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Common Washing Problems
Many washing problems involve poor soil and stain removal, residues of lint and scum, and fabric damage. For satisfactory
washing results, follow these suggestions provided by The Soap and Detergent Association.
PROBLEM
Blue stains
POSSIBLE CAUSES SOLUTIONS PREVENTIVE MEASURES
• 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 overfilling detergent and fabric softener
compartments of dispenser.
Discoloration,
graying
• Not enough detergent. •Rewash with correct amount of detergent
• Wash water temperature too low. and hottest water safe for fabric. Add
• Incorrect sorting, bleach safe for fabric.
• Sort items by soil level and color.
• Use correct amount of detergent, 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 water 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 Washing Procedures for
directions on adding softener.
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
Washing Procedures for preparing and
loading the wash load and adding chlorine
bleach.
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.
• Loadwashed too long.
• Reduce load size. Rewash using correct
water temperature, water level, and
amount of detergent.
• Add nonprecipitating water conditioner to
wash water to remove detergent residue.
• Add liquid fabric softener to final rinse.
• Dry load in dryer.
• Remove lint with lint brush or roller.
• See Washing Procedures for sorting and
preparing the wash load.
• Do not overload washer.
• Use correct temperature and amount of
detergent, water and wash time.
Pilling
(Fibers break off, ball
up and cling to
fabric.)
• Pilling isnormal with synthetic and
permanent press fabrics. This isdue
to abrasion from normal wear.
• Use a lint brush or shaver to remove pills.
• Usefabric softener in the washer to lubricate
fibers.
• When ironing, use spray starch or fabric finish
on collars and cuffs.
• Turn items inside out to reduce abrasion.
Residue or powder
on dark items;
Stiff, harsh fabrics.
• Undissolved detergent.
• Some nonphosphate granular
detergents can combine with hard
water minerals to form a residue.
• Overloading the washer.
• Rewash load.
• Increasewater temperature using hottest
water safe for fabric.
• Do not overload washer.
• Use liquid detergent or use nonprecipitating
water conditioner with nonphosphate
granular detergent.
Wrinkling • Overloading the washer.
• Incorrect wash cycle for wash load.
• Reduce load size.
• Rinse in cold water with liquid fabric
softener using the Perm Pressor Delicate
cycle.
• Do not overload washer.
• Remove items from washer as soon as cycle is
completed.
• Use liquid fabric softener.
Yellow buildup of
body soil on
synthetic fabrics
• Agitation time too short.
• Wash water temperature too low.
• Not enough detergent.
• Soak in detergent booster or product
containing enzymes.
• Wash in hot water (120°F/49°C) using full
permanent press cycle, increase detergent.
Add bleach safe for fabric.
• Or, treat with color remover.
• Select correct wash cycle.
• Use correct amount of detergent.
• Wash synthetics frequently using hot or warm
water.
Yellow or brown
rust stains
• Iron or manganese in water supply,
water pipes, or water heater.
• To restore discolored load of whites, use
rust remover safe for fabric.
Do not use chlorine bleach to remove
rust stains. It may intensify
discoloration.
• Use nonprecipitating water softener.
• Before washing, run hot water for afew
minutes to clear lines.
• Drain water heater occasionally.
• For an ongoing problem, install an iron filter in
your water supply system.
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