Too Much Soap Suds

[topaz]

hi,hope you can help me, in fact its your blog that is keeping me sane through the problem i am having, i purchased a new miele washing machine which would have been excellent but for the excessive soap suds it created, the more i tried to rinse them away the worse they became.

I used to have to put the clothes on numerous washes or rinses to try and get rid of the suds. An engineer came to the machine but said there was no fault ( i tried different detergents and could only use small amounts, not enough to clean the clothes ) eventually the shop i purchased it from changed it and i chose a hotpoint, only to find to my horror ,the same problem although it is easier to get rid of the suds. I am wondering if the fault could be with the plumbing and not the washing machines? i have the w.m. in a converted coal house and wonder if i should bring it into the house ( the engineer said it should not be a problem were it is ) i am worried about going to the expense of this i.e. removing a cupboard , pluming and having a new electric socket put in ( i was told and have read that multy sockets should not be used.) only for the problem to remain. i would really appreciate your advice. many thanks.

[Whitegoodshelp (Andy)]

It's a shame you didn't ask before replacing the washing machine. I would have said it was unlikely to be the washing machine at fault. I'm getting several people with this same problem. Do you have soft water? Is there a water softener installed in your house? Do your neighbours have the same problem?

[topaz]

HI The water is medium hard, probably more hard.i do not have a water softner installed but have considered doing so. the neighbours i speak to do not have this problem and nor did i with previous machines, only since getting a new machine last january, Do you know if there is anything i can do, such as moving the w. machine. Thank you so much for your reply.

[Whitegoodshelp (Andy)]

That eliminates some of the possible causes. If it still does it with a totally different washing machine, with different detergents, and not for your neighbours, then it must be something at your house - and something that's changed since just before the problem started. Is there anything that's changed recently that could be on the laundry and reacting with the detergent? Does it cause excessive suds on all laundry or just when certain items are in? Could it be anything to do with any creams or anti perspirant etc recently introduced or changed? I have a blog article about poor rinsing in modern washing machines which you may find helpful to read carefully including the comments which contain more useful information - why can't modern washing machines rinse properly?

[topaz]

Thank you for your reply, I can not think of anything that has changed, only the fact that it happened when i got the new mieli, the previous machine / machines did not have the suds problem. I do not know were to go from here except the water board, a plumber or bring the w. machine in the house. I am wondering if it could be one of the pipes blocked or maybe the pipes are to narrow ? or even the electrics, of course i have no idea i am just grasping at straws. i will now go onto your rinsing blog. thank you, you provide a fantastic service and i am sure others with problems would like to know about this web site.

[Whitegoodshelp (Andy)]

From everything you've reported so far I would guess it could be one the following possibilities (or even a combination of both) -

• There's a small blockage in the plumbing where the water pumps out, which is causing washing machine to not drain as fast as it should but still fast enough not to trigger an error. That can impact rinsing efficiency. Check especially if the washer pumps out into a spiggot attached to the sink's u-bend.
• Modern washing machines just don't rinse as well as they used to as per my Blog article on the subject

[topaz]

Thank you for the helpful reply. I will try and check re. a blockage. The washer does not pump into a spiggot as there is no sink near. what i do have however is wire netting which my husband placed practicaly under the pipe where the water comes out in order to catch fluff etc which comes out of the machine, maybe i should try removing this ( it does have quite a lot of fluff attached to it but does not appear to stop the flow of water released from the washing machine.)

Many Thanks it is certainly a case of " a problem shared "

[Whitegoodshelp (Andy)]

If the netting is only after the water-flow it shouldn't restrict flow, if anything it would only be likely to cause water to overflow in the grate. As long as the netting isn't on the end of the pipe or close enough to restrict water flow is should be ok.

If your washing machine is draining into a standpipe it's possible for the plumbing it pumps into to have accumulations of lint and all sorts of gunge which can restrict water-flow - especially in the bends. If it restricts it enough you usually get water backing up and flowing over the top of the standpipe.

To check if there may be some restrictions try listening carefully when it pumps water out, the water should basically run straight through to the other side. If there were a partial blockage you would hear the water going out then after several seconds the sound would change to that of a vessel filling up as water backs up and water being pumped out is hitting backed up water instead of flowing right through. If the water appears to gush out at a good speed though when you observe it pumping out it may be nothing to do with a blockage.

[topaz]

Hi, The netting is not restricting the pipe or flow, the water appears to be pumping out at a good speed. I bought detergent tablets to try but they did not really help, even using 1/2 of the recomended amount. I have noticed that the excessive suds start very quickly into the wash cycle. i also noticed on the wool wash that the machine turns very rapid , but only one way, ( the wool wash on the previous machine was static more or less , just turning once every few minutes. ) I also need to go into your site for tumble dryers as the new one i have puts the bedding into a ball therefore not drying it properly.

I have a high cystern toilet , and when i use my washing machine this makes a noise, I have never given this much thought but am now looking at all possibility,s. many many thanks.

[Whitegoodshelp (Andy)]

If the motor is turning "very rapidly" on wash then it could explain why it's whipping up suds so much. It should turn relatively slowly on wash. It all depends of course on how fast "rapid" is. If it's almost spinning then it could be a fault. Sounds like the dryer may not be reversing and just constantly turning one way.

[topaz]

Thank you for the reply re . my tumble dryer putting bedding into a ball, as you predicted it is only turning one way with no reverse action, so I shall phone hoover up as it is insured, but under guarantee anyway.SO THANK YOU for your straight forward excellent advice.

With regards to the washing machine the drum is turning faster than i thought it should for a wool wash but not as fast as a spin , however the drum does not rotate as i mentioned ( just like the tumble dryer only turning one way, i shall observe it on other programmes to see if it rotates. many thanks. p.s. is this site advertised or do people just hit on it by putting the problem on google like i did ?

[Whitegoodshelp (Andy)]

Hi Topaz. No I've never advertised the site. I've been lucky enough so far that google likes my work and gives me good rankings.

The motor action varies on different programmes though it shouldn't necessarily be particularly gentle on wash. Woollens shouldn't spin faster than 800 rpm but should have similar wash action to 40 degree cottons. I definitely wouldn't expect the drum to turn faster than it does on 40 degree cottons wash.

[topaz]

Hi, Thanks to your advice, I have now had my tumble dryer repaired. The excessive soap suds continue in the washing machine which is driving me mad, Are you able to advise me on if it is possible to buy a "frost free intigrated freezer " I am having difficulty finding one . Many Thanks.

[Whitegoodshelp (Andy)]

I've since written an article on what causes too much foam in the washing machine