When washing is not being cleaned properly or comes out with marks on most people blame the washing machine. But there are more explanations for this problem where the user is at fault than where the washing machine is at fault.
As an engineer I can’t think of many faults on a washing machine that would allow it to work apparently normally and complete the cycle in normal time, but just not wash properly. There will inevitably be some variance in the washing abilities of different washers but it’s hard to imagine even the cheapest being sold where they just can’t wash properly. So before blaming the washer check out these common causes of poor wash results –
Possible causes of washing not getting clean properly
This list covers the most common causes of poor wash results and they are all “user” faults
- Overloading causes poor wash results because laundry needs to move about and rub against each other and detergent needs room to circulate. See – how to properly load a washing machine for best cleaning and avoiding out of balance loads | White streaks on laundry
- Using poor quality, or not enough detergent – especially in hard water areas. Try to use good quality detergent, they aren’t all the same at all. Use the proper amount recommended on the pack for the level of soiling and the hardness of the water. (related – Causes of grease spots on laundry)
- Using an inappropriate programme: Some wash programmes are quicker, and use lower temperatures – but they won’t clean dirty laundry properly. Use only for very lightly soiled laundry (related – Pros and cons of washing at 30 degrees – do you even save that much money?)
- Using option buttons inappropriately: Read the manual to understand exactly what many of these option buttons do before using them, especially ones claiming to save water or electricity. Cutting down the amount of water and temperature can reduce wash efficiency and is usually designed for smaller loads with light soiling not a normal wash with dirty clothes inside. Using options to reduce water usage (or even using a washing machine claiming to use hardly any water) can reduce the effectiveness of rinsing. (related article – Washing machines not rinsing properly)
Using the wrong type of detergent: Biological detergent needs lower temperatures and a lot more time to clean laundry. It also contains living enzymes, which die once they reach higher temperatures so pick appropriate wash cycles. Conversely, non biological detergent isn’t as effective at low temperatures. Liquid detergents, and “colour friendly” detergents don’t contain any bleaching agents, so they won’t keep whites brilliantly white and will allow whites to gradually go greyish. (related article – Are you using just one type of detergent when they do different jobs?)
- Putting the detergent into the wrong compartment in the soap dispenser drawer. This would mean the detergent goes into the drum too early or only on rinses. It would not only affect washing performance, but would expose the heating element to damaging limescale build up
Possible washing machine faults
- Washing machine has become so dirty inside, and full of grease and gunge, or maybe black mould that it is causing marks on laundry – Causes and cures for grease, slime and black mould in washing machine
- Partial blockage in pumping system preventing water being pumped out properly causing poor rinsing (Washing machine won't empty water )
- Drive belt come off, or other fault causing drum to not revolve ( Drum not turning )
- Some washing machines may not give an error code if the heater fails to heat up the water and instead can just carry on washing. This can result in poor wash results as described in the following article washer not heating up water
Notice that most of the causes for a washing machine not washing properly are not actual faults on the machine so it’s definitely worth properly checking out all these explanations. Even if your previous washer washed better it’s possible that either something’s changed (maybe you’re using different detergents, washing different loads or using different wash cycles). Or maybe the new washer just doesn’t wash as well as the old but might still be capable of washing adequately if attention is given to the points above.
It can be possible for collapsed drum bearings, or a cracked or broken drum shaft, to allow the inner drum to scrape on the inside of the outer tub causing marks on clothes, but this is rare, and should also generate excess noise. If there is no other obvious fault, such as the drum not turning, and the washing machine goes through the wash cycle as normal, and spins the clothes dry at the end, then carefully eliminate the first list of points before calling an engineer or complaining to the retailer.
Maybe the washing machine is just not very good at washing
You would think it impossible for a modern washing to just be incapable of producing good quality wash results, but according to Which? many washing machines that they test are just “poor” at washing no matter how well you use them. This is ludicrous, how hard can it be to wash laundry? All they have to do is fill with water and detergent, heat up the water and agitate the laundry then drain the water, rinse a few times and spin. However, it does appear many are much better at it than others. Check out Which appliance reviews to find out which are good and which are poor – Which £1 offer
Comments Disabled
Sorry, comments on this topic have been closed. The article already contains all the advice I can think of or I’m comfortable publishing. If the article and any previous comments (below) don’t help, please consider contacting an appliance engineer
Research. Don't waste money with bad purchases. Which? have an excellent no-strings trial offer - 
I have a hot point wmud 962 ultima 9kg, My problem is a smelly washing machine all my clothes smell when they come out as well, the seal is mouldy to. when speaking to the hot point service people all they can say is its maintenance problems they have suggested bleach, cleaners, do the cleaning once a month i have to do it more than that. Ive cut down on the soap powder the comfort, stop using liquid tabs liquid soap as I’ve been told they leave a residue I’am a my wits end and the service company wont send anyone out to look.
Cutting down on detergent (or not using enough) is one of the causes of this problem listed in my article. The cause of mould, smells and grease and gunge are user related which is why they won’t send anyone to look.
Sometimes, a washing machine can get so gunged up inside it’s impossible to clean it properly but check out this article
http://www.whitegoodshelp.co.uk/what-causes-washing-machine-smells/
Thanks a lot for all your tips
I use liquid detergent along with 50 mark cup of soda crystals, on 40 temp with a 125 min in total program and still things are not clean enough
specially with white which I use temp 60
any more advice please
I also noticed that this bosch washing machine doesnt use a lot of water I dont seem to see water at all, and dont see the soap as well bubbling I know it shouldnt be much but I see none, help please thanks a lot
Try this article Sam – Do you use just use one type of detergent?
Really useful article that reinforces what I told my wife who says machine not wahing properly. Thanks.
But none of your user issues apply so what could it be?
Is it possible that the heater element has gone? That’s not inbuilt list and cold water wouldn’t wash clean.
It’s a mid market John Lewis machine.
If the heater isn’t working it could definitely affect wash results. However, most washing machines should time out on heat and abort with an error if the water temperature isn’t raised after a set time. There are exceptions to this but again I’d expect at the very least for the washer to take a lot longer to wash (as described in the following article). Have a good read of my article here which should help Washing machine not heating up water
Hi I have a hotpoint washing machine. I have been using it for over a year now and still haven’t had a wash where all the clothes have been cleaned correctly. At first I bough it was he washing powder I was using so I have tried various different brands. This didn’t help. I have changed the type of wash cycle and still no different. The last 3 washes I have changed the spin to the intense option and although the clothes are now smelling fresher the stains are still there (although I think the clothes are fresher as I have added freshening balls to the drum). A new problem we are now having is the smell of sulphur coming from the washing machine pipes but I don’t know how to get rid of it.
Hello Claire. A smell of sulphur coming from the washing machine pipes would imply that it is very dirty inside with an accumulation of grease gunge. This is caused as described in my article above by low-temperature washes and especially if combined with liquid detergents which contain no bleaching agents. Which wash cycle have you mostly used and which detergent?
Check this article too washing machine smells
Black lines on white shirt from the miele washing machine not mould or gurney once I get the black lines out and put on the washing machine it keep coming out the same black mark washing machine is 4 month old do maintenance wash once a month do you think I need the engineer out so frustrating
Black marks are commonly caused by black mould on the door seal but 4 months is very young to suspect mould in the washing machine. Just double check under the lip of the door seal just in front of the drum.
Hi I have an integrated Hotpoint washing machine 6 months old. My problem is ONLY on the wool wash it is leaving flaky bits/ soap residue on the clothes. Even if I put the extra rinse button on, it doesn,t solve it, I have to wait until end of cycle and re-rinse, very frustrating. I don’t have this problem with any of the other programmes. The machine is cleaned regularly and I am not overloading it. Can anyone shed any light on this?
Hi Angela. I’m assuming you are using the woollens wash cycle and not just referring to when you wash the woollens? It’s very unusual to have problems with just one type of laundry, especially woollens. The woollens wash should have a slower spin, make sure you aren’t spinning them faster than they should be spun. Also make sure the detergent used is appropriate for woollens and that the wash labels say they can be washed in a washing machine as many modern garments have very restrictive wash instructions and many are hand wash only.
Hi there, I have a Zanussi washing machine which is 5 years old. There is black mould spotted under the lip of the seal which will not come off no matter what i use to scrub. I have tried doing hot washes with soda crystals to clean it out but some of our washing still comes out smelly. I suspect that the water isn’t heating up as the machine never feels warm – the glass is always cold too even on a 90 wash. My daughters clothes and the towels always come out smelling fine but anything of myself or my partners just smells musty and horrible. It seems that anything with a bit of sweat on ( my partner has stinky feet and i go to the gym!) just won’t clean – which is why i suspect the heating problem. I have never used calgon or anything in my machine – could the heating element be caked with limescale? If so how can i descale it? I want to at least try descaling before calling an engineer – can’t really afford it! Thanks in advance!
Black mould doesn’t come off, it eats into the door seal. Check out these articles –
What causes black mould on washing machines?
Washing machine smells
Washing machine not heating up water
I have a Miele washing machine – worked perfected for years, but lately whites washed at 60 degrees are coming out with yellow staining.
Hello Jean, it’s not a common issue but you would need to eliminate all of the possible causes in the article above before looking at anything else as a cause.
on going problem since June clothes smell as though they have been washed in a sewer i have had senior engineers out 5 times i have had a new drum a new pump new circuit board put in changed to powder in all i have used 10 washer cleansers (hotpoints own) and still the washing stinks what other thing can cause the horrible smell at my wits end now.
Hello Mark, you don’t say how old the machine is. If it’s quite old it could be just covered in gunge everywhere – in all the hoses and all over inside. If it isn’t too old, and it’s had new pump and new drum it’s less easy to explain away. See if these articles help – Get rid of washing machine smells | Smells caused by plumbing
Hi Andy,
My Indesit washing machine is A rating, so saves water and energy. However, I find the quality of wash quite awful. The machine is 3 years old now. On the first year of having it I called the engineer out and he said nothing was wrong. I do monthly 90 degree washes using a limescale remover, I have no issues with bad smells. Wash at 40/60 degrees and clothing still comes out stained.I don’t overfill. I have to hand wash all stained before putting into the machine. Baby and toddler clothes with stubborn orange stains. When I bought it I checked customer reviews and everyone says how brilliant it is whilst I would give a 1/5 rating. Could it be plumbing issues, but it spins and drains well.
I have a Beko washing machine which I’ve had for a few years now. My clothes aren’t clean, just normal dirt not tough stains. I always use a 30 deg wash and a non bio liquid detergent. There is barely any soap/bubbles apparent when washing and the clothes feel and look like they’ve just been rinsed through in cold water. I clean it regularly with either white vinegar or Dr Beckman on a hot wash cycle. Also a constant drain smell when I think it is filling up though the machine itself doesn’t smell. Help!
Hi Lesley. Always using 30 degree washes and liquid detergent is perfect for making a very smelly washing machine. The chances are it’s covered in horrible slime and gunge inside, which may be very difficult to remove. I would ditch the liquid detergent, and use 40 degree washes unless extremely lightly soiled, wash towels and cotton bedding at 60 degrees and do the boil maintenance wash every several weeks.
Hi there. I have the same problem as the person above regarding the wool cycle on my indesit (2 yrs old). We use powder detergent and maintenance wash the machin regularly. The wash usually works fine. But when I do a wool/handwashing cycle with Ecover wool and silk liquid, clothes come out covered in bits of gunk and flakes. Gross! Any advice?
Hi, hoping someone can assist because I’m going crazy with this issue, sorry for the long post.
Ok I’ve always done my own washing, drying, and ironing and never in 20 yrs had an issue with clothes not washing properly using a variety of washing machines over the years, whether they have been cheap, expensive, old, or new. I moved in with my girlfriend about 2 yrs ago and within a week I noticed when I came to iron my work shirts there were two types of stains appearing. Some had black marks on, like smears or splodges, not like ink but personally I thought like mascara (cue domestic incident!), other shirts had marks on that I can only describe as clear grease spots and patches ranging from a few mm diameter to an inch diameter. Occasionally the washes were fine but only maybe 3 out of 10 times, I put this down to my girlfriends 8 yr old washer and coped with it and replaced the shirts as necessary.
Three months ago we moved into our newbuild home, very expensive kitchen and utility room with top of the line (price-wise anyway) integrated Zanussi appliances. Within a couple of washes the same issue! All new drains/pipes/washer, really dirty clothes are never washed e.g. muddy/heavily soiled, things like tea towels, bath towels are washed separately, colours are washed separately to white/delicates, the missus uses 40 degrees, and fairy non bio liquid in the little cup. I always used 30 degrees and various top brand powdered detergents and never in 20 yrs had a problem, since we moved the issue is a lot worse, this year I’ve actually gone through 9 shirts, almost one a month! It’s that bad that last weekend I bought two new shirts, washed them and they’re both ruined with black marks. What can this be? The missus swears blind its not makeup, I have no idea what it could be but its driving me crazy and costing me a fortune!
We’ve always both done monthly maintenance cycles, leave the washing machine door open for the evening after use, and check the seal/door for grime/gunk build-up. Any ideas what this could be?
Hello Matt. If the problems have been on multiple washing machines it’s fairly safe to assume it’s something to do with how you use the washing machines. Two things you mention jump out at me as explanations, “I always used 30 degrees” and, “the missus uses 40 degrees, and fairy non bio liquid “. These are the two most common causes of a nasty build up of slime, grease, gunge and bacteria inside a washing machine. You need to wash towels and cotton bedding on 60 degree washes to kill bacteria, underwear should be washed exactly as advised on their wash labels. 30 and 40 degrees aren’t hot enough. Regular maintenance washes will help but they can only do so much against a relentless build up.
Also, liquid detergent contains no bleaching agents, that’s fine for being kind to colours but combines with mostly low temperature washes it can be disastrous for washing machines.
Try to find time to read all of the related articles I’ve linked to on this article and some of the links within them to get a full understanding.
Hi Andy, thanks for your reply and I’ve since read through the articles. Some things I’ve never really though about to be honest So yes I’ll be trying out your suggestions, also we’ve just ordered some washing powder, the missus finally caved in since I showed her your articles on liquid! Hopefully I’ll start to see an improvement, thanks a lot.