Kenmore 417-6171 Series, Use & Care Manual

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14
Washer Operating Instructions
Many washing problems involve poor soil and stain removal, residues of lint and scum, and fabric damage. For satisfac-
tory washing results, follow these suggestions provided by The Soap and Detergent Association.
PROBLEM POSSIBLE CAUSES SOLUTIONS PREVENTIVE MEASURES
Blue stains • Undiluted liquid detergent
or fabric softener dispensed
directly onto fabric.
• If caused by detergent, mix 1 cup (240 ml)
white vinegar with 1 quart (.95 L) water in a
plastic container. Soak item 1 hour. Rinse.
• If caused by fabric softener, rub stains with
bar soap. Wash.
• Avoid over fi lling detergent and fabric
softener compartments of dispenser.
Discoloration,
graying
• Not enough detergent.
• Wash water temperature too
low.
• Incorrect sorting.
• Rewash with correct amount of detergent
and hottest water safe for fabric.
• Add bleach safe for fabric.
• Sort items by soil level and color.
• Use correct amount of detergent, hot-
test water and bleach safe for fabric.
Greasy, oily stains • Not enough detergent.
• Undiluted liquid fabric softener
poured directly on fabric.
• Treat with prewash stain remover or liquid
detergent.
• Increase detergent and water temperature.
Rewash.
• Rub fabric softener stains with bar soap.
• Use correct amount of detergent and
hottest water safe for fabric.
• Do not pour liquid fabric softener
directly on fabric. See Operating Your
Washer
Holes, tears, or
snags
• Incorrect use of chlorine bleach.
• Unfastened zippers, hooks,
buckles.
• Rips, tears and broken threads.
• Overloading the washer.
• Degradation of fabric.
• May be irreversible if rips, tears and seams
cannot be mended.
• Never pour chlorine bleach directly on
fabric.
• Check condition of items before wash-
ing. See Operating Your Washer
Lint • Incorrect sorting.
• Tissues left in pocket.
• Overloading the washer.
• Not enough detergent.
• Undissolved detergent has left a
residue resembling lint.
• Static cling is attracting lint.
• Load washed too long.
• Reduce load size. Rewash using correct
water temperature, water level, and amount
of detergent.
• Add nonprecipitating water conditioner to
wash water to remove detergent residue.
• Add liquid fabric softener to fi nal rinse.
• Dry load in dryer.
• Remove lint with lint brush or roller.
• See Operating Your Washer
• Do not overload washer.
• Use correct temperature and amount of
detergent, water and wash time.
Pilling
(Fibers ball up and
cling to fabric.)
• Pilling is normal with synthetic
and permanent press fabrics.
This is due to abrasion from
normal wear.
• Use a lint brush or shaver to remove pills. • Use fabric softener in the washer to
lubricate fi bers.
• When ironing, use spray starch or fab-
ric fi nish on collars and cu ff s.
• Turn items inside out to reduce abra-
sion.
Residue or powder
on dark items;
Sti ff , harsh fabrics.
• Undissolved detergent.
• Some granular detergents can
combine with hard water miner-
als to form a residue.
• Overloading the washer.
• Rewash load. • Increase water temperature using hot-
test water safe for fabric.
• Do not overload washer.
• Use liquid detergent or use nonprecipi-
tating water conditioner with powder
detergent.
Unexpected wash-
ing results of large
items
• Poor movement of large items
during wash action
• Large items loaded incorrectly
in a fl at fashion
• Rearrange load and rewash • Add items one at a time, each tightly
bunched into its own “ball” to allow
bene fi cial item interaction.
• Avoid loading items in a fl at, laid-out
fashion.
Wrinkling • Overloading the washer.
• Incorrect wash cycle for wash
load.
• Reduce load size.
• Rinse in cold water with liquid fabric soft-
ener using the casual or delicate cycle.
• Do not overload washer.
• Remove items from washer as soon as
cycle is completed.
• Use liquid fabric softener.
Yellow buildup of
body soil on syn-
thetic fabrics
• Agitation time too short.
• Wash water temperature too
low.
• Not enough detergent.
• Soak in detergent booster or product con-
taining enzymes.
• Wash in hottest water safe for fabric using
casual cycle.
• Increase detergent.
• Add bleach safe for fabric or treat with
color remover.
• Select correct wash cycle.
• Use correct amount of detergent.
• Wash synthetics frequently using hot or
warm water.
Yellow or brown
rust stains
• Iron or manganese in water
supply, water pipes, or water
heater.
• To restore discolored load of whites, use rust
remover safe for fabric.
• Do not use chlorine bleach to remove rust
stains. It may intensify discoloration.
• Use nonprecipitating water softener.
• Before washing, run hot water for a few
minutes to clear lines.
• Drain water heater occasionally.
• For an ongoing problem, install an iron
fi lter in your water supply system.
Common Washing Problems