Common Washing Problems
Many washing problems involve poor soil and stain removal, residues of lint and scum, and fabric damage. For satisfac-
tory washing results, follow these suggestions provided by The Soap and Detergent Association.
PROBLEM
POSSIBLE CAUSES
Blue stains
•
Undiluted liquid detergent
or fabric softener dispensed
directly onto fabric.
Discoloration,
•
Not enough detergent.
graying
•
Wash water temperature
too low.
•
Incorrect sorting.
Greasy, oily
•
Not enough detergent.
stains
•
Undiluted liquid fabric
softener poured directly on
fabric.
Holes, tears, or
•
Incorrect use of chlorine
snags
bleach.
•
Unfastened zippers, hooks,
buckles.
•
Rips, tears and broken
threads.
•
Overloading the washer.
•
Degradation of fabric.
Lint
•
Incorrect sorting.
•
Tissues left in pocket.
•
Overloading the washer.
•
Not enough detergent.
•
Undissolved detergent has
left a residue resembling lint.
•
Static cling is attracting lint.
•
Load washed too long.
Pilling
•
Pilling is normal with syn-
(Fibers ball up
thetic and permanent press
and cling to
fabrics. This is due to abra-
fabric.)
sion from normal wear.
Residue or
•
Undissolved detergent.
powder on dark
•
Some granular detergents
items;
can combine with hard
Stiff , harsh
water minerals to form a
fabrics.
residue.
•
Overloading the washer.
Wrinkling
•
Overloading the washer.
•
Incorrect wash cycle for
wash load.
Solutions to Common Problems
SOLUTIONS
•
If caused by detergent, mix 1 cup (240
ml) white vinegar with 1 quart (.95 L)
water in a plastic container. Soak item
1 hour. Rinse.
•
If caused by fabric softener, rub stains
with bar soap. Wash.
•
Rewash with correct amount of deter-
gent and hottest water safe for fabric.
•
Add bleach safe for fabric.
•
Treat with prewash stain remover or
liquid detergent.
•
Increase detergent and water tem-
perature. Rewash.
•
Rub fabric softener stains with bar
soap.
•
May be irreversible if rips, tears and
seams cannot be mended.
•
Reduce load size. Rewash using correct
water temperature, water level, and
amount of detergent.
•
Add nonprecipitating water condition-
er to wash water to remove detergent
residue.
•
Add liquid fabric softener to fi nal
rinse.
•
Dry load in dryer.
•
Remove lint with lint brush or roller.
•
Use a lint brush or shaver to remove
pills.
•
Rewash load.
•
Reduce load size.
•
Rinse in cold water with liquid fabric
softener using the casual or delicate
cycle.
23
PREVENTIVE MEASURES
•
Avoid overfi lling 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.
•
Use correct amount of detergent
and hottest water safe for fabric.
•
Do not pour liquid fabric softener
directly on fabric. See Operating
Your Washer, step 5.
•
Never pour chlorine bleach di-
rectly on fabric.
•
Check condition of items before
washing. See Operating Your
Washer, steps 2 and 5.
•
See Operating Your Washer, steps
1 and 2.
•
Do not overload washer.
•
Use correct temperature and
amount of detergent, water and
wash time.
•
Use fabric softener in the washer
to lubricate fi bers.
•
When ironing, use spray starch or
fabric fi nish on collars and cuff s.
•
Turn items inside out to reduce
abrasion.
•
Increase water temperature using
hottest water safe for fabric.
•
Do not overload washer.
•
Use liquid detergent or use nonpre-
cipitating water conditioner with
powder detergent.
•
Do not overload washer.
•
Remove items from washer as soon
as cycle is completed.
•
Use liquid fabric softener.