Soap residue on clothes

drizzellla · ‎03-14-2010

I just washed my son's black pants for the first time.

The pants had many lines of white soap residue on them. Checked the rest of the load of dark clothing. No other items had soap residue, just those black pants.

Rubbed and rubbed with a clothes brush but it either smeared it or still left a bit of residue. Finally I am now running them through another rinse cycle.

I never had this trouble with my old washer but my HE washer it seems like I have been dealing with it since I got the washer.

I understand about saving water but I am no longer saving water having to run clothes through aditional rinse cycles.

Looked on line about the sbject. And found this -

Too Much Detergent

More is not always better. Using too much detergent can leave residue on clothes. This is particularly true in high-efficiency washers. These washers use much less water than a standard washer during the wash and rinse cycles. Using more than two teaspoons—yes, two teaspoons—of HE detergent will leave residue on your clothes.

Are you kidding me? two teaspoons of detergent?!?!?!?

And the article mentioned overloading the washer. I now make sure all the loads are not crowded. I was washing a load of 5 T shirts and one pair of long pants.

I feel like insisting the family wear white from now on. So you can't see the soap residue.

rockygems123 · ‎06-04-2012

@drizzellla Same happens here, I have a relatively new 2 - 3 year old no agitator washing machine. Scared me when first using it as it sounds like a space ship.

I've used less than recommended HE Tide both varieties, original and no fragrance, same thing with residue on black items. Low load, not packed, doesn't help at least with my machine.

Every load with darks get washed again in an additional rinse spin cycle. As you say they're made to use low water levels but it'd be great if they worked as well as older machines.

haddon9 · ‎03-09-2010

@drizzellla My HE washer & dryer are now 11 years old (fingers crossed they don't give me any problems) and have been cleaning my clothes very well. I also try not to overload the washer.

I use Nellie's HE Laundry Soda. I put in a scoop that comes with the detergent and it's good for a full load. I would say that the one scoop is probably around two tablespoons. I did read a while ago that too much detergent is not good for an HE washer.

Kachina624 · ‎03-10-2010

I'd try liquid detergent.

New Mexico☀️Land Of Enchantment

fthunt · ‎12-24-2010

My 11 yr old washer bit the dust....Tues Whirlpool w & d delivered - did one load yesterday of light color bedding. I'll have to

remember less soap now.

impressive designed machines! Windows to see in at the action = plays a tune - screen to select temp/time -

smarter than I am..................

frenchie · ‎03-12-2010

I have had little flakes show up on my colors too. I switched to Arm & Hammer detergent and all seems better. I think most of us have used to much soap. No need to.

Nightowlz · ‎03-11-2010

I use Tide Free. I don't use what they say to use.

I also use vinegar in the rinse cycle to remove any leftover soap residue. It does work

Tinkrbl44 · ‎08-23-2010

@drizzellla

I had this problem, and was using Tide Free liquid. I guess concentrated laundry soap doesn't dilute as quickly as we think, and that's where the residue comes from.

What I finally figured out is to measure how much soap I need and then add regular water to it before putting it in the washer.

Diluted soap doesn't leave white residue.

rockygems123 · ‎06-04-2012

@Kachina624 wrote:
I'd try liquid detergent.

@Kachina624 I use liquid, still doesn't help. I may try what @Nightowlz says about the vinegar, couldn't hurt.

The newer machines are so weird. Besides sounding like I said aliens have landed you can't adjust the water level. And not using HE detergent, what a mess that was when I first got it.