The bleach drains into the tub before water enters causing stained clothes from the bleach. Also, the fabric softener doesn't seem to be going into the time at the appropriate time... I've always used Downey and my towels were always soft; since buying this machine, it's as if I don't even use fabric softener. The timing seems to be off.

Hello Denise C - There are several things that could cause the bleach to not dispense into the washer. Are you sure the liquid in the dispenser after the wash is bleach? If it is pure bleach, the solenoid that lets the water into the dispenser is not working. This solenoid is located on the back of the dispenser. It only gets voltage during the dispense time and fills the bleach dispenser with water. The bleach dispenser fills while the washer is filling for the rinse cycle.



When the washer begins to fill for the rinse cycle, the bleach solenoid is energized and water flows into the bleach dispenser cup. When the cup is full the water siphons out and bleach and water flow into the tub.



If the liquid in the bleach dispenser is pure bleach you may need a technician to diagnose and repair the problem. The voltage will have to be tested to the bleach solenoid and a volt meter is required.



If the liquid in the bleach dispenser is water you probably need to clean the dispenser cup. Scum will build up in the siphon tube and stop the liquid from going into the washer tub. The incoming water will dilute the bleach and overflow the dispenser cup and run into the tub.



Remove the insert from the bleach and fabric softener compartments. Clean the bottom of the insert and the bleach and fabric softener compartments. Reinstall the insert and put the drawer back inside the washer.



To test the siphon action slowly pour water into the bleach compartment. When the water level goes above the maximum line stop pouring. The water should all drain out. You may also test the fabric softener compartment the same way.



I do hope this information proves to be helpful.

Hello - There are several things that could cause the fabric softener to not dispense into the washer. Are you sure the liquid in the dispenser after the wash is fabric softener? If it is fabric softener, the solenoid that lets the water into the dispenser is not working. This solenoid is located on the back of the dispenser. It only gets voltage during the dispense time and fills the fabric softener dispenser with water. The fabric softener dispenser fills while the washer is filling for the rinse cycle.

When the washer begins to fill for the rinse cycle, the fabric softener solenoid is energized and water flows into the fabric softener dispenser cup. When the cup is full the water siphons out and softener and water flow into the tub.

If the liquid in the fabric softener dispenser is pure softener you may need a technician to diagnose and repair the problem. The voltage will have to be tested to the softener solenoid and a volt meter is required.

If the liquid in the fabric softener dispenser is water you probably need to clean the dispenser cup. **** will build up in the siphon tube and stop the liquid from going into the washer tub. The incoming water will dilute the softener and overflow the dispenser cup and run into the tub. The instructions for cleaning the dispenser should be located on page 43 of the use and care guide that came with the washer.

If you don't have the use and care guide these instructions will help. Open the dispenser until it stops. In the left rear corner of the dispenser, there is a release that is labeled push. Press down on the push area and you can slide the dispenser drawer out.

Remove the insert from the bleach and fabric softener compartments. Clean the bottom of the insert and the bleach and fabric softener compartments. Reinstall the insert and put the drawer back inside the washer.

To test the siphon action slowly pour water into the fabric softener compartment. When the water level goes above the maximum line stop pouring. The water should all drain out.

Hope this information proves to be helpful however if it is ineffective please contact a professional to move forward accurately.

Hello, Thank You for using FixYa. I will be helping you today.This model has a valve used just for the bleach dispenser. Depending on your serial number it is a whole valve assembly or a separate valve for the bleach and softener. But pretty sure your going to have to replace it.Just check for voltage at the valve assembly to determine which one.
Thank You and please rate my answer if it was helpful..

I had the exact same problem. The problem is that your fabric softener dispenser is clogged up with a lot of dried, sticky fabric softener. The flooding comes from the part of the cycle when water that is to be flushed through the fabric softener dispenser can't drain properly so it spills into the bleach dispenser and onto the top and into the lid gasket as well.

To remove the dispenser for cleaning, you need to open the top of the washer. (First pull it away from the wall.) Carefully pry off the little emblem in the front center of the washer lid. Then remove the screw. Then slide the top forward to you about a 1/2 inch and prop it up carefully.

You then need to remove both hoses that are attached to the bleach and fabric softener dispenser (part of the same unit). Then unsnap the combined unit from the washer top. Then clean all the gunk out by running it under scalding hot water in the laundry tub and swirling the gunk out. Don't attampt to remove the blue round fabric dispenser part from the unit.

Put it all back together and you're good until you clog it up again with too much fabric softener; maybe several years again.

Good luck.

JRR

Sounds as tho there is an excess of fabric softener build up on the inside of the outter tub. Try Filling with Hot water and bleach and let set for an evening and then turn back on and e tcontinue washing thru cycle.

Hi
Choosing Your Detergent, Bleach, and Fabric Softener..
Learn what the different items you need to wash your laundry.
Liquid Laundry Detergent and Fabric Softeners
When using liquid laundry detergent, you do not want to poor it directly on your laundry. The dyes in the liquid laundry soap could stain your clothing. You will want to start your washing machine and add the liquid laundry soap while the water is filling the washing machine.
You then can add your laundry once you have about and eighth of the washing machine tub filled. This will ensure your laundry doesn't become stained by the detergent. You should only add the amount that is poured into the cup to the fill line. When you add more, you could find yourself wading through mounds of bubbles overflowing from your washing machine.
The same reasoning applies to liquid fabric softeners. However, liquid fabric softeners are added to the washing cycle after the initial washing cycle is finished. You will want to add the fabric softener once the washing machine has filled with water and started to agitate. This keeps the fabric softener from touching the laundry and will work it into your clothing better.
Powdered Laundry Detergent
You will want to add one cup of loose laundry detergent to your washing machine in the same manner you would do the liquid laundry detergent. By doing this, the powdered laundry detergent will dissolve easier.
Bleach
When adding bleach to your laundry, there is a small triangular cup in the corner of your washing machine. By adding one cup of bleach into that dispenser, the bleach will be added to the laundry at a precise time during the wash cycle.
Setting Your Washing Machine
Most washing machines have three or four cycles. For instance, the Maytag Washer I have has four cycles, regular, permanent press, delicate, and soak.
Regular Washing Cycle
The regular cycle is used for the following types of clothes and other apparel:
• Jeans
• Towels
• Blankets
• Sheets
• Quilts
• Bedspreads
The soil types for this cycle are heavy, normal, and light. This means clothes or other articles that are lightly too heavily soiled should be washed in this cycle. This is due to the washing cycles can be set from a minimum of eight to fourteen minutes maximum. You can use all three of the water temperatures in this cycle.
1Permanent Press Washing Cycle
The permanent press washing cycle is used on the clothes that may or may not need to be ironed.
Such as:
• Blouses
• Shirts
• T-shirts
• Under garments. This would be your unmentionables and socks.
• Jackets
• Sheets
• Baby Clothing
The soil types for this wash cycle are normal and light. The washing times for the permanent press cycle are six minutes to ten minutes. You can use all three washing temperature modes for this cycle as well.
Delicate Washing Cycle
The delicate washing cycle is normally used for sweaters, cotton, silks, and other fabrics that need to be washed with care.
The soil types for the delicate cycle are normal and light. The washing times for the delicate cycle are four and six minutes. It is best to wash your delicate clothes in warm or cold water. Always wash clothing that is more than forty percent cotton in cold water to prevent shrinking.
Soak Washing Cycle
The soak cycle would be used for heavily soiled clothing, such as, football and baseball uniforms. This will help rid the uniforms of caked on mud and grass stains.
You can also use this cycle if you wish to only bleach your white's once a week or once a month with bleach.
Washing Your Laundry
Choose the cycle you need for your laundry. Add the laundry detergent, fabric softener, and bleach (remember regular liquid bleach is for white clothes only.) Start the washing machine and let fill to dissolve the dry detergent or to mix in the liquid detergent.
Now add your clothes to the washing machine. Clothes the lid so the washing machine will continue to wash your clothes.
If you are using a Laundromat, put your clothes in the washing area and shut the lid or door. Add your detergent and other cleaning items in the correct compartments. Put in the correct amount of change so the washer will start.

Thanks for contacting fixya.com

There have been lot's of reports of moldy door seals. Check your door seal at the bottom to see if it is holding water and not draining properly. Dry and clean with a bleach solution is it is. Front loaders don't always drain completely. WHen you start a new cycle the first thing they do is purge any water left from the previous one. This also causes a mold issue. Easiest solution is to do a stain cycle with presoak and add 2 cups of bleach to kill the mold. Obviously no clothes! Good luck!

It is not the dryer causing the problem. We get the brown streaks on our white clothes before putting them in the dryer. I have ruined more white clothes over the past six months with this Duet washing machine!!! We also don't use bleach so I don't think it is the HE/Clorox combo that somebody mentioned earlier. Anybody know what exactly is causing this yet... before I throught the moldy stain causing Whirlpool duet out?

It sounds like you have a couple of things going on here. First of all, the most common problems associated with a poor drain on a washer is due to clogs in the pump and/or drain hose. But first, make sure you don't have your drain hose shoved down in the drain standpipe too far. If you don't leave an air gap for the drain hose, this will often cause poor drainage problems and/or siphoning of the water as it tries to fill (this may be a cause for your soapy clothes, too). The drain hose should rest inside the standpipe so that pipe is not sealed and the hose is not sitting in the drain trap. You can check your drainage also by connecting a wet/dry shop vac to the drain hose and try to pull water through it from the machine. There will be some residual water that remains in the tub after washing. Just follow these simple steps: 1. Unplug machine. 2. Remove the lower kick plate under the door. There will be a screw in the bottom corners of the panel holding it on. 3. Find the drain pump. It will be on the right-hand side and is usually white in color. The drain hose from the bottom of the tub will be connected to it. 4. Remove drain hose from standpipe and connect a wet/dry shop vac (if you have one) to the end of it. 5. Turn vacuum on and watch the drain hoses from the tub and from the pump. If the hoses collapse, you have a clog somewhere. 6. Remove the drain hose leading to the pump. Check the impeller area of the pump for debris. This is usually where coins, clothing labels and other items get caught. 7. Clean out the pump and drain hoses. 8. When finished, reconnect any drain hoses that you previously removed making sure you get a good seal with the hose clamp BEFORE you fill the machine. If you notice a leak during fill, hit the "CANCEL" button to stop. Make sure you place the drain hose back in the standpipe too. Now...dispenser problems are usually the result of fabric softener and mildew. If you remove the dispenser tray from the machine and look inside the compartment on the front of the washer, you will notice a series of small holes in the overhead portion of the cavity. This is where water gets dispensed into the tray and flushes softener, bleach and detergent into your wash. If these holes get clogged, the tray will not dispense properly. Take a rag and clean this area thoroughly using some hot water. The water will need to be warm enough the melt any fabric softener residue that may have accumulated over time. Next, clean the area really good with some bleach solution to get rid of any mildew. You may have to use something to clear all the holes of debris. Often fabric softener is the culprit and it cakes the holes up. A simple wiping down with a rag may not be enough to do it. A cotton swap of tooth pick works great at cleaning these holes. This is also a good time to take the dispenser tray and soak it in some hot water in the kitchen sink to clean it out as well. Good luck to you and let me know if you find this advice helpful.