in, well, 2 washes, one for colours one for whites. I don't know if you will find this practical (for a while I used non bio for me and DS and bio for DH and towels, it was fine). It will make everyone elses clothes smoother.

sprinkles77 · 24/12/2011 15:18

Oh, and bobbles... tend to be worse on synthetic and mixed fabrics. If you get bobbles on wool, you can buy a fabric comb to get rid of them. Don't use one of those shaver ones as they can cause a lot of damage. Bobbles on synthetics can be avoided by washing inside out, and can be improved by washing with something rough, like a towel or jeans.

AngelsfromtherealmsofgloryDog · 25/12/2011 22:17

Soda crystals really help us - we live in a very hard water area too.

Our washing machine man says don't use Calgon as it doesn't work, and (IIRC) can damage machines.

I use washing up liquid to clean our door seal.

BlackCatinaSantaHat · 25/12/2011 22:37

Angel don't know if you are still about but Does washing up liquid work on getting the mould off the door seal?
I need to do mine (It has lots of black).

We used to have a small kitchen so didn't used to be able to leave the door open. Now have moved so we can.

PigletJohn · 25/12/2011 23:15

black mildew is killed by bleach. Once it is dead it comes off easier. The "kitchen spray with bleach" by Flash or own-brand is good for cleaning it off, as it also penetrates the soap scum or limescale that is harbouring the mould. You have to rub it off as well.

AngelsfromtherealmsofgloryDog · 26/12/2011 08:07

Ah that's useful, Piglet.

When we had a bit of mould on our seal, WUL did work but we only had a small amount and I'd previously done 90 degree washes with bio powder & laundry bleach.

I found the main problem was the small holes which go through the seal all round. I used a narrow teaspoon handle to clean them, but next time I'll use a pipe cleaner.

I love the dishwasher idea for the drawer, Flyingoutofcontrol - I'll remember that next time.

BlackCatinaSantaHat · 26/12/2011 12:00

Thanks for that, will give it a go.

mousysantamouse · 27/12/2011 08:39

try using less detergent. the manufacturers want you to use a lot.
I am in a hard water area and use about a third of the powder it says on the pack.

for really dirty stuff and towels I add some (maybe half a cup) soda crystals.

do you overfill the mashine? then it can't rinse as well which leaves white residue on the garments. you need to leave enough space on top of the load to get your hand in on top of the load carate style.

do a service wash once a month or so, 90 degrees with a cup of soda crystals directly in the drum and a cup of white vinegar in the conditioner compartment. leave the doors and drawer open when not in use to air the mashine.

smithster · 27/12/2011 08:48

have you tried Surcare? Washing powder / liquid and fabric softener? no perfumes or dyes, doesn't irritate my DS's eczema. I get it at Tesco.

Yawner247 · 27/12/2011 08:58

Dr beckman service it pack....follow the instructions and your machine will be tip top!! The white marks may be from excessive powder use but could also come from the residue collecting in the seal I wipe mine before removing washing service it can be bought from tesco and I think I have the right spelling!

AngelsfromtherealmsofgloryDog · 27/12/2011 09:23

I used the Dr Beckmann pack and I can't say the machine came up any better than when doing a 'normal' clean and using vinegar to descale.

tak1ngchances · 27/12/2011 17:38

Coming a bit late to this threat but here are my builds:

Where am I going wrong?
I wash towels / face cloths / bath mats at 60deg on a 90 min wash (all white - no clothing or bedding goes in with the towels) GOOD will kill bacteria
Bedding and white/light underwear and socks also washed 60deg 90m wash (all white or light) as above
Dark or coloured socks and underwear and heavily soiled clothes washed at 50deg 80m wash lovely
Dark and coloured clothes washed at 40deg 70m wash lovely
Using Persil Bio powder for whites or lights excellent as it contains bleach and Tesco Colour Powder (GHI recommended) for coloured or dark washes. no. you need to use liquid for coloured and dark washes. Powder is abrasive and will cause bobbling over time. Liquids give the best care to coloured/dark clothes
I don't use fabric conditioner as it irritates my DS's eczema. This is a shame as fabric conditioner prevents bobbling and general wear/tear and can keep colours for 25% longer

The problems:
The dark clothes are coming out with white smears on them. I agree with the posters who said that this is powder residue. Is there a good rinse cycle on your machine?
Clothing is becoming bobbly and worn looking Fabric conditioner would help here or at least liquid detergent
I cannot get away without ironing even though I use the reduced creases 600 spin and remove soon after the machine has finished. Fabric conditioner reduces ironing time so again would help

I know your son has eczema which reacts to fabric conditioner...have you tried Comfort Pure?

Any tips or alternative detergents greatly appreciated.

tak1ngchances · 27/12/2011 17:39

Thread not threat! Sorry

Also didn't mean to sound bossy in mine but I also had horrendous laundry and rang up a few of the carelines to get advice. Great improvement for me!

Original poster

ElizabethAllen · 09/01/2012 15:28

Thank you everyone, great improvements already

Door seal is now clean (well, as clean as I can get it after several bleachy scrubbing sessions), will now give it a good weekly clean to stay on top of it.

I'm washing clothes inside out now and with a dash of fabric conditioner - thanks tak1ngchances for recommending Comfort Pure. Everything is coming out much less creased.

I've also been using liquid instead of powder for coloureds and the white smears have gone. I'm using smaller amounts of detergent too.

Really pleased with the results and am very grateful for your advice.

OP posts:

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