I do not know if anyone else has reached this problem, but the past couple of years the clothes washer in my home has seen fit to ‘lint’ almost every article of clothing we try to wash. Initially, the wife and I thought that maybe it was natural. Then we thought it wasn’t insufficient detergent. Then too much detergent. Then too much/little water. Etc., etc., etc.
The washer is a Maytag large capacity mid-grade unit that we bought back in late 1996. When we moved into our first home (late 2000) we didn’t upgrade, but had it serviced for what we thought was a balance problem. Turned out it was fine. We’ve used basically the same detergent during this entire history (Tide).
Still, the linting continues. Its not always linting, but more sporadic throughout the year. I’ve wanted to buy a new washer, but the wife feels it best to wait until this one dies. Its a Maytag, and I doubt it will die before me. Anyone else have this kind of domesticated problem?
Replies
I'm not sure that a washing machine would actually cause lint. Have you noticed any differences in the amount of lint based on the fabric being washed? I know that towels and such leave a lot of lint on our dryer lint filter, sheets leave a little, and synthetic fabrics leave almost nothing.
Some fabrics+color will show lint more easily than not, but the lint 'term' may have been used liberally. It could be something like a formation of lint particles and soap scum. Its more easily seen on darker clothes than lighter clothes. And this is seen on fabrics that are washed separately that you wouldn't think lint could be result from (synthetic fabrics like polyester, rayon), too.
We wash terry-cloth (sp) items separately as they tend to produce the most dryer lint. We use a dryer-based fabric softener that also acts like an anti-static solution (works great) and this also encourages lint removal, but what shows up in the washer has been bewildering condition.
The sporadic nature is that one day/week/month it may not occur for garment X and then Y days/weeks later it will happen to the same germent. Really puzzling.
Hmmm, that's a puzzlement. (to quote Yul Brenner in "The King & I").
Does your washing machine have a lint filter (many do) and is it clean? Are you on a city water system or a well?
Well, my clothes washer doesn't have a lint screen. This afternoon, the wife and I were at Lowes (I was getting prices on point-of-use tanks water heaters for the kitchen). While we were there, we looked at several washers, including some of the Whirlpool and Maytag frontloading washers. None of the ones we looked at had lint filters (only detergent and softener dispensers). I guess they were hiding them from us, or there are few within our visual horizon.
What make/models have this?
Top-loading Maytags have a lint filter on the top of the agitator that lifts out for cleaning. At least the one we bought in 1990 has one.
Could the "lint" be undissolved detergent? Sometimes cold washwater will not dissolve detergent.
Interesting! I interpreted this as a fabric-sofener dispenser. It said nothing about lint, and said everything about fabric softener. Yes, its got some lint in it, and no I hadn't been claening this. I would have to clean this at every load, I'm guessing.
Lift out the part that's right under the fabric softener cup. It fits down into the agitator and is a plastic mesh.
No plastic mesh. I did remove the cup (it just sits there with gravity holding it down). What it sits in can also come out with a little effort, but its not snapped in. When I removed that piece I couldn't believe how nasty it was under there. I have since washed those elements out, but still no mesh/screen to suggest lint protection.
Should I post a picture?
The piece (about 9" long) that slides inside the agitator that you pulled out is the lint filter. The cylinder itself on ours is partly mesh. Maybe they've changed the design.
I'm impressed that you know how to post a picture. I wouldn't have a clue how to do that!
We have had a maytag for about ten years too, and if I remember correctly, there was a rebate about '97 or '98 due to a problem with the machine (some sort of class action thing I think). We received a substantial check because we had complained about this exact problem.
mimi"Every child can learn, just not all on the same day in the same way."
This wasn't last years CL suite on the Neptunes, was it? I never received anything from anyone regarding my nine year old Maytag washer.
No not the Neptune, it was the top of the line top loader washer and dryers directly under the Neptine. The rebate came after we complained to maytag that the washer was not doing as good a job as the warranty gauranteed.
mimi"Every child can learn, just not all on the same day in the same way."
The only other recall I found was on their Atlantis line, which I think is a top-loader. Anyway, the Neptune issue bothers me. I presume that since they are still being sold they have modified the unit's design to resolve the issues filed in the suit. I also noticed $1400 & $1600 Neptune lines (that's washer & dryer) at HD, and this is less than the $2100-2400 the wife and I thought we were going to spend. BTW, Samsung actually makes the Neptune units and Maytag rebadges them. This turned up in the suit.
Anyway, back to the original topic. I've cleaned everything that I can clean and yet the problem remains. A Rayon gym tank-top in black is still showing linting, and also a brind new black knit shirt (now with greyish-white lint). I know the tub sits in a bowl, and wonder if something just isn't draining completely out of the system.
Perhaps the lint is collecting in the drain hose and you are getting backwash. Have you drained the hoses and had them checked?
mimi"Every child can learn, just not all on the same day in the same way."
What type of detergent are you useing? Second question, how hard is the well water? Powder detergents use fillers to give bulk. the cheaper the detergent the greater the number of fillers used. If the water is to hard the fillers do not totaly dissolve. There are cleaners for washers that you can use to clean out the system. Then use a liquid detergent only.
No, I have not had the drain hose check, but I will this weekend!
PD, we always use a liquid detergent (Tide). As for the water, we are on county water and it does have something in it. During the summer months if a drop of water is standing in the shower in a couple of days it'll turn pink, which I think is a sign of bacteria in the water. As for hardness, I am sure its hard, but how could I tell?
Contact your State Univeristy or Home Extension Agencies about having your water checked for bacteria and hardness. Bacteria in potable water is unacceptable!
mimi"Every child can learn, just not all on the same day in the same way."
Are you cleaning the lint screen between every wash?
What lint screen? The only lint screen is on my dryer, which does get cleaned after each oad-drying. Are you suggesting that today's washers have a lint screen for the washer?
Yes.
Have you read the instruction manual?
Dear Nuke,
We bought a (higher end) Maytag washer and dryer in 1994-95 and the washing machine sounds as if it could be an evil twin of yours! Always linting-no matter how many additional rinses were done. Someone told me to have a repairman remove the washing drum to clean some full/clogged internal filter that was allowing the excess lint to keep recirculating with each wash. That at least sounded reasonable. Sorry to say I never called the repairman. We sold the house and the buyers included the washer and dryer in the contract. I was happy to accommodate them by leaving them in the house. We purchased a new washer and dryer (no, they were not Maytag!) and I must admit it is a relief to be free of that lint problem. Good luck!
Illini Sue
Sue, thanks for relating to my problem. Funny thing about you leaving the WD with the new homeowners. I thought about doing the same with my RPTV, all 375-pounds of it. Now, if I could just sell the house ...