Luvachicken Posted January 2, 2015 Share Posted January 2, 2015 (edited) A while ago, our miele washing machine stopped working because washing powder had got very clogged up on an important part. The guy showed us and it looked like the calgon advert only with washing powder and told us to use liquids instead. I changed to the liquitabs - only these never dissolved properly and left hard bits of plastic stuck to our washing. I did get our money back for that and so then changed to the liquid you pop in the cup into the drum. Recently though holes have been appearing in our softer clothes - mainly things made with T-shirt material. The holes have ruined quite a few things including some newer items. It doesn't seem to do it to shirts and harder cotton. I don't know if the cup is the problem or my washing machine. The holes are always the same - and look a bit like when a needle nicks the material on a sewing machine except they get bigger. It was an expensive washing machine and weighs the washing and then tells you how much detergent you should use so I am never able to overload it - Ariel told me that's why the liquitabs didn't work (overloading) If I spin at a slower speed my washing will never dry over the Winter ( North facing garden and no tumble dryer) Does anyone else have these problems ? Are clothes just not made like they used to be ? Edited January 12, 2015 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grandmashazzie Posted January 2, 2015 Share Posted January 2, 2015 Gosh I never connected T shirt type material wearing out with washing liquid.I use liquid from Lidl and put it in cup in drum.Washing machine guy recommended it.I have a Bosch.I use less than the amount recommended and it seems to clean well.I have noticed things like pants M and S get holes,I thought this was due to cheaper materials, made abroad etc.I'll be interested to hear what others think. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackrocksrock Posted January 2, 2015 Share Posted January 2, 2015 Could you put your machine on at a very hot wash with vinegar in the washing powder dispenser to clear it now and again and go back to washing powder? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted January 2, 2015 Share Posted January 2, 2015 We were told a couple of years ago to use washing powder, NEVER use fabric softener, & to do a 'boil' wash once a month with 2 or 3 dishwasher tablets in the drum which heklps to break up any fats & gunk. I had been plagued with problems before, but have had no issues since doing this - no more grey gunge & no holes in clothes! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cat tails Posted January 2, 2015 Share Posted January 2, 2015 My mom has a Miele washing machine (for years now) and almost always uses powder AND fabric softener. Liquid can also clog your machine, because it will leave a fatty film on the inside. Best advice: Do a 95 degree wash once in a while. Will clear out most gunk. Vinegar will do the same job. I do a 95 degree wash, once in a while, with a few tea towels and biotex instead of normal washing powder. You can also use soda. Btw: never close the washing machine door in between washes. Will limit yuck smells. I sometimes get holes in t-shirts, but mostly on the belly button height from using a belt or sharp bits on jeans. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickencam Posted January 2, 2015 Share Posted January 2, 2015 I have found that powder is the only way to get clothes consistently clean. Also low temperature washing is useless and the clothes never smell fresh. I have read so much about how unhygienic clothes are if washed at less than 40 degrees especially if underwear is included in a mixed wash I wash all shirts, bedding, towels and tea towels at at least 60 degrees. I also have a Miele washing machine which is nearly 10 years old, it get used a least once most days and is only just starting to show its age. I tend to use less than the recommended amount of powder. Fabric softener is not good for washing machines so I only use it on synthetics that need it and I just do a separate rinse with a group of things that need it then put a further empty rinse through the machine. Using Napisan in with bedding helps keep the machine clean and fresh, I picked that tip up on here Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soapdragon Posted January 2, 2015 Share Posted January 2, 2015 I posted a few months ago saying that my washing machine (and often washing) smelt like a cross between a holiday cottage and charity shop - not that there is ANYTHING wrong with either, just don't want my clothes smelling that way I tried various cleaners run through the machine but nothing seemed to work apart from perfumed fab softner - which I am not that keen on using! I will give the dishwasher tabs a go on a hot wash and see if that makes a difference Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cat tails Posted January 2, 2015 Share Posted January 2, 2015 I have a top loader and I used to keep the lid closed. It made it rather smelly too. Laundry came out fine, but still not very pleasant. I let it soak for a while with hot water (from the tab) with a load of biotex. Then I scrubbed the rubber rings and turned it on on a 95 degree cycle with some more biotex. Smelling lovely now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted January 2, 2015 Share Posted January 2, 2015 Could you put your machine on at a very hot wash with vinegar in the washing powder dispenser to clear it now and again and go back to washing powder? I do this on a regular basis too, plus, I am the Napisan Queen when it comes to white washes. One tip I was given is to use half the recommended amounts of laundry liquid and fabric softener, and to regularly use washing soda in the wash as well. Not had a gunked up machine (or ripped items) yet, and we get through a lot of laundry for just the two of us..... all that sports gear! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JellyBean2605 Posted January 2, 2015 Share Posted January 2, 2015 I've had the odd hole appear in clothes, I always thought it was caused by zips and things on clothes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvachicken Posted January 3, 2015 Author Share Posted January 3, 2015 Thanks for your replies everyone We often do the hottest wash every couple of months followed the next day with a hot one with some anti calcium thing (can't remember the name right now) with no washing in. Napisan also gets used quite often. It is mostly the holes in the washing that I have the most problem with though. We often blamed the holes on other things - phones in pockets rubbing etc - but we now know this is not the case as we put in a nightshirt and that came out with holes too as well as ED uni duvet sets from ASDA, again T-shirt material came out with two small holes on the sheet that weren't there before. Hubby has contacted Miele to see what they say but he hasn't told me if they've replied yet. Will let you know what happens. Ours is still under its 10 year guarantee too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beantree Posted January 3, 2015 Share Posted January 3, 2015 Sounds like something sharp is in the drum Luvachicken, perhaps fallen out of a pocket and jammed in one of the hundreds of drain holes. Worth having a good look because if the Miele warranty repair man finds something you may have to pay for a call-out? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alis girls Posted January 3, 2015 Share Posted January 3, 2015 I have to say its any wonder we manage to wash anything - no 2 service men tell you the same thing the guy who came to me said calgon was useless and sold us some stuff you use once a month on a hot wash. London water is very hard. With the dishwasher man said i should use Finnish but another said I shouldnt - so I use Lidls as I find them good. So are you confused cos I sure as hell am. Good luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eggasperated Posted January 3, 2015 Share Posted January 3, 2015 Lots of threads on Mumsnet about this, general consensus on this, after lots of discussion about seat belts, cleaning fluid etc, is that it is caused by over filling a washing machine or tumble dryer. Quite interesting considering your Miele weighs your washing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted January 3, 2015 Share Posted January 3, 2015 Both my washing machine and dryer are by Zanussi, and I can happily say that my washing has never been in holes. I do remember a news item yonks ago about Hotpoint machines doing this though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvachicken Posted January 3, 2015 Author Share Posted January 3, 2015 Fleet is a hard water area too and I really expected our old washing machine to have suffered something but it never did. One day the old washing machine stopped working and hubby took it apart to see what might be wrong with it (something to do with the bearings) and we found the bit they show covered in scale for the calgon advert only our bit was absolutely spotless. Sadly hubby couldn't get the washing machine back together so we got the new one. The miele one really appealed because of it's weighing capabilities and telling you how much washing powder to put in. I always just shoved the washing in until it was full before. I don't remember if we had holes in that washing or not. Lakeland sell some washing bags so I might give those a try. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted January 3, 2015 Share Posted January 3, 2015 our old machine made holes in clothes and it turned out to be the clothes getting snagged between rubber and door during the wash. New seals solved the problem Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvachicken Posted January 4, 2015 Author Share Posted January 4, 2015 Thanks for that Redwing. Still waiting for miele to get back to us - guess it was the weekend Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvachicken Posted January 12, 2015 Author Share Posted January 12, 2015 our old machine made holes in clothes and it turned out to be the clothes getting snagged between rubber and door during the wash. New seals solved the problem Well Redwing, you may have come up trumps The Miele man came today and said he hadn't heard of many cases before, but he did change the door seal. Just have to see what happens to any washing now ........ when it stops raining. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
