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SOLUTIONS TO COMMON PROBLEMS
Many washing problems involve poor soil and stain removal, residues of lint and scum, and fabric dam-
age. For satisfactory washing results, follow these suggestions provided by The Soap and Detergent
Association.
PROBLEM POSSIBLE CAUSES SOLUTIONS PREVENTIVE MEASURES
Blue stains • Undiluted liquid detergent
or fabric softener dispensed
directly onto fabric.
• If caused by detergent,
mix 1 cup (240 ml) white
vinegar with 1 quart (.95 L)
water in a plastic container.
Soak item 1 hour. Rinse.
• If caused by fabric softener,
rub stains with bar soap.
Wash.
• Avoid overfi lling detergent
and fabric softener compart-
ments of dispenser.
Discoloration,
graying
• Not enough detergent.
• Wash water temperature
too low.
• Incorrect sorting.
• Rewash with correct amount
of detergent and hottest
water safe for fabric.
• Add bleach safe for fabric.
• Sort items by soil level and
color.
• Use correct amount of de-
tergent, hottest water and
bleach safe for fabric.
Greasy, oily
stains
• Not enough detergent.
• Undiluted liquid fabric
softener poured directly on
fabric.
• Treat with prewash stain
remover or liquid detergent.
• Increase detergent and wa-
ter temperature. Rewash.
• Rub fabric softener stains
with bar soap.
• Use correct amount of
detergent and hottest water
safe for fabric.
• Do not pour liquid fabric
softener directly on fabric.
See Operating Your, step 5.
Holes, tears, or
snags
• Incorrect use of chlorine
bleach.
• Unfastened zippers, hooks,
buckles.
• Rips, tears and broken
threads.
• Overloading the washer.
• Degradation of fabric.
• May be irreversible if rips,
tears and seams cannot be
mended.
• Never pour chlorine bleach
directly on fabric.
• Check condition of items
before washing. See Operat-
ing Your, steps 2 and 5.
Lint • Incorrect sorting.
• Tissues left in pocket.
• Overloading the washer.
• Not enough detergent.
• Undissolved detergent has
left a residue resembling
lint.
• Static cling is attracting lint.
• Load washed too long.
• Reduce load size. Rewash
using correct water tem-
perature, water level, and
amount of detergent.
• Add nonprecipitating water
conditioner to wash water to
remove detergent residue.
• Add liquid fabric softener to
fi nal rinse.
• Dry load in dryer.
• Remove lint with lint brush
or roller.
• See Operating Your, steps 1
and 2.
• Do not overload washer.
• Use correct temperature
and amount of detergent,
water and wash time.
Common Washing Problems