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So maybe most of you already knew this, but I just found out (fortunately, not the hard way), why the big deal about using HE detergents with front-loaders. I've heard that over-sudsing is bad, but didn't know why. Apparently, if the drum fills with suds they can overflow and get onto the bearings. The detergent will strip the grease that keeps those bearings rolling smoothly, and although you won't see immediate damage, over time there will be too much friction, and that can burn out the motor.
The repair guy who explained this to me did say that the drum would have to be pretty full of suds for that to happen, so I'm not going to panic over the very small amounts of non HE I've worked into over the past year, but still, food for thought! |
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| I use Nature Clean (bought at a Loblaws store). Anyone else? I find it strange that it can be used for FL or TL washers, depending on the amount of detergent. For example, a light load in a FL requires only 1/8 of a cup. I've never seen it in a TL but I imagine it's low sudsing in general. Anyone else use it? Like it? Or not? |
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| The Country Save powder that I use is the same way, 1/2 the TL amount for a FL, and I know I've seen that on other kinds, too. By the time I halve the half, I'm using only about a Tbs per load. But it seems to do the trick and a box lasts forever! |
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I use Nature Clean on my MEOS diapers (and have been for 9 mos now) and really like it. No buildup, no smell, no staining - yet, anyways! It's amazing how little you have to use in a f/l machine to get things clean. I use ECOS HE detergent from Costco for the rest of my washing and really like that as well. |
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I've also heard that too many suds can impede it's cleaning ability. Apparently some (most??) of the cleaning happens as the clothing are 'dropped' into the soapy water as the drum turns and flips clothing upside down. If there are too many suds they will cushion the clothing too much so that they don't fall hard enough (or at all if you really have too many suds) so they won't get as clean.
Good to know about the bearings though, I hadn't heard that before. Might have to donate at least part of my stash of regular detergent when we get our front loader. Though with the slow progress the house is making I might just have time to get through it before we move!!!
Karen.
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I've also heard that too many suds can impede it's cleaning ability. Apparently some (most??) of the cleaning happens as the clothing are 'dropped' into the soapy water as the drum turns and flips clothing upside down. If there are too many suds they will cushion the clothing too much so that they don't fall hard enough (or at all if you really have too many suds) so they won't get as clean.
Good to know about the bearings though, I hadn't heard that before. Might have to donate at least part of my stash of regular detergent when we get our front loader. Though with the slow progress the house is making I might just have time to get through it before we move!!!
Karen.
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| Another thing to remember is if you're washing just one item (Don't worry, I wash full loads! I'm thinking of a bath mat or two) then cut down on your detergent or there will be too many bubbles and they won't rinse out. |
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| I use Nature Clean in both a TL and an FL. It's low sudsing in both. The FL uses so much less water, I'm not surprised at how little detergent they recommend you use per load. I really like that NC does not leave residue on the Sandy's that I'm using. They stay nice and absorbent. I don't have any issues with stains either. I do find that the diapers keep a bit of a "poopy" odor after DS has had certain foods (like broccoli...). I'm trying some white vinegar during the rinse cycle to see if that helps. |
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| It's true... we learned the expensive way. We used regular detergent, just less of it thinking this was ok. Apparently it still made too many suds (though we couldn't tell from watching, everything looked fine). The detergent left a residue that ate away at the bearings and corroded the part that held the drum in place. The repair would have cost over $600 so we just bought a new washer. From now on we are only using the HE detergent. |
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