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Common Washing
Problems
Many wash ing problems involve poor soil and stain removal, residues of lint and scu m, and fabric damage. For satisfactory vvashing
results, follow these suggestions provided by The Soap and Detergent Association.
Blue stains
POSSIBLE
CAUSES
SOLUTIONS
`'Undiluted
liquid detergent or
fabric softener dispensed directly
onto fabric.
PREVENTIVE MEASURES
Discoloration,
`'Not enough detergent,
graying
`'Wash water temperature
too
low.
`'incorrect
sorting.
`'If caused by detergent,
mix I cup (240
ml) white vinegar with I quart (.9B L)
water in a plastic container
Soak item I
hour, Rinse.
`'If caused by fabric softener, rub stains
with bar soap. Wash.
`'Rewash with correct amount
of
detergent
and hottest water safe for
fabric, Add bleach safe for fabric,
-Avoid overlilling
detergent
and fabric
softener
compartments
of dispenser
-Sort items by soil level and color.
-Use correct amount of detergent,
hottest
water and bleach safe for fabric,
Greasy, oily stains
Holes, tears,
or
snags
`'Not enough detergent,
`'Undiluted
liquid fabric softener
poured directly on fabric,
`'incorrect use of chlorine bleach.
`'Unfastened
zippers, hooks,
buckles
`'Rips, tears and broken threads.
Overloading the washer,
`'Degradation
of fabric
`'Treat with prewash stain remover or
liquid detergent,
`'increase detergent
and water
temperature.
Rewash.
`'Rub fabric softener stains with bar soap.
`'May be irreversible if rips, tears and
seams cannot be mended.
.Use correct
amount
of detergent
and
hottest water safe for fabric.
.Do
not pour
liquid
fabric softener
directly
on fabric.
See Washing
Procedures
for directions on adding
softener.
.Never pour chlorine bleach directly on
fabric
-Check condition
of items before washing
See Washing
Procedures
for preparing
and loading the wash load and adding
chlorine
bleach.
Lint
,,Incorrect
sorting.
`'Tissues lelt in pocket.
`'Overloading
the washer,
`'Not
enough detergent.
`'Undissolved detergent
has lelt a
residue resembling lint.
`'Static cling is attracting lint,
`'Load washed too long.
`'Reduce load size. Rewash using correct
water temperature,
water
level, and
amount
ol detergent,
`'Add
nonprecipitating
water conditioner
to wash water to remove detergent
residue,
`" Add liquid fabric softener to final rinse.
`'Dry load in dryer,
`'Remove lint with lint brush or roller.
-See Washing
Procedures
for sorting and
preparing
the wash load,
.Do not overload washer.
-Use correct temperature
and amount
of
detergent,
water and wash time.
Pilling
(Fibers break olf,
ball up and cling to
fabric)
`'Pilling is normal with synthetic and
permanent press fabrics, This is
due to abrasion from
normal
wear
`'Use a lint brush or shaver to remove
pills.
.Use fabric softener in the washer to
lubricate fibers
.When
ironing, use spray starch or fabric
finish on collars and cuffs,
-Turn items inside out to reduce abrasion.
Residue or powder
on dark items;
Stiff, harsh fabrics.
`'Undissolved detergent.
`'Some nonphosphate
granular
detergents can combine with
hard water minerals to form a
residue.
`'Overloading
the washer,
`'Rewash load
.Increase water temperature
using hottest
water safe for fabric.
.Do not overload washer,
.Use liquid detergent or use nonprecipitating
water conditioner
with
nonphosphate
granular
detergent,
Wrinkfing
`'Overloading
the washer,
`'incorrect wash cycle for wash
load
`'Reduce load size,
`'Rinse in cold water with liquid fabric
softener using the Perm Press or Delicate
cycle.
-Do not overload washer
.Remove items from washer as soon as cycle
is completed.
-Use liquid fabric softener.
Yellow
buildup
of
body
soil on
synthetic
fabrics
`'Agitation
time too short.
`'Wash water
temperature
too
low.
`'Not enough detergent,
`'Soak in detergent
booster or product
containing
enzymes,
`'Wash in hot water (120°F/49°C) using full
permanent
press cycle Increase
detergent,
Add bleach safe for fabric,
`'Or, treat with color remover.
.Select correct wash cycle,
,,Use correct amount
of detergent.
.Wash synthetics frequently
using hot or
warn/
water.
Yellow
or brown
rust stains
`'iron or manganese in water
supply, water pipes, or water
heater.
`'To restore discolored load of whites, use
rust remover safe for fabric.
_Do not use chlorine
bleach
to remove
rust stains,
it may intensify
discolora
tion.
.Use nonprecipitating
water softener.
.Before washing,
run hot water for a few
minutes to clear lines.
.Drain water
heater occasionally.
.For an ongoing problem, install an iron filter
in your water supply system,
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