Affresh is a joke....

[combo52]

DISHWASHER DISCOLORATION

My 1987 WP DW with plastic door and my 1982 KA KDSS20 which has several white plastic parts shows no discoloration at all. I do use chlorinated detergents about half the time. I repair DWs for a living and the majority of the machines we work on have plastic tubs I seldom see one with any discoloration in fact the plastic DWs usually look better than the SS tubs.

 

[pierreandreply4]

new washer cleaner

there is a new washer cleaner that is made by tide That cleans fl (front load washers) and it also cleans top load washers as well i have try it and it seems better than afresh

 

[tomturbomatic]

cleaning washers

Actually, the joke is on the American public. From the first ads for automatic washers, it was always stressed that the machine cleaned itself and shut off. You youngsters don't know what went into properly cleaning out a wringer washer after a wash day and if you had a Maytag with the aluminum tub, it had to be done thoroughly including wiping the tub completely dry to prevent corrosion which lead to rough places in the tub which would damage clothes. So having to clean washers is bull crap if they are used correctly. It seems totally f**ked up that the machines which use so little water to wash & rinse clothes, fill liberally with hot water to levels unseen for washing clothes just to clean out the the sugar honey iced tea left behind in machines which get energy star ratings for using the least amount of water to wash clothes. And don't think that inadequate rinsing in water cold enough to be served from water fountains does not play a role in this.

 

[toploader1984]

you are so right

 

[iheartmaytag]

So having to clean washers is bull crap if they are used cor

". . . if the machine smells like the dog the blankets need additional washing."

I must respectfully disagree with both posters. After washing the dog's rugs in a top loader, I also cleaned out the machine before using it for people clothes. I also clean the bath tub after giving the dog a bath, and often after taking one myself. It just helps removed those wild hairs and fishy odors.

 

[pierreandreply4]

Pet hair broke my 1993 top load washer

Now at least once a month or right after i washe a pet bed in my duet washer i clean it so that if pet hair is still in the drum it removes it and it also prevents the washer from breaking my 1993 inglis superb 2 toploading washer broke because of pet hair so now everytime i washe a pet bed while the pet bed is drying i set the washer on whitest white but some tide cleaner in the detergent dispenser and start the washer so that while it cleans to let the remaining pet hair be totaly remove

 

[mayguy]

Tide

I tried the Tide washer cleaner, and it STINKS! Ugh.. The smell stuck to the washer for a couple of weeks.. I threw it away, and just use the Affresh about every 4 months.

 

[launderess]

From what one read about the product, "Affresh" is mainly sodium percarbonate (oxygen bleach), which in theory should deal with mould, slime and odors, will do nothing to break up the gunk and build up inside a washing machine.

For that one needs a dedicated washing machine cleaner such as "Washing Machine Magic" or the descaling/cleaner Miele sells for front loaders. The later is common enough in Europe, but hard to find on these shores.

In either event, both of the above mentioned products contains acids, surfactants and perhaps a disinfectant. Their purpose is to remove and disslove hard water deposits, soap/detergent residue, mildew, moulds, etc that are on heating elements and between the washer drums.

Depending upon the washer, one could simply bung in several quarts of white vinegar and baking soda (the chemical reaction causes foaming, which helps loosen the gunk), or simply white vinegar.

Agree with another poster that using "Tang" to clean a dishwasher or washing machine is a pretty expensive way to get the chemical one is after "citric acid", and adds lots of sugar which does nothing. Citric acid is found in most Kosher food stores/sections labled "sour salt".

 

[tomturbomatic]

Hard water deposits are one thing. Mold and sludge in a machine are entirely different and should not be there if proper washing methods are followed. New owners of front loaders in this country are going through a period of adjustment, complicated by the fact that many don't bother to read the information that comes with the machines and others are too stupid to understand what they read or are told. They need a rock on a creek bank. Many were in the habit of closing the lid on their top loaders after unloading the laundry. In most cases, there was enough air circulation to carry away the extra moisture that would support microbial growth. So these people close and latch the door of their front loader after use and nothing dries out. People using cold water and liquid detergents in a top loader had a longer grace period before they had to pay the fiddler for their poor laundry techniques. In the 80s and 90s, we used to pull in GE machines with close to a one inch thick buildup of blue-green goo in the bottom of the outer tub as a result of cold water washing and liquid detergents. With a front loader, you don't have the grace period before you notice your personal botanical garden right there in the washer.

One advantage to the highly perfumed liquid detergents is that when used in frigid water, even if little soil is removed, the fragrance is implanted in the fabric and little of it is removed by rinsing in frigid rinse water so regardless of how much soil remains, the fabrics do not smell dirty; only your washer will. The exception to this is polyester table napkins. Back in the 80s, we used to go to a Chinese restaurant with beautiful pink napkins. Suddenly, you could not put the napkins anywhere near your nose because they were washed in cold water and reeked of rancid fats. That is why we stopped going there. It's a wonder the oil buildup in the napkins did not start a fire in the dryer.

 

[iheartmaytag]

I fully agree

"I tried the Tide washer cleaner, and it STINKS! Ugh.."

It is a tad too strong on the olfactory system. Affresh has a much lighter, citris scent.