Washing Machines 2 (or Laundry Quandry!)

[Lester Piggott]

I've seen a seperate 17 page thread on washing machines here so I'm hoping there are some experts here who can help me. Whenever I do a wash I seem to always a detergent residue left on clothes. This can be either a white powder when I use, erm powder or a gooey mess when I use the liquitabs. I've tried using less detergent, less clothes in the wash but it still happens fairly regularly. Does anyone have any suggestions on a solution> Hopefully I won't need to buy a new washing machine! Someone mentioned to me it could be "Hard Water" but I'm too sure what that is!

[goldmother]

Errrm if you read the other washing machines thread you'd know that those responsible were very knowlegeable about random rubbish and not so knowledgeable about washing machines ;D

But as I am such a domestic goddess...

Hard water is where you get lots of limescale in your water (I'm sure someone could offer a more technical answer!!) and it's 'hardness' stops powders frothing and dissolving as much as one would desire. It also makes for a shit cup of tea.
I think you can get calgon type products that balance this out (in yer washing machine - don't add calgon to a cuppa )

Otherwise you may be overloading your washing machine, your washing machine may be fucked, or it may be the type of powder (though I assume you've tried that one out!!)

Dot Cotton's online service wash troubleshooter over and out

[chris815]

Ah the joys of living up north

www.water-treatment.org.uk/hard_water.html

[saulisgod]

We have lovely soft water and you can tell if you are in a hard water area if you attaempt to get a lather for your hand and it doesn't come.

Hydrogeek over and out

[lisa]

Ah, a subject on which I am fairly knowledgable. Ish.

1. Maybe the thermostat is fucko and the water isnt warm enough to thoroughly dissolve said detergent.

2. Buy a new one (one that matches the rest of your kitchen appliances).

That's it.