Washer Tips

1. Washer Moves While Running
2. Pretreatment Facts
3. Precautions While on Vacation
4. Improper Drainage
5. Colour Loss

1. Washer Moves While Running
Make sure the washer is leveled properly.

2. Pretreatment Facts
Pretreat products are quite effective for pretreating heavily soiled and stained garments. They work well and help to assure that stains are removed during the first washing. It is important to remember however, that the longer a stain has been on a garment untreated (especially if dryer dried), the more likely the garment will be permanently stained.  Pretreat products come in several different forms: enzyme presoaks, liquids, aerosols, sticks and gels. Here are some facts:

• ENZYME PRESOAKS come in granular form and are intended to be used for soaking items prior to washing for removal of difficult stains and soils. They are especially effective in removing chocolate or protein stains such as baby formula, blood, dairy products and grass. Follow the label directions as to soaking time and temperature (usually about 30 minutes in warm or cool water).

• LIQUID AND AEROSOL PRETREATERS work the best while they are still wet on the garment. Therefore, the garment should be washed within a few minutes after one of these types of pretreaters is applied. Additionally, leaving these products on a garment longer than is recommended may cause color loss or change. These products work well on oil based stains such as cooking oils and cosmetics. If the stain still remains after the first try, apply a second treatment, rubbing directly into the stain and rewash. Remember, don't dry a stained item until you are sure you've removed as much of the stain as possible; heat from the dryer can set the stain permanently.

• STAIN STICKS work best dry and need some time to work. Many of these contain enzymes and work well on protein type stains such as grass and baby formula. Apply directly onto a stain soon after the spill has occurred, then wash the garment in three or four days.

• STAIN GELS should be applied as soon as possible to help prevent the stain from setting and can be applied up to a week before washing the garment. However, do not apply a stain gel product on bright or fluorescent colours more than a few minutes before washing, as they are susceptible to colour loss if pretreated too soon.  Furthermore, there are stain remover gels on the market that are for whites only. These products contain chlorine bleach. Contrary to the other types of stain gels, those containing chlorine bleach should only be used with whites and should not be left on the garment for a long period of time. The garment should be washed immediately after this type of gel has been applied.

Over time, soil can build up on some fabrics, especially polyesters. When a pretreat product is used, the pretreated area is actually super-cleaned and may resemble a bleached spot. This can usually be corrected by treating the entire garment with a pretreat or presoak and rewashing with extra detergent. This tech tip is from the Maytag Consumer Corner bulletin. -- Back to Top

3. Precautions While on Vacation
I'm going away for a month, is there anything I should do with my washing machine?

Turn off the water supply to avoid accidental flooding in case a hose bursts.

4. Improper Drainage
The water is not draining properly. What can I do?

Check the drain hose to ensure it is not kinked or pinched.

5. Colour Loss
Occasionally, an area of color loss or fading will occur on laundered items. Colour change or loss can often be severe enough for the garment to be ruined.  While exremely frustrating, this is not caused by any disfunction of your washer.  Below are some possible causes:

• Accidental contact with chlorine bleach is the most common cause. Since bleach is essentially colourless, it can be accidentally spilled or splashed on laundry surfaces and not noticed until it accidentally comes into contact with an item.

• Improper use of chlorine bleach can also be a cause. First, determine if the items in the load can be safely bleached, then dilute 1 part bleach with at least 4 parts water and add it to the agitating load ( avoid pouring the solution directly onto fabrics). If the washer has a dispenser, the bleach does not need diluting, but should be adde do the dispenser before the clothes are loaded into the washer.This prevents accidental spillage of full strength bleach on to the load.

• Benzoyl peroxid, which is found in many acne medication creams, causes an unusual pattern of colour loss. This substance selectively removes only blue dyes. If blue fabric comes into contact with benzoyl peroxide, there is removal of the blue colour, resulting in a white spot on the garment If the affected item is green, the result is a yellow spot when the blue is removed, since green is a combination of blue and yellow. If the item is tan ( which is a combination of red, blue and yellow) the affected area will turn orange, and so on. This colour loss can happen with virtually any fabric that the medication comes into contact with. The user needs to be careful to avoid contact between any garment and this medication and to wash their hands after applying the medication.

• Many of the dyes on fabrics today are unstable. Labels that say "Wash before wear", "color rubs off", "Turn inside out to launder" and "Designed to bleed" are all warnings that the dye in the garment may not be stable. Simply wearing the garment can cause colour loss on thick seams, pockets, waistbands and creases when these dyes are used. Colour loss from unstable dyes can also happen when the exposed to moisture (even perspiration), detergent, or even the mild abrasion that occurs with laundering. For example, failure to turn a garment inside out for laundering when the care label says to do so, can result in streaks of colour loss. As always, following the care label directions provided by the manufacturer is very important, especially when dealing with unstable dyes. -- Back to Top

This tech tip taken from the Maytag Consumer Corner bulletin.