Washing powder not dissolving in washing machine - any idea why?

cashferret

My washing machine is nine years old and after the last couple of washes I've found a lot of undissolved washing powder in the tray. I put two tablets in and I'd say there's probably most of it left (all soggy - it seems to have been partly dissolved but not to have successfully washed out of the tray).

I'm using Tesco's powder tablets - I've probably used them for about 8 washes and this hasn't happened until the last couple of washes.

Is it the tablets or the machine? Should I just switch to a liquid?

sillygoose

It may just be the weather! its been pretty cold for a few good few days now and most machines only cold fill. The water coming in off the mains may be just a bit too cold to dissolve it properly. I would just use something else for a while, maybe a liquid.

Raksha

I though tablets were supposed to be put in the drum not the tray

sillygoose

Raksha wrote: »

I though tablets were supposed to be put in the drum not the tray

The gel 'tablets' things go in the drum, I think the powder ones are still meant to go in the drawer, they are just for convenience of not measuring the powder out.

sillygoose

Its not the cheapest but the liquid in the ball in the drum is best because it get sloshed around in the water in the drum which gets heated by the machine, any warmth in the water helps it dissolve and mix the detergent better.

cashferret

sillygoose wrote: »

It may just be the weather! its been pretty cold for a few good few days now and most machines only cold fill. The water coming in off the mains may be just a bit too cold to dissolve it properly. I would just use something else for a while, maybe a liquid.

I would never have thought of that in a million years! Thank you!

cashferret

Thank you, everybody - I will go to a liquid while the weather stays cold. Thanks for replying so quickly - very reassuring that it's not going to be some expensive fault with the washing machine!

fannyadams

I'd chuck ONE tablet in the drum and bet my clothes would still come out clean...

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

Check that the little holes the water comes out of in the drawer aren't clogged up though. Use a pipecleaner if you've got them (sold anywhere that sells fags and pipe tobacco).

rochja

Are you sure the machine is heating up? Perhaps the heating element has burned out or the kids have been playing with the temperature settings. I once had a tenant who demanded a new washing machine because her child had crawled behind it and turned the socket off! [Sorry, complete non sequita]

penrhyn

Its a good idea to run the machine, empty, on the hottest cycle, one every so often,its surprising how much gunk builds up in the pipes over the years, which, in some cases can lead to overflows.