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Penny Lane Domestic Appliances
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
washing 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 detergent
Care symbols on clothing labels
Is Fabric softener necessary?
Can I wash a Duvet in my washing machine?
What is Oxy bleach stain remover?
The safe way to machine wash Bras
Don't wash Trainers in your washing machine
The Energy efficiency label, explained
What is the WEEE Directive?
I've lost a sock in my washing machine
Front-loading vs Top-loading
How to connect a washing machine
How to clean a smelly washing machine
There's an unpleasant smell coming from the inside of my washing machine?
If you always select cool 30°C - 40°C Quick-wash programmes and only use Non-Bio detergent, Liquid detergent, Liquid tablet,
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 inside your
washing machine - in turn the unpleasant smells can be transferred to the laundry itself.
Regular 90°C Maintenance washes
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 causes more
damage than overloading your machine is washing just 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 washing 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
Excessive strain on 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 machine by putting excessive strain on your machines components, plus the possibility
of causing an unbalanced load.
Bath mats can breakdown and separate
Apart from bath mats putting excessive strain on your washing machine; they will often breakdown during the wash and begin shedding fibres and clog
the pump filter - some of the cheaper bath mats the rubber backing can totally separate and will completely clog up the whole of your washing machines
drainage system, the door seal and inner drum.
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.
Care symbols on clothing labels
A explanation of what all of the care symbols mean
The care instructions on clothing labels are there to help you wash, dry and iron your clothes effectively without
damaging them - however, they can be confusing so here is a explanation of what all the care symbols mean.
Is Fabric softener necessary?
Originally, the only purpose for using Fabric softener was to reduce static cling in synthetic 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?
Excessive strain on your 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 – plus the possibility of causing an unbalanced load.
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.
What is Oxy bleach stain remover?
Oxy bleach, or, Oxygen bleach are common terms for Sodium per-carbonate
Oxygen bleach is a cleaning agent; in powder form is usually part of a Biological detergent,
and also sold separately as a additive with names like Oxy-power, Oxi-clean or Oxi-action
stain remover that can be safely used in your Washing machine.
The safe way to machine wash Bras
Separated under-wires
Before washing Bras in your washing machine always check the Bras for
damaged and worn edges - because the Bras under-wires can cause damage
to your machine. Also, the separated under-wires can break up into small pieces
and block the Pump.
Consider using a protective zip-up mesh laundry bag, or a pillowcase
A protective zip-up mesh laundry bag, 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.
If you try using your machine without drum paddles; your laundry will be stuck at the
bottom of the drum, because the paddles won't be there to lift and move the laundry
around in the tumbling drum.
The Energy efficiency label, explained
The Energy efficiency rating makes it very easy to make a like-for-like
comparison when choosing a new energy efficient washing machine
A rating for the highest efficient and G for low efficiency, Also on the label you'll find symbols
showing the machines Wash capacity, 60°C Cotton wash cycle duration,
Water consumption, Spin performance and the Noise level.
What is the WEEE Directive?
The Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive
The Directive requires European countries to maximise separate collection and environmentally
friendly processing of these items, legislation aims to make producers pay for the collection,
treatment and recovery of waste electrical equipment.
The regulations also means that suppliers of electrical equipment like us, the high street stores and
internet retailers must allow consumers to return their waste electrical equipment free of charge.
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? Also look just inside the door seal, your lost sock could be hiding there.
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.
Front-loading vs Top-loading
Two different methods of washing laundry - Which is the more efficient?
Front-loading machines use 60% less water than the average top-loader which means
less water has to be heated; as 80 - 90% of the energy used by a washing machine
goes towards heating the water.
How to connected a Washing machine
Instructions for how to connect your washing machine in four steps
Step 1: Remove the 4 transit bolts
Step 2: Connecting the water
Step 3: Draining the waste water
Step 4: Levelling the machine
Separated under-wires
Why do we have help and advice pages?
We pride ourselves on being one of the finest
washing machine repair businesses in Liverpool.
However, we don't want you to pay for repairs if
you can avoid it.
We've seen many of our customers washing machines
completely wrecked by washing bath mats