White goods appliances help, advice & news from the author of Washerhelp.co.uk
Over foaming in washing machine
Apart from the nuisance of foam leaking out of the dispenser drawer, too much foam can actually prevent the clothes from getting properly clean.
For more information, including how to get rid of excessive foam during a wash cycle read my new Washerhelp article – Too much foam in washing machine
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This site is run by just myself. An engineer with over 30 years experience.
This problem seems to be getting worse!
There are 2 reasons why it seems to happen, in my experience:
1. Wash load too small.
2. Wash load very lightly ‘soiled’ e.g. curtains.
It could also be that modern detergents don’t have as much anti-foaming agents now or the quality of the anti-foaming agents are not as good as they used to be (or both)?
If you have to wash small loads or items which are only dusty, like curtains, you will not get foaming if you use LESS than the minimum recommended dosage stated on the pack – provided that you add 1 tablespoon of soda crystals for hard water, unless of course you live in an area with soft water.
Yes, it goes against the advice of using the recommended amount of detergent, but using less than recommended in these situations is the only way to stop the overfoaming and the soda crystals basically does the same job as calgon – soften water to prevent limescale build-up.
Thanks WMUser (where’ve you been?) Did you read the article I linked through to on Washerhelp? One of the possible causes is underdosing.
I did read that page you mentioned. This page and that other page are about exactly the same subject lol. Why not have them in this one page?
Unfortunately the “recommended” dosage for small loads or washing curtains causes so much foam it rises over the door and if I don’t stop the machine it could come out of the soap drawer! Yes I even tried, a few times, the recommended dosage without soda crystals, but the foaming is just as bad!
Excess foam never occurs with full “dirty” loads or if you use less than the recommended detergent for washing ‘light soiled’ or small loads. If the detergent makers don’t sort this foaming problem out, people will just use less than recommended in EVERY wash, which we know is NOT good for washing machines or the clothes.
If you are doing a small load, washing your curtains or doing a load which you suspect will create tons of foam, simply use 1/4 of the minimum dosage and use 1 tablespoon of soda crystals in hard water areas. Things will still come out clean, if not cleaner than they would – without the excessive foam impairing washing performance.
I nearly posted this before I remembered that this happens when I wash towels on their own. It doesn’t happen if I wash towels with a mixture of other items. The only other suggestion is to try to wash a full load with other items in the same load, if they can be mixed.
This page only announces the article on Washerhelp
i have had the problem of excessive soap suds with two machines. is it my pluming or the nature of the machines today, such as reduced water . ?
Hi Anonymous, have you read the “Too much foam in washing machine” article linked to in this article? That’s where I’ve written all my theories on the subject, which hopefully answers your questions.