Using Your Front Load Washing Machine
Here are some points about using your washing machine that are interesting to know.
- Only use small quantities of low suds soap. Skin allergies may require sensitive soap that is available readily.
- Good front loaders are water saturation machines as opposed to water immersion machines so each fill is very small and the clothes are just sloppy wet. They tumble back and forth in a polished stainless steel drum. It only takes a small amount of soap to saturate this solution
- Identify which compartment the inlet wash fill water will run into by setting the machine on cold fill and momentarily start the machine with the dispenser slightly open
- Place the small amount of soap in the appropriate dispenser drawer so that the inlet flow of water dissolves the soap
- Now place a full sized load in the machine. How do I know if I have a full load?. Place the clothes packed not jammed in but firmly loose until you can just fit your hand between the top of your load and the top of the drum. A bit awkward to discover until you are used to packing the machine, but it’s worth getting it right for the future longevity of the machine and for good kindly treated and clean washing Front load washers work better and last much longer without problems if mostly a full sized load is applied. Small loads tend to place more strain on the mechanism because they are unbalanced, even if the machine appears stable while working
- Most good quality front loaders have the facility to set the water temperature. The best setting for cleanest washing and low machine maintenance is to set the machine for a 40 degree wash and have it fill with cold water first. Some stains like blood and others are best dealt with cold water. As the machine washes it heats the water gently from cold to the setting of say 40 degrees. So you are getting atransient range of temperatures to best deal with the stains.
- Now another reason for the 40 degree settings is to activate the soap enzymes. Enzymes dissolve body fat and greases for clean hygienic washing, and this keeps your machine clean and smell free. Don’t purchase cheap soap without enzymes. When the water heats the chemists who make the soap say it takes 15 minutes at 40 degrees to activate the enzymes. That’s one reason why front loaders take a bit longer. Ideally 50 degrees is best, but it pays to be cautious as some delicates may be effected by the higher temperature
- The amount of power consumed to heat the water is also negligible as the amount of water being warmed per fill is small.
- Keep the door seal of the machine clean. Wipe in the folds of the rubber frequently and ensure no items remain in the folds of the seal
- Another point is to be diligent about cleaning out your pockets. Coins and keys for example can do irreparable damage to drums and pumps etc. So keep foreign objects out of the drum
- Avoid using fabric softeners if possible. In some cases fabric softeners can form a reaction with the soap and leave stains on your wash and can form a greasy deposit in the machine.
Now that you have a solidly mounted level washer, with a full foreign object free load, and a small amount of soap with a temperature setting of 40 degrees, you can select a wash cycle. Choose a NORMAL cycle for average washing. and away you go.
It is wise not to leave your appliance running when you are not in attendance. Although automatic appliances are designed for our convenience faults can occur and things can go wrong. Should this happen, if someone is around to intervene then a nasty experience might be avoided. Consider this when using you appliances
The above tips are meant to assist you with your appliance. Any tips undertaken are carried out at your own risk. No responsibility is taken by Prestige for any consequences resulting from anything you do as a result of reading these tips. We recommend you call us for professional help when needed.