topic Re: Horrible surprise when I removed the softener cup in my washer... in Home

Horrible surprise when I removed the softener cup in my washer...

jlkz — Sat, 18 Oct 2014 01:42:37 GMT

After finishing the laundry today, I noticed some gelled fabric softener in the plastic cup dispenser atop the agitator. I twisted it and it came out: what gunk was on the bottom. Took it to the kitchen sink and ran really hot water into the bottom inside section. For 5 minutes, bits small and large came out: thickened fabric softener. Soaked the whole cup in super hot water for another 5 minutes and with the spray attachment going into the inside area, continued to get more stuff out. Wow, who knew this was there: kept wondering just how much of the thickened softener gets onto my towels and microfiber cloths! Ran the washer empty with hot water for one cycle to get anything else out before doing another regular load. Can't believe this happened because I always thin down the softener! H T H others.

Re: Horrible surprise when I removed the softener cup in my washer...

gazelle77 — Sat, 18 Oct 2014 01:44:05 GMT

I never use fabric softener. Everything comes out soft without it.

Re: Horrible surprise when I removed the softener cup in my washer...

Bestdressed — Sat, 18 Oct 2014 01:47:50 GMT

I do not use fabric softener either. You should not use softener on your towels. It will put a coating on them and they will not be absorbent.

Re: Horrible surprise when I removed the softener cup in my washer...

kivah — Sat, 18 Oct 2014 01:52:39 GMT

I also stopped using fabric softener --- can't tell the difference. I was told by a washing machine repairman to run the cycle, adding 3 teaspoons of vinegar. Afterward, I take a cloth and wipe out the tub and agitator (inside the cap). I do this monthly. If u have an HE washing machine, gunk builds up in the cap of the agitator. I also started to put vinegar on a cloth to wipe out my dryer. This would result in ur not getting stains on clothes/bedding. That's what happened to me.

Re: Horrible surprise when I removed the softener cup in my washer...

jlkz — Sat, 18 Oct 2014 01:56:58 GMT

I DON ' T use softener on my towels or microfiber cloths: I wondered how much of the gelled stuff liquefied during their wash. Will try the vinegar approach when this softener bottle is done. Don't have an HE washer.

Re: Horrible surprise when I removed the softener cup in my washer...

ChouChou — Sat, 18 Oct 2014 01:57:22 GMT

I, too, do not use fabric softener. The scent makes my eyes water and my nose run. Not a pretty site.

About once a month I run a packet of Tide washing machine cleaner through the machine with hot water. I but it at Target.

Re: Horrible surprise when I removed the softener cup in my washer...

hopeQ1 — Sat, 18 Oct 2014 02:25:42 GMT

Yuk, fabric softener is even suggested by many manufacturers not to be used in their equipment. It ruins more clothes, towels, and sheets than it helps. Won't use it in my washer either.

Re: Horrible surprise when I removed the softener cup in my washer...

birkin baby — Sat, 18 Oct 2014 02:27:32 GMT

I don't use it anymore.I use vinegar..in my fabric softener holding area.....soft clothes,no buildup,no static cheap!!!! It's a good idea to take your dryer lint screen and soak it in hot water and vinegar.It's usually full if fabric softener buildup too.

Re: Horrible surprise when I removed the softener cup in my washer...

Tootie15 — Sat, 18 Oct 2014 02:36:21 GMT

I discovered the gunk in my washer about 5 years ago and stopped using softener then. I too, use vinegar .... makes a big difference.

Re: Horrible surprise when I removed the softener cup in my washer...

sunnysw — Sat, 18 Oct 2014 02:40:28 GMT

I too use vinegar instead of softener! I have not used softener for 20 years! I have front load machines in my home & vacation home & they never have an odor! Clothes & towels come out fresh with no build-up! I buy vinegar 4 gallons at a time from Costco or Sam's - I am never without it & use it for a multi-tude of tasks!

Re: Horrible surprise when I removed the softener cup in my washer...

KYToby — Sat, 18 Oct 2014 04:39:09 GMT

Most instructions say to dilute it before adding to the dispenser.

Re: Horrible surprise when I removed the softener cup in my washer...

RoinAZ89 — Sat, 18 Oct 2014 06:31:49 GMT

I have had the same thing happen and I now add a bit of water first and then the softner. That seems to have helped

Re: Horrible surprise when I removed the softener cup in my washer...

aubnwa01 — Sat, 18 Oct 2014 07:12:02 GMT

Had the same thing happen with my 8 year old Maytag top loader a few years back. I noticed my clothes & linens were not feeling as clean as they once had & took the top off the agitator where I'd put the fabric softener & the whole center of the agitator under the cap was full of blue icky gunk all the way to the bottom!

I cleaned it out as best I could & ran several empty washer loads on hot & poured boiling water into the top of the agitator & discovered that the agitator wasn't moving anymore when the washer ran. No wonder things didn't feel clean! The washer was just filling with water & emptying.

Called a repair guy out & he said the transmission in the machine had gone out & it would cost $500 to replace the transmission. I didn't even know a washing machine had a transmission! I opted for a new washer, rather than spending $500 to try & fix an 8 year old machine. My current washer (Maytag Bravos top loader) has a direct drive with no transmission to break, plus it has a glass window in the lid, so I can tell if the agitator is moving or not & it doesn't have the softener dispenser in the agitator.

Re: Horrible surprise when I removed the softener cup in my washer...

ID2 — Sat, 18 Oct 2014 11:23:18 GMT

My old GE washer was disgusting when it came to that fabric softener dispenser! It harbored mold and yucky stuff. When that machine died several years ago I got a new Samsung front loading washer and dryer. Best thing I ever did! I really love how my machine lets me know, after about 40 washings, that I need to run the "pure cycle". That cycle cleans the inners of my washer. I've never had any smells, slime, mold, anything that other front loader washer owners experience.

Re: Horrible surprise when I removed the softener cup in my washer...

Madisson — Sat, 18 Oct 2014 11:42:54 GMT

I throw a half of a fabric softener sheet in the dryer, but never use the softener for the washer.

The only thing I put in the washer besides detergent is a color catcher sheet when it seems necessary. They work great!

Re: Horrible surprise when I removed the softener cup in my washer...

qualitygal — Sat, 18 Oct 2014 11:51:50 GMT

I'm so glad I read this. No more FS for me then. About a month ago, had gunk come into the netting that catches lint from the washer. Since that time, almost no lint comes from the washer, but does show up on the dryer part. That's bothered me since it's a fairly new machine. So vinegar it is, no more FS. It is an HE machine.

Re: Horrible surprise when I removed the softener cup in my washer...

brii — Sat, 18 Oct 2014 12:08:28 GMT

I've never used fabric softener.

I can always smell it on other people. It has a strong smell to me.

Re: Horrible surprise when I removed the softener cup in my washer...

Beauty$Junkie — Sat, 18 Oct 2014 12:20:28 GMT

I have a front load, however, I only add pure white vinegar to the softener dispenser. You may want to do that and, I would think, that alone would also clean out your machine.

Re: Horrible surprise when I removed the softener cup in my washer...

millieshops — Sat, 18 Oct 2014 12:38:49 GMT

Another non-user here. For some loads, I throw a softening sheet in the dryer, not very often.

Re: Horrible surprise when I removed the softener cup in my washer...

Drythe — Sat, 18 Oct 2014 12:51:47 GMT

Another vinegar user here, no FS!

Occasionally I run a clean wash through with just HOT water and vinegar.