"N. Thornton" wrote in message
om...
a (Dave Baker) wrote in message
...
It's begun to strike me that my old Hotpoint washing machine doesn't get
collars and cuffs as clean as it did 10 years ago when it was new. Maybe
it's
my imagination or maybe it's just that all my shirts are old and f**ked.
There
are no obvious operating problems so I'm wondering if the water isn't
being
heated to full temp. Years ago I used to use a 40c setting with
perfectly good
results but lately I've started to try 50c with no great improvement.
How do
you measure the water temp inside the machine while it's performing a
cycle? A
hand on the glass door would be a rough and ready guide so I'll try that
next
time I do a wash just to make sure it isn't stone cold but an accurate
check
would be handy. Even with a thermometer on the outside of the glass I
can't see
one being able to get a proper reading of the temp inside.

If it isn't machine then perhaps it's time to try a different soap
powder.


This well known problem can have the following causes:

machine drum lined with muck: accumulates over years, end result is
the detergent is attaching to the muck instead of the clothes. Thuis
is more of a problem with liquids than powders, and when hot washers
are never used.

use of washing blocks instead of powders: some blocks dont dissolve
until either part way through the wash, rinse cycles, or just not at
all. That includes some well known advertised ones.

Clothes gradually accumulating slight non-washable stains over the
years, or in need of bleaching.

Having tried to research buying a new Washing Machine recently (the old
Washer/Dryer refused to move into its new home and promptly died just as I
had got the plumbing sorted out in the utility room - thanks for the
guidance on waste water and where to put it - people), I was reading:
www.ukwhitegoods.co.uk for tips and ideas.

Somewhere on the site it mentions your problem with reduced performance of
the washing machine and the basic cure is to use powder (real stuff from a
big box) and wash through a boil wash empty. Guess this should shift any
stuff that needs shifting.

HTH
--
Peoples Pal