Washing machine blocked with white stuff

pagenotfound2k

I noticed my washing machine was making a strange noise, mostly on rinses but not while spinning - it doesn't seem to be the bearings, it was more of a rattling sound. After some investigation, I looked behind the pump cover and found lots of white stuff - like mashed paper.

This is a mystery to me as I haven't had any white bits on my clothes and I use only Ariel Professional powder from Farmfoods. The white stuff is very yucky to fish out, but I am currently running a 90c wash with just bleach in. I hope this will flush out the worst of it.

Is this caused by me using the powder from Farmfoods, or even too much of it? How can I shift most or all of this junk?

Ectophile

I would guess it's un-dissolved washing powder.

The recommended amounts on the packet are always too high. I'm in a soft water area, and I use about 2/3 of what they recommend for lightly-soiled clothes in soft water.

If you have hard water, you might want to increase it a bit, but still use less than they recommend.

teddysmum

Ectophile wrote: »

I would guess it's un-dissolved washing powder.

I was just thinking the same.


Professional brand does not always mean good, as some years ago professional paint sold in some DIY stores was useless watery stuff.


We never use powder, because the family always found it gritty, harsh and a cause of itchy red skin. (I itch if I walk into a room where there is an open box and sometimes in a supermarket detergent aisle.) It is also dissolves, in the washing water, less efficiently than liquid detergent, so may not be fully absorbed, thus leaving a residue.

jfdi

I live in a hard water area and the recommended quantity here for a 40' full load is two to three scoops - I use half a scoop and it still cleans fine!

So I'd say excess powder is the cause based on my experience. Try it with a tiny quantity and work up quarter scoop at a time?

-taff

Could also be your wash temp isn't hot enough. Low temperatures work better with liquid cleaners, higher ones with powders.

phill99

Powders don't dissolve eell in low temperatures. Liquids are a better option.

missbiggles1

I've had that happen to two washing machines, both down to washing powder. Both plumbers recommended I switch to liquids.

Silvertabby

Try giving your machine a good flush-out with a washing machine cleaner/de-scaler. We live in a hard water area, so I use Oust washing machine de-scaler every month or so to keep on top of things. Then switch to a liquid detergent.

Kynthia

Either use liquids or less powder. Plus you should do a hot wash every couple of months to give your machine a good clean through. I try to do an empty wash at 90 degrees, perhaps with a washing machine cleaner or soda crystals and vinegar if I have them.

27cool

I can't think of a reason why a manufacturer would tell you to use 3 times more powder that you need. Oh wait! Yes I can.

patman99

27cool wrote: »

I can't think of a reason why a manufacturer would tell you to use 3 times more powder that you need. Oh wait! Yes I can.

Because they want to sell more of their product. It is just like shampoo. The makers reccommend wetting your hair, applying shampoo, rinsing and repeating steps 1 & 2 again.
I have only been using one lot of shampoo each time I wash my hair and my hair is nice and clean.