Detergent question re: FL Neptune

[sikiguya]

I am moving into a house that is coming with a FL Neptune and I know NOTHING about FL machines. Do I have to use special detergent? I have read about the mold problem that some Neptunes have had so I will be leaving the door open between washings. Any other pointers for me?
Thanks!

 

[spiraclean]

HE Detergents

Hi Heather,
It is vital that you use low suds HE detergents in front loading washers; front loaders clean by tumbling the laundry in a pool of detergent and water this tumbling action is greatly impaired by a build up of suds and results in poor cleaning. As for mould problems it’s best to leave the lid or door of any washer open after use to prevent mould and odors. I would also suggest if the machine has previously been used you run the machine through a hot wash cycle with no laundry and ad a cup of chlorine bleach this will sanitize the washer before you use it.

All the best.
Hugh

 

[foraloysius]

Hello Heather,

Welcome to the club. What model Neptune do you have? Does it have a traditional timer or push buttons or a touch screen? Mold issues were mostly a problem of the first (3000) series. It's indeed good to leave the door open between washes. The Neptune has a drum light, it's best to pull the plug from the outlet as soon as you finished doing laundry.

As Hugh already said it is important that you use a low sudsing detergent. Although I'm not from the US, I know Sears has a relatively cheap detergent that according to some people works quite well.

Good luck!

Louis

 

[frontloadfan]

FL Neptune

You don't mention it, but I assume your FL Neptune is the one without a glass in the door (only the newest model of Neptune has a glass in the door). That is a disadvantage as you are not able to monitor your suds level (thereby adjusting detergent used). As stated above, use only HE detergent and as a rule, don't use as much as is recommended.

Regarding the mold issue, you can take care of that by having a rag around as you unload the clothes. It only takes a few second to use the rag to wipe any water left in the fold of the gasket. If there seems to be a lot of suds there too, that is a big hint you are using too much detergent.

Hope you enjoy your front loader.

 

[sikiguya]

Thanks!

I have no idea what model it is and I think it had the push buttons but I am not sure. I know it's not the fancy computerized one or one with the glass door. The first time I looked at the place, there was no washer/dryer. I didn't even knew that they were putting in a washer & dryer as part of the deal but when I went to go look at it for the second time, it was there. I had been shopping to buy a new set (a beautiful Kenmore Elite HE4T in Sedona) but now I guess I will have to wait awhile. No sense in replacing something that is not broken.
I will check into Sears' detergent too.
Thanks for all the tips, I will be definately trying all of them out! I can't wait to have a nice washer/dryer. My current ones are not even a set. The washer is 15 years old and the dryer is about 10 years old. I am glad they are styaing with my current house!
Thanks again everyone. I love this site and check it daily on the other board (Super) as I love some older appliances and luggage. I don't get into the vacuum thing that they have going on so I don't have much to say. I did sell a pink wringer washer to one of the members from New York over a year ago on eBay.

 

[peterh770]

Whether you use regular detergent -- which you can with much success -- or HE detergent, just use less. You need to find the balance for yourself with the amount to use to get good washing and rinsing results. I have been using a frontloader for 20 years and I own 2 laundromats with mostly frontloaders. I have never used an HE detergent, and 95% of my customers don't use HE detergents either. I firmly believe HE detergents are hype and way overrated. But you need to experiment to find your own balance.

Have fun and good luck!

 

[doityrselfguy]

Mold Issue - also do this

Hi - in addition to keeping the loading door open between use, also keep the dispenser door open to let it dry out. Most FLs have a "drawer" type dispenser, which makes this easy. I believe the Neptunes have a lid over the dispenser, which makes it equally easy.

 

[jetcone]

Peter

What Heather needs is NEW LO SUDSING DASH!

If you don't have hard water in your new home then Fresh Start is one of my new favorites with a caveat: FS uses Sodium Carbonate to condition the water and that leaves Cottons with that "boardy" feel to them so you need a fabric softener with FS. But FS cleans really well I find with no suds!!

 

[peterh770]

But FS is getting harder and harder to find. I really like the way it cleans and I almost always use a few drops of softener in the rinse, so no "boardy" feelings here!

 

[aamassther]

I used to use Fresh Start in the '80's, I actually forgot about it until I saw it in the store a while back, for the first time in years. Just wanted to let you all know that Colgate-Palmolive(FS, Fab, Dynamo) has sold it's detergent business to Phoenix Brands(Sunlight, Rit, Niagara, Final Touch fs). I hope that they keep the brand in their lineup. I'm going to give it a try again in my FL, since the suds are controled no matter how much is used.

 

[richm]

I only use regular Tide

Hi,

I have had a Neptune for the last 5 years and only use regular Tide powder. I have never had a problem with rinsing or oversudsing. I almost always use fabric softener (Downy) and always use the extra rinse.

Rich

 

[gansky1]

I've got that sodium carbonate feeling...

Keeping the sodium carbonate "boardy" feel a secret are we Jetcone? You didn't tell me that little tidbit when extolling the virtues of FS in my Bendix! And here I thought I was overdrying all this time. No more boardy towels for me...