A Miele classic to stuff my stocking!

[tomturbomatic]

I have great success with powder Tide HE at up to 200F; 2 Tbs of it and 2 Tbs of STPP. There is no excess sudsing and it rinses out just fine so you don't have to worry about buying Persil. Many HE detergents, including all of the liquids I have tried, go berserk with suds at high temps.

Do you need the operating instructions? I can send you a copy. [this post was last edited: 12/29/2012-22:27]

 

[DADoES]

 
<blockquote>Many HE detergents, including all of the liquids I have tried, go berserk with suds at high temps.</blockquote> Yup, I saw that first-hand recently running a load on Sanitary in the Duet with liquid Era HE.  No suds at first, then BOOM as the temp ramped-up and it wasn't anywhere near 200°F.  Tide HE powder and Sears powder don't do that.

 

[bosch2460]

I use powdered Tide with Bleach in boil washes all the time, and I have mechanically softened water, too. You have to watch your dosing carefully. I use 2 TBS for a normally soiled, packed drum. Persil or Ariel are great, if you have some around.

 

[launderess]

OTOH

Latest incarnation of some Miele washers direct one to use liquid detergent for certain cycles.

Have not tried any of the latest offerings of TWB or Tide "Vivid" powders so am working from memory of the old stuff. Tried one box of Tide "HE" when it came out and that was that. Stuff made so much suds even with reduced dosage had to pour cooking oil into the drum to kill the suds. This was after several rinses failed to shift the froth and contacted MIELE USA for advice on how to deal with the situation. That was that for Moi!

Since one has tons of Persil stashed away and am now working through a huge box of vintage All "condensed" sudsing detergent (with phosphates if you please) don't see myself purchasing any powdered detergents for a long, long time.

 

[washer111]

Well...

On our New(ish) Miele FL (W5741) machine, we've been using Omo HE detergent. I hate it! Its caked in the box, and a 1/2 dosage will yield excess suds on anything hotter than around 110º. Somehow, suds come out of nowhere as the machine goes into spin, forcing it to flush the suds away (Even with "Water Plus" and the 3rd Rinse option enabled).

I believe Bio-Zet was better... I really wish we could get better detergent! This is No Phosphate detergent too (GRR!)

 

[tomturbomatic]

Funny about the Tide HE sudsing since when it first came out, it even had the endorsement from Miele and other makers on the box.

 

[launderess]

Tide HE and Miele

Parted ways at some point. You don't see the Miele logo on boxes/bottles of Tide or any other P&G domestic laundry detergent any longer.

Being as this may MieleUSA when pressed will say one can use Tide HE or any other low sudsing detergent but of course they do recommend Persil or Miele Care products.

 

[ronhic]

we've been using Omo HE detergent. I hate it!

Without being a thread stealer, Washer111, I'm intrigued to know where in Oz you are that Front load OMO manages to yield so much froth on even a half dose at such low temperatures?

Canberra has some of the softest water in the country and I have no trouble at all with full dosage of any Levers product at 140F/60C or higher.

 

[washer111]

I wouldn't have a clue as to why. We use mechanically softened water - perhaps the excess salt is causing the sudsing, but otherwise, we have no difference. The big problem is generally with towels, which are OK in the no-detergent pre-wash I use (no suds), but then in the main-wash, things just go crazy (60º).

 

[ronhic]

We use mechanically softened water

Again, I ask where you are in Oz that needs mechanically softened water?

 

[washer111]

I think much of WA has harder water, based on my travelling experience. Perth isn't too bad, but much of the region uses groundwater from rather rocky supplies. I'm not comfortable sharing my locale on here: Despite the fact this is a fairly safe spot to do so: I'd rather not for now. 

 

I think much of Australia has these problems, its just people don't realise there are solutions to the problem or even think there is a problem to start with. I reckon half the people here wouldn't have a clue about what "hard water" is, let alone its implications!

 

[washer111]

Besides, I don't think its our water or location that is the problem, rather the particular batches we get. Perhaps you are getting your Omo from a different supply chain? 

 

The Omo was No Suds in our older Simpson, now too many suds. Although I will say the machine does use fairly low water levels, even on the Water Plus mode, so that might very well be the problem. Its generally OK on full loads, but anything less than around 75% and you will start having problems. We always use a 50% dosage anyway (especially after our experience with a full dosage of "Wool Wash" with only 4 pairs of woolly socks inside!). 

I'm starting to wonder if this detergent is formulated more for cooler water washes, than hotter washes, as it does have "Wash in Cold Water" tips on it and is probably more of an Eco detergent. 

 

[sudsmaster]

In my Mieles I use Persil powder, or Sears Ultra Plus HE cut with 33% STPP. The Sears Ultra Plus with Oxyclean powder works quite well in a Miele, although I generally don't go above 160F with it. I've also found that for a cold fill only washer in an unheated building, it's necessary to add the Ultra Plus to the drum before the clothes. Otherwise it usually fails to dissolve in the cold water fill in the detergent drawer, causing lack of detergent in the wash phase and too much detergent in the rinse phase.

I don't think Persil has the same issue, but I haven't tried it since I discovered the issue with Sears Ultra not dissolving in a cold fill. Seeing as how many Euro washers are on cold fill only, I suspect that Persil dissolves readily in cold water.

The Sears Ultra Plus HE with Oxyclean is a bit better behaved at higher temps than the "regular" Sears Ultra Plus HE. That is, it doesn't seem to get excess suds as readily as the regular stuff. But the Mieles rinse so well it's generally not an issue anyway.

 

[mistereric]

So far, so good! Love this thing to pieces.

Bought some Tide HE and am going to try smaller doses. We've peed on the floor a few times so far. I'm out of STPP… time to put in an order. I do have a tiny box of Persil but will be trough it in a week unless i conserve.

Can't believe the difference in sheets and towels at high temperatures. The yuck melts away and they feel completely different after the wash. Very impressed.

I used my dryer-test extension cord, and made an adapter to get it connected.

Five rinses. Machine connects to both hot and cold. 900 or 1100 rpm.

The dispenser is cleaner now, but there is a hard crust I can't seem to shift. I want to get the same crust off the panel without damaging the finish. Any ideas?

Tom, i found the manual online, so I think I am good. Thanks!

This one is dated 1987, so I think she just made the classic-cut.

 

[launderess]

MisterEric

Glad you found the manual and was able to download it, so you're good with that then.

Detergetn wise I'd start with no more than one tablespoon when doing washes at or >140F. Remember the four basic components of good laundering. Since you are upping both water temperature and mechanical action (by longer wash time) a decrease in chemicals (detergent) is fine. You can add pure oxygen bleach (sodium percarbonate) in the dosage of 1/2 to 1 ounce per wash load which coupled with boiling wash temps will work a treat.

In removing old "crud" from the dispenser some Miele "nuts" in Europe put plastic parts of their machines through the dishwasher for cleaning. However YMMV and I'd seek another opinon on that, especially since the fascia on yours are brown and not the generic plastic.

Where is the water leaking from?

 

[tomturbomatic]

I am so happy for you Eric. Glad you are seeing good results. You might try vinegar on a paper towel to remove the crud with more dabbing than rubbing followed by thorough rinsing. I notice that when I remove towels washed in Tide HE from the machine that they have this incredibly fresh smell like near a waterfall where the water is highly oxygenated and super fresh. I hope you will like Tide HE as much as I do.

 

[tomturbomatic]

We've peed on the floor a few times so far.

From excitement or from the dispenser?

 

[mielerod69]

Miele should not be connected to softened water

Hi washer111,
If you read your manual it states on page 56 that the machine should not be connected to softened water. This is the reason why you are experiencing over sudsing problems. In Germany Miele has an AllWater model which only uses softened water in the main wash and mains tap water in the rinse cycles. I would suggest to just connect your Miele to normal mains water and bypass the softener.

 

[wierdguy]

Mieles are great machines, just like their vacuums

 

[mistereric]

After two loads last night, the small dose Tide HE worked very well. Looks like I have a detergent solution! I used a whole scoop but poured it over the divide in the dispenser, so each wash got about half the dose. Same with a scoop of oxygen bleach. Results were very decent, and no oversudsing.

Why didn't I think of vinegar before? Sheesh. Good idea.

She seems to leak only on rinse fills, which is kinda bizarre. The machine is level, so thats not it. Weird that its only on rinses! The water leaks out of the dispenser.

I absolutely love the super quick dryer cycles after using this machine.