Laundry

I'm about to pull all my hairs out! I know it's not rocket science, but why on earth is it soooooo hard to get my laundry clean around here?

If I wash everything using the 40 degreee non fast colored cotton cycle, I end up dying everything a different color! If I wash everything using 40 degree wool wash or delicate cycle, there's a residual left on everything. Then I started doing an extra rinse cycle for good measure, but there's still a residue on everything. Argh! Please help?!

And what's the difference between bio and non-bio detergents? What do you guys use? Also I'm on my second drying rack from Argos...I hang a single towel and it breaks! I want a drying rack from Costco. I want a tumble dryer! And I want to use Bounce dryer sheets!

Okay, sorry for the vent. Didn't know who else to complain to. Husband thinks I'm nuts already...I know how to operate the world's largest laser but not a washing machine. 

I have no advice on the laundry (we're a wash at 40 degrees w/ second rinse family, but we have to be persnickety about dividing colours and whites as well!). But this:

Okay, sorry for the vent. Didn't know who else to complain to. Husband thinks I'm nuts already...I know how to operate the world's largest laser but not a washing machine.

made me giggle.  When I first moved here, I couldn't figure out the OVEN. I may or may not have muttered something about being able to get 1500 pound animals and 14 yr old children to do what I needed them to do but couldn't figure out a *£$£"&( inanimate object.

I hang a single towel and it breaks!

Have you tried cleaning out the filter? It doesn't sound like your washer is draining properly.

Its pretty simple to empty as well.
You can google for your make and model for instructions on how to access.

Unless is its like mine, at the back of the machine and has a fortress built around it, so that only a repair man can empty it. 

We wash on 30 degree, DW would actually like a cold setting as she used to use that a lot in the US!
But I read that with modern detergents that clothes that state a 40 degree wash will be ok at 30 degree. We just do "lights" and "darks" with no issues so can't really help.
Biological are supposed to be better for stains etc, but some people don't like the environmental issues with bil so use non-bio.
We use Bio at 30 degree.

Have you tried cleaning out the filter? It doesn't sound like your washer is draining properly.

Thanks for the suggestion. If it's the thing that says fluff filter and is shaped like a banana, then yes. I change it about once a month. And there's usually not much in it. I'll pull out the manual and see if there's another filter somewhere maybe on the back side.

Another draining question...since I've never had a washing machine connected to my kitchen sink before, is it supposed to gurgle up the drains? Sorry for akk the questions. DH is very sweet and handy around the house, but not particularly domesticated...so doesn't notice these things and doesn't know if it's normal.

What spin speed is your machine and can you add an additional spin cycle at the end of heavy washes? Maybe the towels are coming out too heavy with water and that's why it broke. 

I use 30 for darks, 40 or something mine calls 40/60 mix for lights or nappy wash.   All in liquid/gel/liquitabs non-bio and haven't had residue issues.  Check how much you are using maybe.

Remember, it's 40 degrees Celsius, not Fahrenheit, so 40 degrees is hot water. Trust me, I learned that the hard way myself! The only thing I would wash on 40 is towels. Everything else was as cool as I could get it (which still isn't cold).

Its pretty simple to empty as well.
You can google for your make and model for instructions on how to access.

Unless is its like mine, at the back of the machine and has a fortress built around it, so that only a repair man can empty it. 

Ah, we obviously have the same model! Speaking of which, the repair man is here for the second time this week and this time he's pulling gunk out of the air intake thingy.

Another draining question...since I've never had a washing machine connected to my kitchen sink before, is it supposed to gurgle up the drains?

Yup. I've lived in two older homes in the US and UK where the drain was connected through the bath - and it is far worse. The wash water will sometimes sit in the bath before draining out again. Ick! 

Another draining question...since I've never had a washing machine connected to my kitchen sink before, is it supposed to gurgle up the drains? Sorry for akk the questions. DH is very sweet and handy around the house, but not particularly domesticated...so doesn't notice these things and doesn't know if it's normal.

It shouldnt.
Theres something wrong with how the drain from either the machine to the sink is sitting or the drain from the sink to the waste pipe is sitting. (we had the later, and had to have an additional drain pipe fitted)

Random question: Do you have a have a dishwasher? We had one installed last year and the pipes couldnt take the waste from the washer, the sink and the dishwasher. We had to have a separate waste pipe installed (see above)

Random question: Do you have a have a dishwasher? We had one installed last year and the pipes couldnt take the waste from the washer, the sink and the dishwasher. We had to have a separate waste pipe installed (see above)

Oh, we actually do have a dishwasher...but we never use it. I'll have to investigate a bit more re: drains/pipes. Perhaps there's a drainage problem that's causing the residues and I'm not just stupid after all. Although, I think dying white shirts pink, and light grey towels deep purple, might be operator's error. Ha!

Oh, we actually do have a dishwasher...but we never use it. I'll have to investigate a bit more re: drains/pipes. Perhaps there's a drainage problem that's causing the residues and I'm not just stupid after all. Although, I think dying white shirts pink, and light grey towels deep purple, might be operator's error. Ha!

It could be. We were getting the issue, even with the dishwasher off.. Luckily it was while our builder was in the house and was able to get a second pipe in without much effort.

Also, how old is your machine? Ours is just over 4 yrs old and came with a cold wash option. I only ever use a heated wash for whites, sheets and towels or if I know a particular load is really dirty.

Ive not had an issue with colours bleeding, but Im pretty OCD about keeping things separate (I do a brights, darks and whites wash)

Good luck.

On the bio/non bio : bio means that contains enzymes, meaning that it will be very good in removing stains. However, some people might have sensitive skin and might develop a skin rash if swearing clothes washed with bio products.

On the residue: what type of detergent are you using? In my experience, residue is a problem mainly for powder detergent, where either it doesn't dissolve (too much product, poor quality product, too cold temperature). Is this the type of residue you are getting?

Powder detergent might also be a culprit. But I think I get the residue problem even with liquid detergent. I'm one of those with sensitive skin and get a rash when using a particular type of detergent...so this whole laundry thing has been quite a learning experience and almost a bane of my existence. Should probably start jotting down which detergents work for us and which ones don't.

Ahhh...must eat some chocolate now.