Help and Advice

Provided below are helpful advice to washing machines and washing problems By following our advice you can prolong the life of your machine, and improve the results of your wash How to clean a smelly washing machine My washing machine has stopped working mid cycle? Don't wash bath mats in your washing machine The correct way to use liquid detergen Is Fabric softener necessary? Can I wash a Duvet in my washing machine? The safe way to machine wash Bras Don't wash Trainers in your washing machine I've lost a sock in my washing machine

How to clean a smelly

washing machine

If you always select cool 30°C - 40°C Quick-wash programmes and only use Non-Bio detergent, Liquid detergent, Liquid tablets, Eco-friendly detergents or any other detergent that doesn’t contain Oxygen bleach. This will cause a build up of softener, detergent, dirt and grease creating a breeding ground for Bacteria; very unpleasant smells can form in your washing machine - in turn the unpleasant smells can be transferred to the laundry itself. A gradual build up of dirt, grease and Bacteria will also cause sections of the door seal to turn discoloured and black. Two to three times a year, simply wash cotton Tea towels on the Hottest 90°C Wash Programme with the ' Intensive wash and the Extra rinse ' options (if your machine has those functions) with a Biological powder detergent that contains Oxygen bleach. Alternatively, you can use your normal detergent with two scoops of Oxygen bleach powder additive.

My washing machine

has stopped working

mid cycle?

You can wash the same items for years, then one day for no apparent reason your washing machine stops working mid cycle – or refuses to complete the final spin. Unbalanced load Our customers are always concerned about damaging their washing machine by overloading. What will cause more damage than overloading your machine is washing one large heavy item by itself – or one heavy item with a number of light items. Washing just one large heavy item will often cause an unbalance load; if your machine detects an unbalance load it will abort, or, stop working mid cycle - because machines are designed to protect themselves from the potential damaged that an unbalanced load would cause.

Don't wash bath mats

in your washing machine

Although, the care instructions on bath mats will often say you can wash them in a washing machine. We'd advice you don't, because washing bath mats can cause major damage to your washing machine by putting excessive strain on your machines components – plus the possibility of causing an unbalanced load. We've seen many of our customers washing machines completely wrecked by washing bath mats

The correct way to

use liquid detergent

You may think using Liquid detergent in your washing machine is simple, but you could be doing it all wrong? If you pour the liquid detergent into your washing machines Soap drawer; most of the liquid detergent could go astray in the machines soap drawer compartment and Sump hose, completely bypassing the drum and your laundry. Greatly reducing the effectiveness of the liquid detergent. The correct way to use liquid detergent in your washing machine is to pour the liquid into a Dosing Ball. Place the dosing ball on top and the back of the laundry; this will prevent the liquid from settling in the machines hoses.

Is Fabric softener

necessary?

Originally, the only purpose for using Fabric softener was to reduce static cling in synthetic fabrics It isn't required at all when washing natural fabrics Liquid fabric softener works by coating the surface of the cloth fibres with a thin layer of chemicals; these chemicals have lubricant properties and are electrically conductive. Making fibres feel smoother and preventing build-up of static electricity in synthetic fabrics. The disadvantage The disadvantage of coating natural fibres by a chemical layer is in decreasing the water absorption properties of the fabric, which may be undesirable in towels. Most good quality all-cotton towels do not require to be treated with Fabric softener;with repeated washing and drying they become softer naturally.

Can I wash a duvet

in my washing machine?

Although, the care instructions on a Duvet will often say you can wash it in a washing machine; some machines even have a ' Duvet wash programme.' We'd advice you don't, because washing a Duvet can cause major damage to your washing machine by putting excessive strain on your machines components. It wouldn't clean properly Even if your washing machine doesn't become totally unbalanced, the Duvet wouldn't clean properly, because a Duvet would completely fill the drum leaving no space to fall into when the drum tumbles.

The safe way to

machine wash Bras

Before washing Bras in your washing machine always check the Bras for damaged and worn edges. Separated under-wires Because the Bras under-wires can cause damage to your washing machine. Also, the separated under-wires can break up into small pieces and block the Pump. Consider using a Protective mesh laundry bag This will protect your delicate Bras from being stretched out, and if your Bras are under-wired it protects the under-wires from being twisted and puncturing the garments material.

Don't wash Trainers

in your washing machine

Washing your trainers in a washing machine would seem like a quick and easy way to clean them; some machines even have a ' Shoes wash programme.' Trainers are too heavy – whilst being tossed around the tumbling drum they can drop down onto the plastic drum paddles and Completely detach one, or all three of the paddles.

I've lost a sock in my

washing machine?

Losing a sock in your washing machine is one of those most annoying of things. Possibly, your lost sock is still inside the drum, the door seal or maybe in the Pump filter? Socks, especially children's socks somehow manage to get themselves caught in the gap between the moving inner drum and the door seal, and can get pulled into the machine. Check the Pump filter, hopefully your sock has ended up in there without being damaged. The simplest way to avoid losing socks in your washing machine is to put all your socks in a Protective zip-up mesh laundry bag.