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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
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 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
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
Care symbols on
clothing labels
The care instructions 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.
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 machine doesn't become
totally unbalanced, the Duvet wouldn't
clean properly, because it 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
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.
The Energy efficiency
label, explained
The Energy efficiency rating makes
it very easy to make a like-for-like
comparison when choosing a energy
efficient new 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)
The Directive requires European countries
to maximise separate collection and
environmentally friendly processing of
these items.
The 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?
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.
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.
Also, with less water you'll only need to
use about a third of the amount of
detergent required by a top-loader.
How to connect a
washing machine
Instructions for how to connect
a 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
Penny Lane
Domestic Appliances