Ever cleaned your fabric softner dispenser?

[cvcgrad]

OK, I think of myself as a rather clean person. I keep my home clean, and I
am nearly obsessive-compulsive about keeping my clothes clean.

Recently, I noticed that I could remove the cap to the fabric softener
dispenser on my washing machine. I am not exaggerating when I tell you that
I was horrified at what I saw. I have been using this particular washing
machine for about 4 years but didn't realize I could clean the dispenser.
What I found was literally an inch of the most disgusting black, gooey gunk
I've ever seen in my life. Residue from the fabric softener had accumulated
and clung to the dispenser.

I had to take a steam blaster and an old case knife to remove the debris
that had been left behind. The process took me about an hour.

The most distressing aspect is that I realized that the residue was going
into the laundry every time I used the dispenser. I prefer liquid fabric
softener over dryer sheets, but I'm not sure I'll ever use that fabric
softener dispenser again!

[Vox Humana]

"cvcgrad" <cvcgrad@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:2e1ab$43a570fa$d8186a06$3876@NAXS.COM...
> OK, I think of myself as a rather clean person. I keep my home clean, and
I
> am nearly obsessive-compulsive about keeping my clothes clean.
>
> Recently, I noticed that I could remove the cap to the fabric softener
> dispenser on my washing machine. I am not exaggerating when I tell you
that
> I was horrified at what I saw. I have been using this particular washing
> machine for about 4 years but didn't realize I could clean the dispenser.
> What I found was literally an inch of the most disgusting black, gooey
gunk
> I've ever seen in my life. Residue from the fabric softener had
accumulated
> and clung to the dispenser.
>
> I had to take a steam blaster and an old case knife to remove the debris
> that had been left behind. The process took me about an hour.
>
> The most distressing aspect is that I realized that the residue was going
> into the laundry every time I used the dispenser. I prefer liquid fabric
> softener over dryer sheets, but I'm not sure I'll ever use that fabric
> softener dispenser again!


Been there. My washer broke a couple years ago. When the service man came
he showed me that the fabric softener dispenser was removable. The amount
of crud built-up around and under the dispenser was horrifying. He removed
the inner drum and showed me how the fabric soften had been spun around the
top of the outer tank. I was never able to remove all the residue. He told
me that I was using far too much softener and that it wasn't diluted enough.
I eventually changed to drying sheets. They do an adequate job and cost
half as much as the liquid softener. I also stopped using softener on most
item like towels.

[Phisherman]

On Sun, 18 Dec 2005 09:24:09 -0500, "cvcgrad" <cvcgrad@hotmail.com>
wrote:

>OK, I think of myself as a rather clean person. I keep my home clean, and I
>am nearly obsessive-compulsive about keeping my clothes clean.
>
>Recently, I noticed that I could remove the cap to the fabric softener
>dispenser on my washing machine. I am not exaggerating when I tell you that
>I was horrified at what I saw. I have been using this particular washing
<snip>

Like VOX suggested, dilute your fabric softener in half (or more) with
tap water, mixing well in a separate container before adding to the
dispenser. Chances are good you'll get the same result with your
laundry, cut down on the build up, and save a little money. You can
use clear vinegar in the dispenser (I do this every time)--this will
clean the dispenser, remove odors in clothes, neutralizes the
alkalinity of detergent, and improves the overall rinse process.
Purchase the inexpensive clear vinegar in the gallon container (I buy
it at Walmart).

[cvcgrad]

I actually do dilute the fabric softener by adding two capfuls of water to
the dispenser each time. This was just the normal build up from using fabric
softener each time I did laundry.

I had read somewhere before that fabric softener are actually made from
animal fat. If I didn't believe it before, I do now. This was a very thick
gooey residue.


"Phisherman" <noone@nobody.com> wrote in message
news:dkobq1lintqrk5scodnsqv883brcogl20g@4ax.com...

> Like VOX suggested, dilute your fabric softener in half (or more) with
> tap water, mixing well in a separate container before adding to the
> dispenser. Chances are good you'll get the same result with your
> laundry, cut down on the build up, and save a little money. You can
> use clear vinegar in the dispenser (I do this every time)--this will
> clean the dispenser, remove odors in clothes, neutralizes the
> alkalinity of detergent, and improves the overall rinse process.
> Purchase the inexpensive clear vinegar in the gallon container (I buy
> it at Walmart).

[Nan]

On Sun, 18 Dec 2005 22:36:02 GMT, Phisherman <noone@nobody.com> wrote:


>Like VOX suggested, dilute your fabric softener in half (or more) with
>tap water, mixing well in a separate container before adding to the
>dispenser. Chances are good you'll get the same result with your
>laundry, cut down on the build up, and save a little money. You can
>use clear vinegar in the dispenser (I do this every time)--this will
>clean the dispenser, remove odors in clothes, neutralizes the
>alkalinity of detergent, and improves the overall rinse process.
>Purchase the inexpensive clear vinegar in the gallon container (I buy
>it at Walmart).

I concur. I buy the concentrated form of fabric softener and once I
had to clean my dispenser I began cutting way back on the amt. of
softener I use. I've noticed build up happens less often, and my
clothes are actually softer.

Nan

[lilsis0034]

I myself use the downy ball and have been pleased with the
results...btw...you do not have to use Downy in them, any fabric
softener works just as well.

[lilsis0034]

I myself use the downy ball and have been pleased with the
results...btw...you do not have to use Downy in them, any fabric
softener works just as well.

[Sawney Beane]

cvcgrad wrote:
>
> I actually do dilute the fabric softener by adding two capfuls of water to
> the dispenser each time. This was just the normal build up from using fabric
> softener each time I did laundry.

How does your dispenser work? My liquid-detergent dispenser lets
some of the fill water in. It dilutes the detergent and causes
some to overflow into the tub. In coming into the dispenser, the
water drives the air out of what becomes a siphon channel when the
water shuts off. So the rest of the dilute detergent is siphoned
into the tub. It leaves the dispenser pretty clean.
>
> I had read somewhere before that fabric softener are actually made from
> animal fat. If I didn't believe it before, I do now. This was a very thick
> gooey residue.
>
I pour bacon grease into my rinse water to make dogs love me. If I
could find a fabric softener made from fat, I'd love to try it.