“softener leads to machine failure“ Is this true or is it hogwash?

[adam-aussie-vac]

Thank God I’ve got a machine that can do all of us apart fro

M STPP As my little German machine has an option for double washing, which basically means by you can do to 90° washes in the same cycle

 

[daveamkrayoguy]

1) Preetty much figure my detergent contains this, otherwise I hope the lack of is my washer's only antagonist!

2) Prefer warm washes, cold for my own clothes, which is all I wash in cold; hot seldom used, but then again, my daughter's guinea pig linen, maybe I should turn her on to using...

3) Don't use--surprisingly my near-top-of-the-line Kenmore lacks a dispenser for, though I have a bleach dispenser, that went from seldom-used, to bleach never needing to be just poured directly in...

4) That machine gets the filthiest loads done with just one wash...

So, pretty certain erosion is likely to happen even using plain water, only keeping a washer unused for those many years those vintage New In Box opened after fifty or more years is how to get your vintage machine off to a good start, with regular maintenance...

-- Dave

 

[gelaundry4ever]

The guy in the video

The guy in the video doesn't know what he's talking about. Why would I wash clothes in an ounce of laundry detergent without fabric softener? I use softener all the time without any issues. He must've used cold water, quick cycles, and not enough detergent and too much softener. He should've gone by the recommended amount. I will not add vinegar to my laundry. I'm sorry, but I don't want it to smell sour.

 

[DADoES]

 
Vinegar doesn't impart a sour odor to laundry in a washing machine unless MUCH larger quantities are added than is typically involved.  I often wash laundry, with more than an ounce of detergent, and no softener.

Another toploader I cleaned up this past week.  Fetched it from a seller on 12/12/2020.  It's 13 years old (serial Feb 2009).  There was moderate evidence of residue in the agitator-mounted softener dispenser, or maybe it was from sloppy handling of detergent.  None of the muck generated any suds upon flushing it with pressure-washer spray.  I should have taken more photos but I got going with the several-days full disassembly-and-clean-up, didn't think about photos.  It cleaned up nicely and doesn't need any repairs.

 

[stan]

Glen

Nice job of cleaning it up.
It didn’t look like it had detergent build up or gunk.
More like hard water deposits?
Noting too unusual for its age.
They all need a good cleaning from time to time no matter what one dose.

 

[gelaundry4ever]

softener use

I used fabric softener at the laundromat by the recommended amount. Guess what? I had no issues. Again, the guy in the video doesn't know what he's talking about. Use the recommended amount of laundry detergent and fabric softener, then you won't have an issue with them.

 

[bradfordwhite]

I've switched. No longer using softener.

Instead with about 1/4 cup of white vinegar in the dispenser.

Much better.

Even though I wasn't using that much softener to begin with, maybe half a teaspoon, I liked the smell and memories of it from years ago.

BUT,

when the clothes are dry the first couple of days, there was a minor allergic reaction.

---

Not anymore. The clothes do not smell like vinegar. If anything it brings out the subtle smell of the laundry detergent.

 

[askolover]

25 years of using softener in the Asko with no problems.

 

[combo52]

Using vinegar in the laundry

Be very careful using vinegar in a washing machine or in a dishwasher.

Vinegar destroys the rubber parts like the critical rubber seals and pumps etc. it does very little good in the amounts people typically use it will not do what fabric softener does.

I again have used fabric softener all my life, or at least since the mid-60s and it will not cause problems if you’re washing your clothes properly and temperatures above 100°F and using plenty of good detergent.

The problem with fabric softener comes in if you try to use a little bit of detergent when doing laundry and use cold temperatures you can get a buildup of fabric softener in your clothing and in the machine.

Detergent on the other hand cannot build up in clothing or in the machine detergent dissolves readily and rinses away.

John

 

[adam-aussie-vac]

Not all detergent, I’ve seen some detergent buildup

Only on some front loaders that use a BOL Detergent that’s a really fine powder

 

[combo52]

If you’re seeing a fine white film or deposit

In a washing machines outer tub etc. that is a mineral detergent cannot build up detergent will rinse away the next time you use the washer, If it was actually detergent which I doubt.

I have never seen any kind of detergent filled up in a washing machine and 50 years of fixing washing machines.

I have seen build ups of dried detergent in dispensers, I’ve even seen old belt drive whirlpool washers it has so much detergent poured on the top of the machine we would get a non-spin complain because the lid would even close lol.

But I challenge somebody to show me a picture of detergent filled up in a washing machine where the water hits it.

John

 

[gelaundry4ever]

my take on the softener situation

It all comes down to how you use it, as well as the design and styles of the softener dispensing process. Some softener dispensers spin out the softener during spin, while others flush them out while filling. My mom has her LG and in all her years of using softener, nary an issue out of it has come up. Softener being flushed out is better because you essentially clean it out. Believe me.

 

[gelaundry4ever]

all temps

I have used fabric softener in all temps and I have yet to have an issue. If you are going to use cold water, also use warm and hot as well depending on color content. Just keep in mind.

 

[DADoES]

 
Jerome, the problem is softener gunk accumulating on the interior of the outer tub, on the exterior of the spin basket, and under the agitator.  The method of dispensing has no relation to those areas.  My AquaSmarts flush and drain the softener dispenser five times and residue still accumulates in the dispenser and thus the dispenser needs cleaning on a recurring basis according to the usage pattern.  Neptune TL flushes the softener dispenser continuously while the final rinse level increases from the low normal level to the higher bulky level (the final rinse always fills to bulky level).  Its dispenser also accumulates residue and must be occasionally cleaned.  So, if residue accumulates in the dispensers on those machines even with the amount of flushing they do, then it certainly can accumulate in the other hidden areas.

 

[mrboilwash]

Not sure how much sense it makes to compare accumulation in the softener compartment where it sits for a long time undiluted with other machine parts where is diluted and then at least in theory should be washed away again with detergent in the next wash cycle.

Never had a problem with FS build up in a washer so far but I always use plenty of detergent and I frequently run very hot washes. Suppose this helps a lot.

 

[gelaundry4ever]

Don't believe the hype!

Don't even believe the hype. Nothing is as good as softener when you use it correctly. I use it all the time. No harm done!

 

[adam-aussie-vac]

Honestly same here, when used correctly it’s always done a

WONDERFUL job speaking of which that reminds me, I’ve gotta do a little bit of laundry to do before I take on Melbourne trip

 

[gelaundry4ever]

caustic comment

Somebody needs to post a caustic comment due to this stupid crap that dude said. How dare he? I'll do laundry Saturday and yes, with fabric softener! I promise you, nothing bad happens to the machines! EVER!!!!

 

[DADoES]

 
Somebody?  Why not yourself?

 

[gelaundry4ever]

I did...

I did, but it has fallen on deaf ears. Like I don't know how to do laundry. He thinks we're that stupid. I'm not stupid! His suggestions in the video do not work. Anything "eco friendly" is a farce!