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Blog > White Goods articles > Washing Machines & Washer Dryers > Laundry comes out of washing machine badly creased?

Laundry comes out of washing machine badly creased?

A common problem is excessive creasing of clothes in a washing machine. There are several possible causes if laundry comes out badly creased. First, make sure the drum isn’t overloaded. It’s easy to overload certain types of laundry because although you may have a 5 or 6kg drum capacity the manufacturers only advise using this capacity with cottons. Everything else has a much lower capacity (check your instruction book). For example my washing machine has a 6kg drum but the instruction book shows the following -

Some of these load sizes seem very small but silks and delicates for example weigh much less than cotton towels. Even so, overloading will cause creasing so make sure you aren’t if you are having excessive creasing issues.

Spin speeds

Like load sizes, spin speeds are surprisingly low for many types of laundry as this list shows -

You really should check out your own washing machine instruction book because these guides are for a 6Kg 1400rpm washing machine and yours could differ. Different manufacturers and different models of washing machine may vary but the chart above shows that certain items should not be spun at full spin speed and doing so may again add to the level of creasing for some laundry.

Another more rare cause of creasing is if the washing machine is rinsing in hot water, which really creases clothes. This is fairly rare, but I have seen it many times and often the washer has been connected up wrongly for years because it will still work. These days most washing machines are cold fill only but it’s still possible to accidentally connect it to a hot supply if it is incorrectly marked as cold.

What happens is that someone connects the hoses the wrong way round so that hot water goes to the cold valve and cold water goes to the hot valve. These days most washing machines only have a cold valve but the wrong hose can still get connected to it by mistake. Here are the reasons why this can happen -

  1. Simple lack of attention to the job when connecting the hose pipe(s)
  2. Someone correctly connects the red hose to the hot valve and the blue to the cold valve but just assumes that the water running through them will be the right type. However, at some stage previously someone has attached the hoses to the wrong taps at the plumbing end
  3. Someone correctly connects the hoses to the washing machine but the person who did the plumbing fitted the taps to the wrong water supply or incorrectly identified the taps by fitting the wrong colour lever or marker. The taps have a red mark or lever to signify hot water and a blue mark or lever for cold. No attention was paid to making sure they were on the right supply, so someone connecting the hoses up correctly wouldn’t realise the water supply was wrong

Before pulling your washing machine out and taking hoses off to check, it’s fairly rare. You can check by simply putting the washing machine on rinses and ensuring the water going in is stone cold and stays cold (don’t forget even hot water can be cold at first until it runs warm or if there’s none left in the hot water tank. If your washing machine was connected up wrong though it should mean the clothes come out warm and it will certainly waste a lot of hot water too.

Another thing that can cause excessive creasing is washing on too hot a temperature or washing easily creased laundry on a program at the correct temperature but with a final spin speed that’s too fast.

Finally, make sure that affected laundry is taken out of the drum as soon as they have spun because laying in the drum for lengthy periods can also cause creasing. This is why delicates wash programs have an anti crease guard where they suspend the clothes in water until you are ready to spin them and retrieve them straight away.( Related links: Download replacement Instruction books (If yours is lost) | Issues related to installing or connecting up a washing machine )

Written By - Washerhelp on June 8th, 2007 with 16 comments
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#1. August 21st, 2007, at 4:02 PM.

Holes in washing (laundry) – Whitegoodshelp Blog: … that many people don’t realise that different types of laundry have different wash load capacities and that exceeding ...

Babushka Babushka
#2. February 12th, 2009, at 9:39 PM.


I have been reading this article with great interest! I have a Bosch cold water fill washing machine and I hate it! I would give it away tomorrow if I could get a hot and cold fill one. It has a mind of its own, and all my washing comes out stained and VERY creased. I cannot see how this can be ‘green’. After it has spun, I have to spin it again to make sure I have removed as much water as possible. Incidentally, my sister has a Miele cold water fill machine, supposedly the best on the market, and she hates hers too! Her washing comes out extremely creased. She is at her wits end with it, and is also looking for a hot and cold fill machine. I am going to look at the LG machines, as suggested here. Neither of us uses Biological detergents, so it would be much better for both of us to get a hot and cold fill machine.

Washerhelp Washerhelp
#3. February 13th, 2009, at 11:41 AM.


Hello Babushka: Whatever is causing your clothes to come out creased it can’t be anything to do with whether your washing machine has a hot valve or not. Neither can poor wash results. If anything you should get better wash results with a cold fill machine.

Excessive creasing is caused by either spinning too fast for the fabric (spinning the load twice won’t help), rinsing in hot water because the hot water supply is accidentally connected to the cold water valve, or washing at too high a temperature. Another possible cause can be overloading or leaving items prone to creasing in the drum for long periods after they’ve been washed.

Only cottons should be spun at full speed, other fabrics should be spun at lower speeds so if you are using a programme with the fastest spin for laundry other than cotton you need to either manually lower the spin speed if you have a manual spin option or try a different programme.

Poor wash results can also be caused by overloading which prevents the detergent from dispersing properly. There are some general points on the topic here Laundry (washing) isn’t coming out clean (still dirty) or has marks on it (marks on clothes)

Hope that helps. A hot and cold fill washing machine will not fix those problems as the hot valve does nothing special other than add a little bit of hot water into the main wash. This can’t reduce creasing or improve wash results.

Jacqui Jacqui
#4. April 18th, 2009, at 11:01 PM.


I’ve found a way to improve the results of my cold fill washing machine which was creasing badly and generally not washing well. I just add more water! It’s now washing as I had hoped it would, and it’s like having a new machine.

I simply put the washing in, pour on 3 litres though the open door, hot or warm depending on the wash programme, switch it on and then pour another litre of two (again hot or warm) through the partially open dispenser draw. I add 2-3 litres of cold water on the first rinse and do the same on the conditioned rinse – which I do on ‘rinse hold’ so it always spends time in the conditioned water.

Result – perfect washing every time.

Previous to this I’d been reducing the size of load without improving results, but I can now put a ‘normal’ size load in and even get suds which means the soap is dissolving better, and can actually see at least an inch of water in the drum at certain times – and I get no creases now!

It’s not affecting the length of time of the wash or using any more electricity, but can be inconvenient to have to remember to go back, so I just set a timer to remind me to go back to the machine at various times.

I think this shows the machine is not doing the job it was designed for. It is a 7kg drum and has two holes in the back so was designed for hot and cold fill and presumably, in order to meet the energy standards, was converted to cold fill only, and the amount of water used subsequently reduced too. I don’t suppose it would be possible to adjust the amount of water it takes in, since it is cold fill and it would presumably increase the wash time as it would take even longer to heat.

Washerhelp Washerhelp
#5. April 20th, 2009, at 3:18 PM.


Hello Jacqui: I’m not sure how much of the added water on the initial wash is making much difference. The thing to bear in mind about how washing machines work is that they have a pressure system to control how much water goes into the machine. Washing machines don’t fill up for a certain amount of time, they fill up until a certain level has been reached. Therefore, if you put 2 or 3 L of water in the drum before starting, it should just result in the water level being reached quicker and the machine taking 2 or 3 L of water less on its own.

If anything, I would expect if you put a few litres of water in to start with then if it results in wetting the laundry it could affect the absorbency level that is detected by the sensors in the washing machine. Modern washing machines often have fuzzy logic built in. They fill up with a little bit of water, then stop filling and wait to see how much of the water is absorbed by the laundry. They then top up a little more and monitor levels. They can detect if laundry is absorbent or not and adjust the amount of water accordingly. So if you put in laundry which is pre-wetted it may not react as normal and trick the sensors into thinking the laundry is not very absorbent. As far as I’m aware this could result in less water being taken in as non absorbent laundry doesn’t need as much water.

Having said all that, adding extra water through the soap dispenser once the water level has already been reached may well result in extra water being used so I imagine your results are being created mostly or solely by adding extra water in the rinses. If you are genuinely seeing much improved results by adding extra water in on the rinses then as you say this shows that the washing machine is clearly not using enough water to rinse in. It also explains the poor showing on Which? tests for the vast majority of modern washing machines regarding rinse efficiency.

It’s almost farcical to have to go to such lengths to get a satisfactory wash and I can’t imagine many people being prepared to do what you do.

GEETA GEETA
#6. November 6th, 2009, at 12:50 PM.


I’ve fully automatic LG washing machine of 6.2 kg. capacity. I want to know how many shirts, pants, double cotton bedsheets does the machine take….
Thanks.

Washerhelp Washerhelp
#7. November 6th, 2009, at 2:28 PM.


GEETA: If you don’t have the instruction book, which should give you the information you might be able to get one here – Washing machine instruction books and user manuals

The article above also gives a guide on loading for a 6Kg drum which should be similar to yours. However, guides are likely to only be given in weight rather than quantities of garments as they are too variable in size to advise on specific numbers.

Sarah Mountfield Sarah Mountfield
#8. November 9th, 2009, at 1:02 PM.


Please help, I have an older model washing machine with both hot and cold fill pipes. Recently moved house where there is only a cold feed pipe. I fitted a Y piece but the water filling the drum is boiling regardless of which cycle I am using.
I have a combi boiler and not sure if my cold feed is in fact on the hot tap. I’ve ruined loads of clothes, single parent and really not sure what to do.
Thank you peeps!!
Sarah

Washerhelp Washerhelp
#9. November 11th, 2009, at 6:45 PM.


Sarah: Your y-piece is clearly connected to the hot water – not cold. If there’s no other supply tap available you need to get a plumber in to sort it out or you will ruin more clothes and waste hundreds of litres of hot water over the coming years.

Sarah Mountfield Sarah Mountfield
#10. November 12th, 2009, at 10:16 AM.


Thank you very much-plumber due on Saturday!!
S x

Sam Sam
#11. January 3rd, 2010, at 8:16 AM.


Thanks for all the advice. I used to have a Bosch washer dryer which was excellent. It was replaced a few months back with an Indesit washer/dryer and it has been an absolute pain to use. It creases everything really bad I never used to mind washing clothes with the previous washing machine. Now I hate washing. It’s ruining my clothes. I’m going to take on board the tips in this article and hope that helps as I’m at my wit’s end with it. I think it makes it worse because I know how good it can be if you have the right washing machine. I live in rented accommodation so I haven’t got the buying power regarding which washing machine is bought, so I just have to make do with this one unfortunately.

Vivien Vivien
#12. February 1st, 2010, at 6:49 PM.


I am desperate to find a washing machine manufactured prior to the introduction of this energy saving nonsense. The new Bosch Classixx 6 1400 Express(that’s a joke in itself as it takes much longer than my previous WFL2872 Bosch ) The old Bosch was superb – even producing crease free perfect results on articles which recommended dry cleaning. This new one – the Classixx 6 is a pain – I dread washing for the first time in 44 years – (during which time I have had several machines of various makes and all have produced clean crease free results – This is the first washing machine I have ever complained about. I am sure it is well-built in so far as reliability is concerned but this so called “eco/green lobby are meddling in areas they know nothing about to the detriment of us all. I am now told that all clothes that come out of a washing machine have to be ironed. I have had superb results and never ironed a jumper cardigan trousers etc. in 44 years. Shirts used to be sold as “drip dry” and “non-iron” perhaps someone will enlighten me on how to achieve this. Ironing takes energy and cannot remove the deep seated creases even at temperatures far in excess of the manufacturers instructions. When are these people going to waken up to the fact that the prime function we require is superb results and not having to replace ruined garments continually for the sake of saving a pittance on the electricity and water bill.

Washerhelp Washerhelp
#13. February 2nd, 2010, at 9:13 PM.


Vivien, it’s strange you are having creasing problems with your new washing machine compared with your old one because they both spin at 1400 and your new one has a 6kg drum, which is slightly bigger than your old one. If anything the bigger drum should make creasing less likely.

The only thing I can think of that could explain the problem is if the old 1400 spin Bosch spun for less time than your new one.

Vivien Vivien
#14. February 3rd, 2010, at 12:56 AM.


Thank you for your reply. The previous machine made by the same manufacturer was 5.5kg capacity and would spin on 1400 at 40 degrees and I couldn’t have asked for better results – perfect and creaseless every time as happened with all my other machines of various makes. Babuska (previous letter on your sight and also I believe Shirley ).were also complaining of the same problem.I dread washing now knowing more clothes will come out looking creased, old and distressed. Even though this machine is 1400 spin it will not allow one to spin at 1400 at 40 degrees, and I believe this to be ominous. When spinning it takes off like a jet air craft, there is no lull period and the spin goes on for ages with little or no water on the clothes to be extracted. I have deduced that the reason for this is that it takes less power by this method as the stopping and starting of the previous spin cycle would produce a less favourable energy saving rating. Well I am not interested in saving a small amount of energy at the expense of a ruined wash load and believe it to be very near sighted when one considers the energy used in the manufacture of the necessary replacements not to mention the cost. If I bought a pair of shoes and they let water in I would expect them to be replaced as “unfit for purpose” and because I know its possible to make a washing machine that is fit for purpose I am convinced that it is the mistaken opinion of the manufacturers believing we require eco/green machines at the expense of “fit for purpose ones” that has caused this and also the problems people on your site are having with rinsing.

Sam Sam
#15. February 6th, 2010, at 8:25 AM.


I’ve tried the recommendations on here and it’s still coming out creased. It also comes out ringing wet. It is meant to spin dry a the end of a cycle, but it doesn’t feel like this happens when I take the clothes out. So if I add it on a drying cycles afterwards they just come out hot but still rather wet. I don’t know what else to do with this washing machine it’s dribing me mad.

Washerhelp Washerhelp
#16. February 8th, 2010, at 5:52 PM.


Hello Sam, the washing can’t come out hot unless it’s rinsing in hot water because the wrong hose is attached or it’s aborting the programme after the main wash and not rinsing at all.

 

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