Kenmore 970L4814 Series, Use & Care Manual, Page: 21 / 24

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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 deter-
gent and hottest water safe for fabric.
• Add bleach safe for fabric.
• Sort items by soil level and color.
• Use correct amount of detergent,
hottest 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 tem-
perature. 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, step 5.
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 di-
rectly on fabric.
• Check condition of items before
washing. See Operating Your
Washer, steps 2 and 5.
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 condition-
er 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, steps
1 and 2.
• 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 syn-
thetic and permanent press
fabrics. This is due to abra-
sion 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
fabric fi nish on collars and cu ff s.
• Turn items inside out to reduce
abrasion.
Residue or
powder on dark
items;
Sti ff , harsh
fabrics.
• Undissolved detergent.
• Some granular detergents
can combine with hard
water minerals to form a
residue.
• Overloading the washer.
• Rewash load. • Increase water temperature using
hottest water safe for fabric.
• Do not overload washer.
• Use liquid detergent or use nonpre-
cipitating water conditioner with
powder detergent.
Wrinkling • Overloading the washer.
• Incorrect wash cycle for
wash load.
• Reduce load size.
• Rinse in cold water with liquid fabric
softener using the casual or delicate
cycle.
• Do not overload washer.
• Remove items from washer as soon
as cycle is completed.
• Use liquid fabric softener.
Common Washing Problems
Solutions to Common Problems