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Housekeeping

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Original poster

Why is the washing machine not using the fabric conditioner.. the drawer is still full after the wash??

31 replies

Lulumama · 27/05/2009 09:09

Have cleaned out the drawer which was a bit gunky, but it is still not working. have a warranty for the machine so can call someone out, but not keen on staying in all day waiting for the repair man

any ideas??

OP posts:
BecauseImWorthIt · 27/05/2009 09:11

Have you tried putting the machine on, empty, on its hottest wash? Maybe there's a blocked pipe somewhere?

missingtheaction · 27/05/2009 09:12

have you cleaned out under the fabric conditioner dispenser? is there a bit on the dispenser that clicks on top of the rest of it? many dispensers dispense up a small tube and this gets clogged with gunky old conditioner gloop. Have another good look and poke around. You may need a cocktail stick - or a pipe cleaner if your dcs have any in their craft stuff (or if you smoke a pipe)

CherryChoc · 27/05/2009 09:13

Try putting vinegar in fabric conditioner drawer, and run any cycle at 60 or higher with either no clothes in or just a few towels etc.

expatinscotland · 27/05/2009 09:14

because it knows fabric conditioner is the work of the devil.

expatinscotland · 27/05/2009 09:14

because it knows fabric conditioner is the work of the devil.

deegward · 27/05/2009 09:16

Ihave the same problem, but my machine is 8 yrs old, now swapped to 2 in 1 tablets.

paranoidmother · 27/05/2009 09:50

I had this problem with an old machine and found using half conditoner and half water meant it all went through.

StealthPolarBear · 27/05/2009 09:54

me too
Is it a zanussi jet (I think)
I've just stopped using it - cleared the drawer out and hacked at all the built up stuff around the drawer with a knife, still not working
keep meaning to post on here but forgetting!

sagacious · 27/05/2009 10:23

I had a zanussi jet and it had the same problem.

Never worked out how to fix it (tried hot washes/vinegar/ taking out dispenser and cleaning

In the end the control system went and was beyond repair

So problem sorted

weebleswobble · 27/05/2009 10:30

I had this problem with my machine - the engineer told me to take the drawer out, spray the upper part where the water comes out with bleach spray, and leave for 1/2 hour and then run an empty wash on the hottest temperature. It worked and I have to do this twice a year.

clumsymum · 27/05/2009 10:34

Yep, I scrub the upper surface above the drawer with my washing up brush now and then, cos I think the nozzles where the water comes out get bunged up.

That works for mine.

StealthPolarBear · 27/05/2009 10:39

hadn't thought of that thanks clumsymum and weebles

mummy2isla · 27/05/2009 11:23

White vinegar is meant to do it on a 90 degree wash. Although I bought the white vinegar about 3 months ago and haven't got round to it yet

Original poster
Lulumama · 27/05/2009 11:45

oooh, many posts.. thank you all, especially to BIWI and expat , made me laugh..

i have done much degunking and prodding, withj a chopstik, rather than a pipe cleaner.. will try the bleach spray now

have run machine on hottest cycle 2 days ago..

will report back after bleaching!

OP posts:
Washersaurus · 27/05/2009 11:51

Do you normally use softener? Are you sure you are using a cycle that takes the fabric conditioner? I know only a couple of the programmes on my machine do.

Original poster
Lulumama · 27/05/2009 11:56

usually use 2 in one, but got some non bio so needed to add conditioner... will check cycle instructions, thanks

OP posts:
Original poster
Lulumama · 27/05/2009 23:25

sorry , forgot to report back

IT WORKS!

conditioner being sucked up now.. all is well in washing machine land tonight

OP posts:
MrsMcCluskey · 27/05/2009 23:35

phew
cant go to bed knowing there is a lundry crisis out there!

YouLukaAmazing · 27/05/2009 23:40

Message withdrawn

StealthPolarBear · 28/05/2009 08:06

I'm buying a washing up brush today
What do you mean by bleach spray? Is that something you buy or something you make?

Original poster
Lulumama · 28/05/2009 09:54

bleach spray - flash do one with bleach in it or you could make your own with bleach and water in a plant sprayer !

OP posts:
StealthPolarBear · 15/06/2009 11:28

Well finally got round to scrubbing mine with a washing up brush and it worked

Gave the entire compartment a scrub out too, and the drawer itself (usually just run it under very hot water) - so feeling extra extra clean!

chantellejenise · 17/11/2010 09:16

Just wanted to say, that I have had the same problem for a while now. It occasionally takes the conditioner but rarely. I've tried the hot washes etc but to no avail!
Seen your tips and so have pulled the drawer out and tried to unblock the tiny holes and sprayed with my d.i.y bleach spray, as suggested.
Just waiting 1/2hr now!!....fingers crossed!!!:)

choccyp1g · 17/11/2010 10:13

I get the same problem every so often, and clean out the drawer thingy, but have just remembered that the holes at the top also cause the trouble, so will start poking around with a stick.

But I ask myself WHY can't capitalism an advanced western industrialised nation produce a self cleaning washing machine ???

Oh yes, I remember, capitalism doesn't actually produce the things we need (or even want), it simply makes us want the things it produces. [sign of aging leftie, relating economic theory to household chores FGS]

chantellejenise · 17/11/2010 16:40

Well, sadly :( that didn't work for my machine but will still regularly make sure those holes are cleaned.
However, since leaving it this morning on a 90 wash with bleach! I've realised that it not only is not taking the conditioner, it is actually filling the conditioner compartment with water. So will carry on searching for advice but if it comes to having to pull the machine out and disconnect pipes or anything, I'm afraid I'm going to have to find a man! lol!