When I started this business in June of 2021, I was very new to working on and servicing appliances. The first time I disassembled a top load washer I was astounded as to how dirty the space between the drum and basket were. The area was literally sticky and coated with a black substance. We cleaned the area as best we could and wrote it off as the previous owner worked in a factory or something and just had extra dirty clothes. Well, we kept seeing this repeatedly. We even started noticing black smudge marks on the backs of dryer drums.

This started to make me wonder what was causing this. The stuff was VERY hard to clean off. I began researching and watching videos on cleaning the interiors of washing machines. We also started getting washers that were overflowing during various cycles even though the water level setting was on medium or low.

My investigation led me to something I would have never thought. Liquid fabric softener was the culprit? Liquid fabric softener is made from animal lard and other petroleum products. The lard and oils within the softener are very hard to break down even when using hot water. As time goes on, the fat and oils build up and collect dirt and debris from your clothes. This builds up in the basket, where you put your clothes, and the drum that holds the water in. You can see this for yourself if you are able to open your lid after the wash cycle. You can run a load with no clothes and open the lid close to the end of the wash cycle and the water may look dirty. We have seen it still look very dirty after three or four runs with no clothes in the washer. Where is the dirt coming from that makes the water look so dirty? It’s coming off the inside wall of the drum and back into your wash basket and onto your clothes. The bottom line is the build up of fabric softener inside your washing machine is not letting it work as well as it should, and your clothing is repeatedly getting washed in dirty water.

You will also see black or blue streaks in your dryer drum; this is the same type of build up collecting dirt. If you choose to keep using liquid softener, wipe your dryer drum out with a very warm rag after each use and this will help keep the dirt off your clothes.

When we started seeing machines overflow while filling, we started checking the vacuum line coming from the drum to the selector that controls water level. You can guess what we found. Yes, the vacuum line was filled with the same black gunk. The build up of oils is getting into the vacuum line letting the machine think it is not at the correct water level, so it continues to fill and then flow over the top causing a flood in your laundry room.

What can you do to keep your washer clean and running efficiently? First read your owner’s manual. You would be surprised at the recommended amount of detergent and fabric softener you should be using. Follow these guidelines and that will help. Periodically use some type of tablet washing machine cleaner. These help more than you think.

The following are my personal recommendations. Don’t use liquid fabric softener. If you want to use something, use the scented crystals that have come on the market the last few years. They break down easier and do not cause the gooey build up that the liquid does. Avoid fabric softener sheets in the dryer as well. Use wool balls—they keep the static down and help soften your clothes. If you really want to use liquid softener and just can’t give it up like anything else in life, use it in moderation. A little bit goes a long way. In my next article, we will cover the various types of laundry detergent.