Your Washing Machine Is Shrinking or Ruining Clothes In The Wash

Is your washing machine damaging or shrinking your clothes? There are several possible causes for this. The following article describes each of these in detail.

THE POSSIBLE CAUSES FOR THIS FAULT:

• The wash programme selected is not suitable

• The detergent used is not suitable

• The appliance is automatically syphoning

• The temperature sensor is defective

• The thermostat is not working as it should

• The drum paddles are damaging the washing

• The drum is snagging or tearing the washing

• There is an object stuck in the drum

• The motor's tachometer is defective

• The circuit board is faulty

The wash programme selected is not suitable

The first thing to check is that the correct programme and temperature have been selected when washing. Additionally, check which settings you've selected. Too much heat can cause washing to shrink, so try to avoid temperatures above 40°C. Spinning too fast (1,200 to 1,600 rpm) or for too long tends to damage washing and can even cause items to shrink. Carefully read your appliance's instructions to ensure you fully understand the different programmes, and check the labels on your clothes to make sure you are using the right settings. As a general rule, delicate items should be washed at a temperature below 40°C and spun at a maximum speed of 800 rpm.

The detergent used is not suitable

Certain particularly aggressive detergents can damage the fibres of your washing items. Avoid using industrial type detergents or those that contain an additive. Also ensure you use only the recommended amounts so that detergent does not remain on the wash items at the end of the cycle and damage it irreversibly. Additionally, take care when using fabric conditioner/softener as this can also stain washing items.

The appliance is automatically syphoning

If the drain hose is too deeply inserted into the standpipe, or your plumbing installation is not up to standard, this can cause an automatic siphoning phenomenon. The water will flow into the washing machine then get siphoned off by the drain hose. This will mean the water will not be heated enough, the detergent will be extracted more rapidly, and the washing machine will take longer to complete its cycle. All this can have consequences for the washing, which may end up shrunken or damaged, for example. So check, therefore, that your U-shaped drain hose bracket is at least 65 cm above the ground and the hose is not too deeply inserted into the plumbing pipe (10 cm is sufficient).

The temperature sensor is defective

The temperature sensor, or NTC sensor, allows the washing machine to detect that the right temperature has been reached. If this component is defective, the washing machine may take longer to heat up. This water will thus reach a higher temperature than necessary and your washing could end up shrinking. If your washing shrinks even though the correct temperature has been selected, focus on the possibility of a problem with the NTC sensor and test it to find out if this is the case. Replace it if necessary.

The thermostat is not working as it should

On older-generation washing machines that are not fitted with NTC temperature sensors, an adjustable thermostat signals to the programmer that the right temperature has been reached. If the thermostat is faulty, the temperature will be too high, causing the washing items to shrink. If your washing shrinks when washed at 30°C, therefore, and your appliance is fitted with one of these thermostats, you will need to check its condition.

The drum paddles are damaging the washing

The paddles are the blocks – normally made of plastic – fixed to the inside of the drum. They enable the washing machine to agitate and clean the washing. If the paddles are broken or damaged, the washing could snag on them or get torn. If a paddle moves loosely or is showing signs of wear and weakness, replace it to avoid these issues occurring. Use the opportunity to check the rest of the paddles as well, as it is not unusual for two or more to fail at the same time.

The drum is snagging or tearing the washing

The stainless steel drum in your washing machine contains small holes that allow the water to pass through. If one of these holes gets slightly damaged by an object of some kind, it may snag items in your wash and damage them. To check whether or not your problem is being caused by the drum, brush a pair of old stockings or tights across its entire surface. If they get snagged anywhere, take steps to fix the damage to the hole, e,g, by removing any sharp points using a cross-head screwdriver. Your washing will thank you for doing this!

There is an object stuck in the drum

If an object, such as a paperclip or the underwiring from a bra, has slipped between the tub and the stainless steel drum of your washing machine, it's possible this could be what's causing your washing items to get torn or ruined. There are several ways to get access to objects stuck in the drum in order to remove them. Follow our instructional guides to learn how to retrieve and remove objects that are causing damage to your washing.

The motor's tachometer is no longer working properly

The tachometer controls the speed of rotation of the motor. If it gets damaged. such as by water flowing over the top of it for example, it may supply erroneous information. This will lead to the motor racing and turning too quickly during spinning. This excess speed may damage the washing. If your washing machine seems to be racing excessively when spinning, check this component and look for traces of rust. Replace it if necessary.

Purchase a washing machine Tachymeter

The circuit board is faulty

The control module manages all your washing machine's functions. If it's defective, it may respond incorrectly to information provided by other components and overheat the water or set the motor running at too high a speed, which may damage your washing. If you have already checked everything else mentioned so far, it may well be your circuit board that's causing the problem. Check carefully to ensure this is definitely the case, however, as circuit boards can be costly. Replace it only after first checking all other parts of the appliance.