Even though high-efficiency washers have been designed to wash clothes effectively, sometimes unwanted whitish spots remain after washing. Our first reaction is to think that something must be up with the washer, but the most likely cause for these marks probably lies elsewhere: in the detergent!

In fact, detergent has a major effect on the effectiveness of a washer. Here’s how to get the best out of yours.

For optimum efficiency, the detergent absolutely must not generate foam (or at least, only a very small amount) during washing, because foam is the cause of the white residue on clothes. How can you tell? Carry out this little test at home: put a spoonful of detergent in a cup of hot water and stir vigorously. If you see foam, it’s a sign that you should change detergent, but if only a very small amount of foam is created then you simply need to reduce the amount of detergent in each load.

If your detergent does not foam and yet you still see marks on your clothes, it may be that your loads are too large for the capacity of your washer. As such, reduce the quantity of clothing in each load and/or use your washer’s “Bulky” or “Heavy Duty” programs.

Finally, it may be that you have to recalibrate your machine. Some appliances are set up for this (check your user’s manual if you are not sure). Please note however that there is never any need to change your washer’s control unit.

If you have tried everything but it hasn’t made any difference, you can use ultra-high performance detergent such as that from Henkel, which distributes the Le Chat and Persil detergent brands. It is more expensive, but it provides impressive results and is gentle on clothes, which extends their useful lives and minimizes odor problems. Moreover, a container will last for a long time if you put the recommended quantity in each load.

Finally, a word on so-called “green” detergents. All manufacturers play up their environmental credentials but to be truly environmentally friendly, a detergent must be 100% biodegradable and work effectively in cold water. Moreover, the manufacturer must eliminate excess packaging and use recyclable containers.

I would like to take the opportunity to use this blog to answer all your questions on electrical appliances. Therefore don’t hesitate to write to me at info@service2000.ca and I will attempt to answer you in an upcoming article.