Common Washing Problems

Manywashingproblemsinvolvepoorsoilandstainremoval,residuesoflintandscum,andfabricdamage.Forsatisfactorywashing results,followthesesuggestionsprovidedbyTheSoapandDetergentAssociation.

PROBLEM

POSSIBLE CAUSES

SOLUTIONS

PREVENTIVE MEASURES

Blue stains	•Undilutedliquiddetergentorfabric	•If caused by detergent, mix 1 cup (240 ml)
	softener dispensed directly onto	whitevinegarwith1quart(.95L)waterina
	fabric.	plasticcontainer.Soakitem 1 hour.Rinse.
		•Ifcausedbyfabricsoftener,rubstainswith
		barsoap.Wash.

•Avoidoverfillingdetergentandfabric softenercompartmentsofdispenser.

Discoloration,	•Notenoughdetergent.	•Rewash with correct amount of detergent	•Sortitemsbysoillevelandcolor.
			•Usecorrectamountofdetergent,hottest
graying	•Washwatertemperaturetoolow.	andhottestwatersafeforfabric.Addbleach
			waterandbleachsafeforfabric.
	•Incorrectsorting.	safeforfabric.


Greasy, oily stains	•Notenoughdetergent.	•Treatwithprewashstainremoverorliquid	•Usecorrect amountofdetergentandhottest
			watersafeforfabric.
	•Undiluted liquid fabric softener	detergent.
			•Do not pour liquid fabric softener
	poureddirectlyonfabric.	•Increasedetergentandwatertemperature.
			directly on fabric. See Washing
		Rewash.
			Procedures for directions on adding
		•Rubfabricsoftenerstainswithbarsoap.
			softener.

Holes, tears, or	•Incorrectuseofchlorinebleach.	•May be irreversible if rips, tears and seams	•Never pour chlorine bleach directly on
			fabric.
snags	•Unfastenedzippers,hooks,buckles.	cannotbemended.
			•Checkconditionofitemsbeforewashing.
	•Rips,tearsandbrokenthreads.
			SeeWashingProcedures for preparing and
	•Overloadingthewasher.
			loadingthewashloadandaddingchlorine
	•Degradationoffabric.
			bleach.

Lint	•Incorrectsorting.	•Reduceloadsize.Rewashusingcorrectwater
	•Tissuesleftinpocket.	temperature, water level, and amount of
	•Overloadingthewasher.	detergent.
	•Not enoughdetergent.	•Add nonprecipitatingwaterconditionerto
	•Undissolved detergent has left a washwatertoremovedetergentresidue.
	residueresemblinglint.	• Addliquidfabricsoftenertofinalrinse.
	•Staticclingisattractinglint.	•Dryloadindryer.
	•Loadwashedtoolong.	•Removelintwithlintbrushorroller.

•See WashingProcedures for sorting and preparingthewashload.

•Donotoverloadwasher.

•Usecorrecttemperatureandamountof detergent,waterandwashtime.

Pilling

(Fibersbreakoff,ball up and cling to fabric.)

	•Pillingisnormalwithsyntheticand •Usealintbrushorshaver toremovepills.	•Usefabricsoftenerinthewashertolubricate
		fibers.
	permanentpressfabrics.Thisisdue
		•Whenironing,usespraystarchorfabric
	toabrasionfrom normalwear.
		finish on collars and cuffs.

		•Turnitemsinsideouttoreduceabrasion.

"Polka dots" (small circles of lint and soil onloadaftercycle ends)

•Washtemperature toolow.	•Rewashinhottestwatersafeforfabrics.
•Notenoughdetergent.	•Usecorrectwatertemperatureandamount
•Waterishard.	ofdetergent.
•Incorrectsorting.

•Usehottestwatersafeforfabric.

•Usecorrectwatertemperature andamount ofdetergent.

•Usenonprecipitatingwaterconditioner. •Avoidoverfillingdetergentandfabric softenercompartmentsofdispenser.

Residue or powder on dark items; Stiff, harsh fabrics.

•Undissolveddetergent.•Rewashload. •Some nonphosphate granular

detergents can combine with hard watermineralstoformaresidue.

•Overloadingthewasher.

•Increasewatertemperatureusinghottest watersafeforfabric.

•Donotoverloadwasher.

•Useliquiddetergentorusenonprecipitating waterconditionerwithnonphosphate granulardetergent.

Wrinkling

•Overloadingthewasher.

•Reduceloadsize.

•Donotoverloadwasher.

•Incorrectwashcycleforwashload. •Rinseincoldwaterwithliquidfabricsoftener •Removeitemsfromwasherassoonascycle

usingthePermPressorDelicatecycle. iscompleted.

•Useliquidfabricsoftener.

Yellow buildup of	•Agitationtimetooshort.	•Soak in detergent booster or product
body soil on	•Washwatertemperaturetoolow.	containingenzymes.
synthetic fabrics	•Notenoughdetergent.	•Wash in hot water (120°F/49°C) using full
		permanentpresscycle.Increasedetergent.
		Addbleachsafeforfabric.
		•Or,treatwithcolorremover.

•Selectcorrectwashcycle.

•Usecorrectamountofdetergent. •Washsyntheticsfrequentlyusinghotor

warmwater.

Yellow or brown	•Ironormanganeseinwatersupply, •Torestorediscoloredloadofwhites,userust
rust stains	waterpipes,orwaterheater.	removersafeforfabric.

•Do not use chlorine bleach to remove ruststains. Itmayintensifydiscoloration.

•Usenonprecipitatingwatersoftener. •Beforewashing,runhotwaterforafew

minutestoclearlines.

•Drainwaterheateroccasionally.

•Foranongoingproblem,installanironfilter inyourwatersupplysystem.