HELP! Front loader turning whites gray

[jiminyC_fan]

Help! I'm desperate. I have a front load washing machine and it's turning my whites gray. I googled it but didn't really come up with an answer. Some say hotter water, some say too much detergent/too little detergent etc. Anyone else have this problem and figured out how to handle it? I can't keep buying socks, bras and underwear.

 

[Zerosinthecloset]

Are you on well water? Do you have a water softener? If so, is it working correctly?

 

[jiminyC_fan]

Thanks for asking. No, we aren't on well water and we don't have hard water so we don't use a water softener.

 

[Disfan1]

Couple of ideas:

Are you using HE formulated detergent? If you are using regular detergent, that may be the problem.

Try cleaning your washer with one of those cleaning tablets - I think Tide makes one and there is another brand called Affresh.

 

[Zerosinthecloset]

I'll stick with the water for now. How old is your water heater? Even though you don't have hard water, a water heater collects all kinds of deposits, silt, etc., that can get stirred up and end up in the water lines. Try the Tide cleaner first, but don't rule out water quality or lack of. Good luck.

 

[jiminyC_fan]

Great questions. I do use the Tide machine cleaner. Our hot water heater is only 1 1/2 years old. I do use the HE detergent. I have even switched brands thinking it was the brand. Nothing has worked. I tried bleaching out the gray and that doesn't help.

 

[Sadie22]

Do you use fabric softener? That can leave a residue after a while.

 

[mhsjax]

It's those darn front loaders. They hate us. I have never had so many laundry problems. I got a front loader and my clothes don't smell as clean, they are more wrinkled. I can't wait until the darn thing dies. I will never buy another one.

Oh, and sorry, I don't have any suggestions. Just wanted to share in your agony. Good luck.

 

[jiminyC_fan]

It's those darn front loaders. They hate us. I have never had so many laundry problems. I got a front loader and my clothes don't smell as clean, they are more wrinkled. I can't wait until the darn thing dies. I will never buy another one.

Oh, and sorry, I don't have any suggestions. Just wanted to share in your agony. Good luck.

I am so ready to kick it to the curb. I didn't even want it in the first place. DH wanted it. I hate it. I like the way it wrings out almost all the water so drying time is extremely limited but that's it. Period.

I do use fabric softner. My DD's use it also and they don't have problems but they have top loaders.

 

[Imzadi]

Do you leave the door open to let it air dry inside after washing? I read they can build up mold & mildew around the gasket if the door is kept closed. Maybe it's coming off in the wash.

Maybe you have a sock stuck inside somewhere?

 

[jiminyC_fan]

Great idea about the sock. I will have to go looking. I'm running an empty washer with a cup of bleach right now. I do leave the door open. I don't have any odor, thankfully.

 

[kathymc]

I gotta tell you that I got a kick out of this post because in the photo below -your clothes are all so shiny and white!

sorry cant help, havent had this issue

 

[golfgal]

I vote for too much detergent. I can always tell when DH does a load of whites because he INSISTS on using an entire scoop of detergent because that is what the box says . I use about an 1/8th of a scoop and that is plenty. We have a water softener so you don't need much soap at all. If you have soft water, scale back on the detergent and see if that helps.

 

[ilovejack02]

I vote for too much detergent. I can always tell when DH does a load of whites because he INSISTS on using an entire scoop of detergent because that is what the box says . I use about an 1/8th of a scoop and that is plenty. We have a water softener so you don't need much soap at all. If you have soft water, scale back on the detergent and see if that helps.

I am voting for this too. I only use half of what the box says, no issues .

 

[jiminyC_fan]

I gotta tell you that I got a kick out of this post because in the photo below -your clothes are all so shiny and white!

sorry cant help, havent had this issue

That was Pre front loader days (plus new clothes)

Too much detergent has to be it. Earlier I said that I was running an empty washer with a cup of bleach. I went down to check on it and I found suds. I use the Tide cleaner but I guess it's not good enough for built up detergent. Guess I will run another empty was and see what I come up with this time.

I was reading last night on my google search that all you need is two tablespoons of HE detergent. Man, that doesn't sound like enough. What do you guys think? How would you know if it is or isn't enough?

 

[BKMETV]

That was Pre front loader days (plus new clothes)

Too much detergent has to be it. Earlier I said that I was running an empty washer with a cup of bleach. I went down to check on it and I found suds. I use the Tide cleaner but I guess it's not good enough for built up detergent. Guess I will run another empty was and see what I come up with this time.

I was reading last night on my google search that all you need is two tablespoons of HE detergent. Man, that doesn't sound like enough. What do you guys think? How would you know if it is or isn't enough?

WOW I'm definitely using too much...I always fill it to the MAX line.

 

[ilovejack02]

I use half the recommend amount. I also have read on several forums a tablespoon per load, maybe what I am using is just that. I am going to measure on my next load lol.

PS , do the same with your dish detergent. I never fill up to line, I also use half the recommended amount.

 

[jiminyC_fan]

WOW I'm definitely using too much...I always fill it to the MAX line.

I use whatever the scoop recommends that comes in the box of detergent.

 

[golfgal]

That was Pre front loader days (plus new clothes)

Too much detergent has to be it. Earlier I said that I was running an empty washer with a cup of bleach. I went down to check on it and I found suds. I use the Tide cleaner but I guess it's not good enough for built up detergent. Guess I will run another empty was and see what I come up with this time.

I was reading last night on my google search that all you need is two tablespoons of HE detergent. Man, that doesn't sound like enough. What do you guys think? How would you know if it is or isn't enough?

I have a 15 year old top loader and I just measured how much I use with a measuring spoon and it is about 2 tablespoons. If you put that in and have the water run without any clothes in there, I get several inches of suds. It is PLENTY. This is regular Tide, not the HE stuff.