THE PROBLEM SOLVER

 

 

 

 

(continued)

 

 

 

 

 

 

PROBLEM

POSSIBLE CAUSE

 

 

 

 

 

 

GRAYED

• Detergent dissolves too slowly. It is important that detergent be present in the wash

 

 

CLOTHES

solution at the start of wash agitation.

 

 

(continued)

To restore grayed clothes—

 

 

 

 

Most grayed clothes can be at least partially restored by the following procedure:

 

 

 

 

1. Put clothes in washer.

 

 

 

 

2. Fill with HOT water. Check manufacturers’ tags to determine if hot water

 

 

 

 

is suitable for garment.

 

 

 

 

3. Add a nonprecipitating type of water softener such as Calgon™ brand with

 

 

 

 

phosphate. Use 21⁄2 times as much as you need for normal water softening.

 

 

 

 

4. Do not add soap or detergent.

 

 

 

 

5. Allow clothes to go through complete cycle.

 

 

 

 

6. Repeat, if necessary.

 

 

 

 

7. If you prefer to soak clothes, use water softener in place of soak agent or prewash

 

 

 

 

detergent and allow clothes to soak for about 20 minutes.

 

 

HEAVILY SOILED

• Pretreat with liquid detergent.

 

 

AREAS such as

 

 

 

collars and cuffs

 

 

 

LINT OR RESIDUE

• Incorrect sorting of clothes. Separate lint-producers (such as terry towels and chenille)

 

 

ON CLOTHES

with lint-receivers (such as manmade fabrics, velveteen, corduroy).

 

 

IN CYCLE

• Washing too long, especially for smaller loads. For normal soil, use 1 minute per

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

pound of dry clothes.

 

 

 

 

• Use of nonphosphate detergents which combine with hardness minerals in water to

 

 

 

 

form a precipitate which can be mistaken for lint.

 

 

 

 

• Use phosphate detergent or liquid detergent; use warmer wash water or soften water

 

 

 

 

with an installed mechanical softener or a packaged water softener.

 

 

 

 

• Undissolved granular detergent may leave powdery residue on fabrics which can be

 

 

 

 

mistaken for lint.

 

 

 

 

(a) See detergent guide for recommendations on how to add detergent to speed up

 

 

 

 

complete dissolving.

 

 

 

 

(b) Use a liquid or special cold water detergent.

 

 

 

 

(c) Predissolve granular detergent in hot water, or make sure detergent is dissolved

 

 

 

 

completely in wash water before adding clothes.

 

 

 

 

(d)Make certain clothes have ample room to move in washer.

 

 

 

 

(e) Use a warmer wash water.

 

 

 

 

• Overloading of washer will cause abrasion which creates excessive lint. Wash fewer

 

 

 

 

items in each load. Make sure water level is correct for size of load.

 

 

 

 

• Too much bleach. Overbleached items, such as towels, will shed excessive lint. Use

 

 

 

 

correct amount of bleach according to package directions.

 

 

 

 

• Not enough detergent. Enough detergent must be used to hold lint in suspension

 

 

 

 

during wash cycle. Increase amount of detergent used. Amount is determined by

 

 

 

 

water hardness, size of load, degree of soil and amount of water. See detergent guide.

 

 

 

 

• Incorrect use of fabric softener. If used in wash cycle, many softeners may react with

 

 

 

 

detergent to create a white deposit. Use fabric softeners only in rinse cycle.

 

 

 

 

• Pilling, usually on polyester-cotton blends, is caused by normal wear and may look

 

 

 

 

like lint. Turning clothes inside out may help.

 

 

 

 

• Static electricity caused by overdrying will cause attraction. Use fabric softener in

 

 

 

 

rinse cycle.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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