Laundry Mishaps: What Causes That White Residue After a Wash

Laundry Mishaps: What Causes That White Residue After a Wash

Laundry mishaps happen to the best washers, and the key is to figure out why something happens and prevent it from happening again.

There’s an explanation for that white residue. There are a couple of them, and you’re going to learn about them here. You don’t have to dread your trip to your North Fort Myers laundromat because of that white residue.

What is That White Residue?

When people see those white specks or streaks, they scream because they know they have to rewash those items. It’s not a great feeling, but you can do something about this problem.

Undissolved Detergent

Yes, one reason this could happen is that your detergent isn’t dissolving as it was meant to.

Those who use powdered detergent must put the detergent in the washer when it’s empty. Doing so gives the powder enough time to dissolve. Some people add the detergent after loading the washer.

When washing in cold water, it’s essential to prepare the detergent. It won’t dissolve easily in cold water. Try mixing it with a bit of hot water until it’s dissolved before adding it to your load.

Those pods and packets can cause similar issues. Even some liquid detergents can leave spots. Always add your detergent before you load the washer. This should solve the problem.

The issue could also be a clogged automatic dispenser. This needs to be cleaned as soon as possible. Thankfully, N. Ft. Myers LaundroMart staff anticipates these sorts of issues and cleans their dispensers routinely.

Detergent Overload

Sometimes, folks use too much detergent. It’s vital that you only use the recommended amount.

If you think this is the cause of those specks, cut the amount of detergent you use. An excessive amount of detergent is hard to dissolve.

Those using high-efficiency washers should pay close attention to specific HE recommendations.

Fabric Softener Overload

Another reason you might see those spots on your clothes has to do with your softener.

It’s easy to put too much softener in your load, so make sure you put the correct amount.

Avoid pouring the softener directly on the clothes, too. Those with an automatic softener dispenser must clean the dispenser regularly like it’s done at your laundromat.

Failing Water Pump

Those spots or streaks could be there because the water drains too slowly from your washer. This could happen because your water pump isn’t working as it should be.

There could be a clog, and if that’s the case, it needs to be inspected and fixed as soon as possible.

Usually, you can find a small door at the bottom of your washer. If you see it, clean that filter and everything should go back to normal.

This door is common in newer machines, but older machines need to be handled by professionals, so keep that in mind.

If there’s nothing on the filter or you clean it and the issue is still occurring, the pump might need to be replaced or fixed.

Overloading

While there’s nothing wrong with washing a full load of clothes, there’s something wrong if you try to wash too much at once.

Cramming a machine reduces the amount of detergent needed and cuts washing time considerably.

The problem is that it’s not going to work out. Stuffing too many clothes into a machine can lead to issues, such as white residue.

Stuff won’t wash away as it’s supposed to.

Soiled Washer

After all of those washes, a machine could become soiled or dirty. There could be detergent residue, or minerals could be left behind.

Both of these could cause the streaks or spots you’ve been noticing on your clothes.

Those who’ve never cleaned their washers should consider doing so to see if this solves the problem. Your manual can tell you how often you should clean your washer, but it is usually done twice a year.

Hard Water Issues

No one is supposed to have hard water. This type of water clashes with many types of soaps and detergents.

Maybe the reason your detergent isn’t dissolving is because your hard water is preventing it from doing so.

You can soften your water, but you’ll need to talk to a water filtration company to see what could be done or to help you determine if you are dealing with hard water.

Hopefully, one of these solves your white spot or streak issue.

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