The SCARY Truth About Fabric Softener & Your Washing Machine | Don’t Do This!

[@laundrylad2006]

i clean and fix washers in the uk, i agree they can get pretty dang mouldy and smelly but all you need todo is literally just use hot wash’s often, bedding, towels = hot daily wash keeping the machine clean too with a hot descale wash empty every month or so 👍

[@theappliancedudes]

This is true - mole can build up because of too many cold washers. The detergent/soap doesn’t break down enough and sits on the front door boots of washing machines. Bacteria loves this stuff! Thanks for the comment!

[@back2the80s]

Washing clothes every day too expensive

[@NumaticVacuum]

On average, American machines don’t have heaters, since they are on 120v and not 240v like us in the UK, they would take far too long to heat the water. So American machines rely on the hot water supply in the house, which is usually 50°-60°, (122°-140°) so we have the advantage in the UK of being able to do a boil wash at 95° (203°) which if done regularly, twice a year or so will prevent this build up. Even a hot wash of 50°-60° on a regular basis, whether with washing in the machine or empty will help prevent this build up. Fabric softener was never really a problem because people used to use hotter and longer cycles than they do today. Many people nowadays are washing at very low temperatures, even cold and using a whole host of “seasonings” for their wash! Which, used with regular short, cold cycles, can’t dissolve the waxy substances and dirt and dyes off your clothes just clings to it and bacteria builds up, which will cause your machine to get very dirty over time.

[@jmfia2391]

​@@theappliancedudes idc what you say. I will be using extra soap. Fk you. Crcker.

[@seanstrickley3992]

That is not true Americans do use heaters in washers we don't have to use 240vac we do use 120vac we use warm water valves and inside the washer we have separate heater for the water to stay warm.we have them on most front loaders today. The older style don't tho but I work on appliances here in USA and we do have heat for water

[@mariobetancourt4085]

I don't use Fabric Softener anymore. You're right that Fabric Softener is bad for the environment, washer, clothes, and money, so I use Lysol Laundry Sanitizer now, and it's better every time.

[@TheLeannansidhe]

To be fair, if you never use softener and use a proper amount of soap, you washer won't look nearly that bad. Had mine serviced for another issue that required taking it apart, and luckily there was basically no residue .

[@4America2024]

I tried not using any fab softener for one month. Clothes came out like a brillo pad. Back to using fab softener. I do remove the tray that holds the soap, bleach and fab softener after every wash and rinse it in very very hot hot water for one minute. I keep the door open and return the tray until everything is dry again. I do this after every washload. I also use WAsher Cleaner. LG, front load. Running good. I beg its still yukky down inside though. I dont have all the equipment nor the strength to do that procedure but its very interesting.

[@pinkroses135]

If you have hard water and do warm or hot washes often it's fine

[@My_Treehouse]

So use 1-2 tbsp even in the really big loads????

[@jennjones5835]

Yes.

[@stuartashbourne-martin9629]

Thanks to you and your downloads I am a wheelchair user unfortunately for me a by-product of the medication is that I got psoriasis and folliculitis and basically I think I've been using because I'm now older using far too much soap powder and at one point I did use fabric softener now I'm older and living within the benefit structure in the UK obviously I can't afford a new washing machine however indirectly thanks to you I stopped using so much washing powder because I didn't know I needed to and for the last 9 years because of skin conditions I've stopped using fabric softener I cannot thank you for the advice and I've also pick up the tip because I've got a front loader in the UK we don't have top loading washing machines very often because we don't have a separate room the white goods as the cold here and normally under work surfaces in the kitchen but again thanks to you very informative and videos I'm most certainly learning to look after a washing machine much better and also as a tip generally don't buy an expensive washing machine the most wonderful things they do that you can't live without you can tend to need repairing a lot more often than a cheaper one that basically has a much simpler system often on and temperature control and because of the Living crisis we have in the UK again I have a delay switch with when my care is here not at night just in case thank you again for all your help best wishes Stuart from London

[@ro63rto]

I do a service wash at 90°c once a month with a Dr Beckman dose of cleaner. UK washing machines are front loaders though so not sure if they suffer as bad as the American style top loaders though.

[@texastea5686]

what do you prefer for a top load, powder or detergent?. And what are your thoughts on detergent pod?

[@LearnAboutIslam1375]

What is the difference between power and detergent I am just unaware about this.

[@colinsace1]

I use sofner but not on towels (I like my towels to absorb water) and never had a machine like this in the whole 22 years I lived alone and had many old and newer machines since 2001. My current machine is a lg turbowash direct drive 8kg. And had it over a year never had this problem. You are definitely right about how much you use…. I pour 40 mil of surf tropical liquid super concentrated on a big load 20 mil on half load. Or just the bold 2in1 washing powdered detergent and 30 mil of comfort or lenor- “my personal favourite” fabric conditioner. I notice I seems to be more of a problem over in the us 🇺🇸 people be using way to much detergent over there. But we seem to have mould problems in are machines over here. But because people don’t leave the door open Don’t clean them once a month and use quick cold washes constantly and then it stinks. Had a Panasonic machine once that just stunk constantly even though it was clean. So bought a new door seal (still didn’t stop the smell) so sold it. They never complained so guess it either stopped or just didn’t notice it.

[@Mydogissus]

Love this - thank you so much. This is perfect timing as I just got a new machine. Should we pour the 1-2 tablespoon of detergent right on the laundry or put it in the drawer compartment? Thank you so much!

[@theappliancedudes]

It’s honestly whatever you please but I was say the detergent compartment because it mixes with the water better!

[@Mydogissus]

@@theappliancedudes thank you!

[@theappliancedudes]

@@Mydogissus no problem

[@lithious]

Recently learned about this. I now have a bottle of softener and a box of dryer sheets. I have no idea what to do with them.

[@ragulhero6720]

me too bro, 🙃

[@joelg.47]

Using fabric conditioner is already a habit that's hard to pass probably the solution is regular tub cleaning with hot water.

[@apriljohnson8650]

How much laundry soap should you use if you have a non-high-efficiency machine?

[@jbsthegamer]

It is sad, i try to tell my parents this and why not to use fabric softener. They use it extensively and they said they like fabric softener. I have tried to tell my parents this but they don't listen. Instead they strongly insists in using this stuff. They use it on ALL of the clothes even towels and washrags. They also use it on bedding too. I do not use it when i wash my clothes and bedding.

[@TheLeannansidhe]

No idea if it would work but you should totally offer to do their laundry, maybe use the vinegar trick, then if they don't notice, reveal that you definitely didn't need softener. Also definitely show them all of these types of videos heh

[@jbsthegamer]

@@TheLeannansidhe They know when i don't use it. If i were not to use it my step mom would get very angry I do not use it with my loads of laundry.

[@jbsthegamer]

@@TheLeannansidhe That is why it is sad

[@jbsthegamer]

@@TheLeannansidhe The washing machine reeks and my parents do not even notice.

[@jbsthegamer]

@@TheLeannansidhe It has a very unpleasant sent. We have pets in the house so the smell is extra bad.

[@MsEliteMember]

How often do you recommend washing a washing machine? I have a front load washer

[@theappliancedudes]

Deep like this? Maybe once max twice a year but if you take good care of them you won’t have to do this!

[@MsEliteMember]

@@theappliancedudes I currently have the active tablets. How often should I be using that?

[@edscottable]

@@MsEliteMemberonce a month

[@chkeightzerofive]

Do it your self save money it helps thks for the video

[@MsEliteMember]

What is the link to see your step by step guide to cleaning a washing machine?

[@theappliancedudes]

Hey! If you go to my KZbin channel KZbin.com/@theappliancedudes you will see a video titled “top load washing machine smells like rotten eggs” That’s where you can find it! It’s a longer form video (about 6-8 minutes)

[@c.a.s1900]

I add ammonia when I wash towels, is that okay for the machine?

[@MrFlyboy1313]

Use distilled vinegar instead. Much better and safer

[@chopper3875]

Thats scary honestly

[@One-Day-After-Another]

I don't think it's the use of fab softener...I think it's that there's many people out there who just have bad laundry habits...overstuffing machine, using cold water all the time....I've read horror stories of the years of mold/smells in FL washers and yet I never experience any of that since 2005 when I first got a FL washer

[@salmonsuc]

Bro you pit no clothes in there that's like a single blanket basically nothing

[@edscottable]

I like my clothes to smell like detergent at least a little bit. 2 tablespoons of detergent seems to do almost nothing.

[@pinschrunner]

@TheApplianceDudes Can you please PIN the video here in the comments? because on a tablet, there is no bio area.

[@theappliancedudes]

Hey Pinsch, I am not Derrick. We’re in the same industry, and have spoken, however, we’re different people!

[@pinschrunner]

​@@theappliancedudes well, good thing that you know @Derrickwith2rs because of him you were put in my algorithm and I just subscribed. Have a great weekend!

[@yeontiny]

this is why im glad my mom is allergic to fabric softener 🤢

[@hotfeva9843]

1-2 tsp😅 oops

[@theappliancedudes]

Yes!

[@rubenrobertson6193]

If I would like to find out more is an site I can go to please not I am somewhat new at this 😢

[@ThatColorado]

Come wash our washer man

[@user-eg3rr1ss4k]

Please do a video on how to clean a front load machine if its possible to do it ourselves, mine doesn’t clean anymore and im pretty sure it’s because it hasnt been cleaned

[@mouaxiong8618]

Clothes washers dont last a life time because i own a Samsung 😂

[@theappliancedudes]

Of course nothing lasts a lifetime lol. It was just a figure of speech!

[@Mooskers]

I have a Samsung bespoke washer and dryer I love them because of the auto dispense soap and fabric softener but I use free and clear detergent and for the fabric softener I Lysol laundry sanitizer I don't get my yearly colds anymore since and if I do use fabric softener I put it in the bleach dispenser and after I do a power rinse cycle to prevent build up ❤

[@adambenson4526]

Cap