Warning to those using Tide HE TurboClean liquid in their HE washers

[norgechef]

Tonight I was running the monthly cleaning cycle in my Kenmore HE5T front load washer and after the cleaning cycle, I took out the dispenser to clean any sediment that may have settled in the compartment, and I found a thick blue layer of detergent residue in the front area of the dispenser compartment. I usually stick with cheaper detergents and have never had any build up before.

I have also noticed recently that the washer smells very strongly of mold, despite almost always leaving the door cracked after washing and doing hot water washes regularly. If this much buildup is evident after using less than 1 bottle of Tide, imagine how much would build up if you use thicker detergents like Tide on a regular basis.

I'm sure there is also build up inside the machine, which has hopefully been rinsed out now that I ran the cleaning cycle, but needless to say I will not be using liquid tide in my front loader again. I can't believe Tide would approve a product like this for use in HE washing machines. It says ''HE TurboClean'' right on the bottle.

It kind of makes me wonder what it must be doing to front load washers that are used exclusively with Tide. This could be the reason for so many front loaders having mold issues and spider failures. In most cases there is a thick coating of sludge on the spiders that corrode. Just a thought.

 

[liamy1]

Seems like...

P&G are hell bent on wrecking washing machines.

Over here in the UK, besides the standard liquids, we have laundry "gels" - basically a gel version of the liquid, in a squeezy bottle that's doses into the cap and thrown in the machine.

They make your washer stink! Regardless of hot washes etc as you describe. Worst of all, they're marketed to be used at 15 degrees c (59 faren).

Certain that they do not fully leave the machine and "gum" it up over time.

I do use them but only sparingly, as besides the pods, the gels are the only format that have the Cellulase enzyme and sometimes the pods are too much for only a few items in the wash.

I dread to think of the machines who use the gels exclusively.

We don't have HE turbo over here, we've never had HE detergents, as we have always been FL machines since the move from twintubs so the detergents we have have always been low suds.

However, I do have 2 massive jugs of USA Gain detergent under the Turbo label, so thanks for the warning. I don't know if it is me, but the HE Turbos seem more sudsy than the standard HEs.

 

[mark_wpduet]

I know a lot of people use liquids

but I've avoided them for over a decade and only used powder. I'm sure not all liquids are bad - but this very thing is what I've always been afraid of using liquids. Even when I use the cheap watered down generic fabric softener, and only a very little, it gels in the fab softener dispenser, so I dilute it with a little more water.

 

[murando531]

I've only used the powder HE Turbo because I typically use powders exclusively. The only liquid I am using now is Persil, but it's only with colors and darks. Towels are getting the Persil powder which I'm impressed with, although the price is still a factor in whether I'll buy it again. The Tide HE Turbo powder works very well, and I haven't had sudsing issues at all so far after using it for almost a year now. I've yet to have any residue or odor in the machine either.

 

[logixx]

I rarely pour liquid detergents straight into the dispenser drawer - they always go on top of the clothes in a dispensing device (like the Tide Kick) or just a spare cap. Alternatively, I wait for the water to come on and add the liquid then, so it gets washed down immediately. I also don't pull the drawer all the way out when adding liquid detergent.

 

[brucelucenta]

Back in the past, I had I worked for a guy that had an appliance repair place when I was 17. He showed and told me about machines that people had used Tide in all the time. They had a thick, caked up layer of grayish white crust on the inside of the outer tub and all around the top of the machine. He told me it was the most corrosive, destructive detergent anyone could use in their machine and I saw the proof of it. I got to where I could tell, like he could, when someone always used Tide in their machine. I have never used it at all and never will. Sounds like the new stuff is the same.

 

[liamy1]

but this very thing is what I've always been afraid of u

...

My opinion is, as long as you don't use liquids EXCLUSIVELY, you should be ok.

As long as it's broken up with powders with oxygen bleach and hot washes, then you'll be ok.

On the other hand, using only liquids and cool temperature washes is a one way ticket to the appliance store.

But then, that keeps the money rolling in, so maybe this is what is wanted.

Most low to mid range machines now, I am sure even the makers know they won't see their 3rd birthday.

 

[frigilux]

Yikes! I used liquid Tide for many years, then used pods, then went back to liquid Tide Ultra Stain Release Turbo Clean (and Persil ProClean 2 in 1) last September with the purchase of a Maytag 8100 front-loader that automatically dispenses detergent from a cartridge.

Haven't noticed any mold/mildew issues, but will keep an eye (and nose) out for it. I've only run the Clean cycle once, back in November of 2015. I use liquid chlorine bleach and boosted-temp hot water on several loads each week, so tend not to have many problems with mold, etc.

Thanks for the heads-up. I'm a lifelong Tide user, so am reluctant to switch, but will be vigilant concerning buildup. Should probably run that Clean cycle again...

 

[yogitunes]

we see this sort of thing all the time......its a matter of adapting laudry habits to the machine.....no different than certain machine shave to be loaded a certain way for best results...

your going to find this sort of issue with almost any liquid.....for one, I hate the dosing of trying to find that tiny hidden mark inside of the cap......

found it easier to mix each jug with a 50/50 mix of detergent and water, then a full cap is used each time, perfect measuring and results....oddly enough, this knocks out all the scent for some reason....this works for softeners too

if your going to use full strength, a shot glass measures best, for most machines I use this method with, put the shot glass with detergent in the drawer and leave it there, by the time you flip it and close the drawer, the detergent is draining towards the back of the chamber....

and this also falls more along the lines of certain machines and their designs......pulling a drawer out to add liquid, as the drawer is pushed back in, the underneath is not getting flushed.....some machines do have an under flush, others do not.....

probably best in this case is to add to the tub with the clothing.....

not just Tide, any thick liquid is going to give the same results....

I too have seen the build up of detergents in the outter tubs of TLers....but again, this is not exactly a detergents faults, it operator error.....adding detergent to the tub before adding clothing or water, theres nothing really in place to stir this up....

if the package was read correctly, it mentions to add detergent 'AS' the machine is filling with water, not before, then add clothes for best results...

never a bad idea to pull that drawer and rinse it out, and check that area as well on a weekly basis.....

 

[norgechef]

I never realized that detergent that leaks out before the drawer is pushed in doesn't get rinsed away. It makes sense why it wasn't getting rinsed out now. Still, most day to day consumers are not aware of this, and Tide of all detergent brands should formulate detergents for HE washers that don't build up like this.

Then again they might be designed to build up like this and cause part failures over time. Most people I know who use Tide liquid have bearing failures in their washers sooner than those who use cheap liquid. Even in traditional top load washers.

I ran a load of whites in my Maytag Atlantis the other day with the Tide, made for HE washers, and noticed that on the rinse cycle, there seemed to be even more suds than there was on the wash cycle...kind of makes you wonder how poorly it must rinse out if used in a low water washer. This was with less than a full cap of detergent.

I think I'll stick to ABC for liquid. Its been around forever and it is by far my favorite liquid detergent. Smells great, rinses away well and produces barely any suds. Not that I use cold water too often, but it does a decent job even in cold.

 

[washman]

See Frig ITYS

those PODS will come back to haunt you!

Turn to the good side of the force and may the laundry force be with you!

Hi frig!

 

[mrb627]

Ultra Concentrated Detergents...

Are thicker than regular liquids and can cause problems with dispensers that are poorly designed to gradually leak detergent into the dispenser cavity. Cheaper detergents are typically more water than the more concentrated flavors. They won't typically build up as quickly.

I stopped using the dispenser drawer for liquid detergents. I put liquids in the drum directly to avoid build up of any kind.

Every machine seems to have some quirk in its design. You have to find a way to live with it, or send it on its way and find something else.

Malcolm

 

[iheartmaytag]

I'm not worried

I use liquid, powders and pods.  I run a clean washer cycle fairly often.  I always leave my door open and pull the detergent drawer.  I always wipe down the boot, window and drawer after each use, and turn off the water.

 

About once a month or more often if I'm thinking about it. I take the drawer to the sink and give it a washing there, also wipe inside the dispenser area at this time. 

 

One thing I will hijack the thread here if any of the knowledgeable know.  How do you clean the hard water scale from the diffuser above the dispenser?  I wish there was an easy way to remove it, for now  soak a rag in white vinegar and then wipe it the best I can, I am only getting one side that way.  

 

End Hijack--thanks

 

 

[mark_wpduet]

Thinking back

when I used TL washers - I always started the machine empty, poured the detergent in, then added the clothes. I never knew I had been doing this all wrong. I'm pretty sure I was using liquid detergents at this point too...I don't think I ever once added clothes, started machine, poured detergent on the clothes.

@iheartmaytag - that sounds exactly like my routine - I have no clue how you would clean that honestly.

 

[frigilux]

Mark---The manual for nearly every top-loading washer since the 1980's instructed the user to add detergent to the empty tub, load items loosely to the top of the tub, close the lid, and start the machine; so you were in good company. I did the same thing.

 

[lakewebsterkid]

Poor design...

Honestly, this dispenser design is one of my biggest gripes about the Duet/HE3T line ups. The water does not start coming in fast enough and the liquid does not mix well enough with water in the dispenser. LGs have dispenser clogging issues. Otherwise, beautiful machine and a good product to boot.

 

[mrb627]

Dispenser Advantage

Goes to the top loaders in this category. Mostly due to the amount of water flushing the drawer. Plus, a liquid dispenser INSERT that holds the detergent until needed. Too bad they don't clean up to their capacity rating as claimed.

The Whirlpool reservoir dispenser for liquid might be the best thing out their in the FL market.

Malcolm

 

[ilovewindex]

My samsung from 2010 flushes everything down just fine. Has a removable liquid cup that you can take out for powder. It's by far the best dispenser set up I've seen

 

[whirlykenmore78]

Just checked the SQ:

No buildup whatsoever. Have used nothing but liquid Tide HE Turbo since I got it. But I also do mostly hot and some warm washes.
WK78