Washing Machine not taking conditioner, any ideas?

[RockingRosebud]

It's washing fine but not pulling the fabric softener out of the drawer. Have pulled it all out and washed but no change.

Any ideas on what it is and cost please?

TIA

Have you washed inside the washing machine where you have pulled the drawer out as sometimes this can become mouldy. Try doing a really hot wash to see if that makes any difference. According to the man that fixes my machine you should ideally do several 60 washes a week with at least one 90 a month to help remove all the gunk. Once you have finished using your machine always leave the door and drawer slightly ajar to allow them to dry. HTH.

Is it actually filling with water at the final rinse stage? There is a separate hole for that water above the conditioner compartment. Even if the siphon tube was blocked the conditioner should overflow the sides of the compartment and get into the machine that way.

3GirlsMum, I never do a 60 wash, let alone a 90! Am I mistreating my poor machine?

Think of the environement - according to the advert on TV we should all be washing at 40!

My Miele is cold fill and heats the water in the machine, so the bit about a hot wash won't work on the powder drawer and tubes. I flush through with a tablespoon of vinegar in a litre of water every so often - this seems to do the trick. You can also use vinegar instead of fabric conditioner now and again - use clear malt vinegar, good for towels etc - nice and soft but don't smell of vinegar!!

DebL how do you flush it through? Mine has not taken the conditioner for about a year, I have cleaned the tray numerous times to no avail.

im having the same problem ,have tried everything...damn machines only about 6 months old but company i bought it from has done vanishing act!!!i get my fabric conditioner in by keeping an eye on the cylce then when it gets to rinse to put it in the soap draw.it gets in that way!
hope it helps

I lived with my old machine for about 3 years like this. It became 2nd nature to catch it at the start of the softener cycle, stop it, open the door and chuck the softener in before starting it again. Very sad!

Yes Northerner but according to my man who knows if you continue at 40 its not enough to remove the build up of soap etc in your machine. I have actually been told by more than one engineer over the years that you should do at least one empty 90 deg wash a month, no soap and no clothes and just watch how the water goes..yuck..all that soap build-up. Apparently a little bit of bleach occasionally in that 90 wash is a good idea as well..although thats not something I ever done yet..have visions of turning clothes the wrong colour because its not flushed through properly!

I wash DDs nappies at 60 as recommended and once every 2-3 months I do them at 90.
My drawer still needs to be cleaned out every couple of months though as the softener seems to thicken up and block up.

Am I the only one who never ever uses softener?
Sorry, I know that wasn't helpful.

Why don't you, jasper? Do you just love ironing???

Incidentally reading this thread made me realise I haven't cleaned my drawer for ages - so I cleaned it today, and then it was so clean and slidey it opened itself during a wash and poured water all over the floor. Oh good.

Incidentally II - also realised I do occasionally do a 60 wash - towels - now am wondering whether to do that empty 90 wash or if the machine will blow up (after what happened with the drawer!)

no jasper, I never use softener either... don't need the extra chemicals and it makes everything stink!

because it seems totally unnecessary and a waste of money - our mothers all managed fine before it was "invented", and no, I'm not big on ironing.

Agree with pph too about the chemicals and the smell.

i dont use fabric conditioner either. it just irrites my kids skin, and stops nappies and towels being as absorbant.

if i want fluffy towels i stick them in the tumble dryer. heh.

I don't use it on towels - I like them crunchy. Don't want crunchy clothes though. The one I use doesn't smell either (Surcare).

you mean crunchy clothes are not normal??

Can your children bend their arms and legs?

surely at 4,2, and 1 they are far too young for that??

I'm back from the wilds of Cheshire to my connection at normal speed so normal service has now resumed.

I wash bedding at 60 degrees as any lower apparently you don't kill the bed bugs! I will do a 90 degree wash and find a few whites to throw in.

The water is so hard round here that everything is rock hard when it's dry if you don't use conditioner. Currently relying on Bold 3 in 1.

Thanks for the help.