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Washing Machine Dispenser Drawer Broken, Put Detergent Straight Into Drum Instead?


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Old 02-01-2017, 02:42
Styker
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A washing machine I bought less than a year ago dispenser cover drawer has come loose and broken away from the dispenser compartment and it won't click back in and I can't get the dispenser drawer back open again.

Is it "ok" to put all the things I would normally put into the dispenser drawer straight into the drum and if I do will it have the same results or will the washes be less clean?

I did look this up before asking and one link said put the detergent in a mesh bag in the drum, does that sound right to you? I've never used such bags before, if you think the advice is correct than any recommendations on which bags to buy and from where and are they "holed" in that the detergent will escape slowly through holes?

What about the conditioner and anti limescale power too, is that ok to put straight into the drum too?

I have been given an a all day appointment at a inconvenient day by the manufacturers and I've got a funny feeling they are going to weasel out of fixing this and have the audacity to try and charge me an call out fee too, but If you think its ok to put all the powders straight into the drum for now I think I'll re-arrange the appointment for a more convenient day and then "chance" it with the manufacturers.

Thanks in advance of you r responses.
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Old 02-01-2017, 04:33
WhoAteMeDinner
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Not recommended, as the washing powder has a tendency to leave detergent burns on the clothes if left directly on them in the drum. Even through the dispenser, powder marks are sometimes left. That is why liquitabs and liquid detergent has kind of taken over.
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Old 02-01-2017, 06:02
davidseven
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Go and buy some washing pods to use instead of powder till you can get it repaired.
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Old 02-01-2017, 09:41
Nigel Goodwin
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Putting powder or liquid directly in the drum is pretty well recommended these days, as cold fill doesn't dissolve the powder in the draw, which gets dirty, smelly, and blocked up - but even worse the tube down to the drum gets blocked, and it's VERY difficult to clean.

You still need the draw for fabric conditioner though, as that goes in at the final rinse.
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Old 02-01-2017, 09:45
JulesF
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Go and buy some washing pods to use instead of powder till you can get it repaired.
This. I only ever use the pods these days. No clogged up, smelly drawers for me.
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Old 02-01-2017, 10:16
Finglonga
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Is the drawer itself broken as if it is and you use the washer you will get water all over the floor as it is pumped through the drawer to get to the drum.
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Old 02-01-2017, 11:15
Evo102
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This. I only ever use the pods these days. No clogged up, smelly drawers for me.
Ooh err missus.
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Old 02-01-2017, 12:57
muggins14
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Yes, use pods or liquid that go directly into the drum.

To clean the drum, remove smells and flush away bacteria, add 300g of Soda Crystals to the drum on an empty cycle and run it on the longest hottest wash. Once the cycle is complete, add 500ml of White Vinegar to the drum, and run another empty cycle on the longest hottest wash.

"Adding a cupful of vinegar to the rinse cycle of your washing machine can freshen up bright colors and give you cleaner laundry. Acetic acid won’t harm fabrics, but it dissolves the soap residue that can dull dark clothing. It also acts as a fabric softener, a static reducer, and a mildew-inhibitor." Great for your clothes and your washing machine!

White vinegar is the secret to many cleaning jobs, it's also 'green'. http://www.care2.com/greenliving/23-...e-vinegar.html
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Old 02-01-2017, 13:08
Styker
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Putting powder or liquid directly in the drum is pretty well recommended these days, as cold fill doesn't dissolve the powder in the draw, which gets dirty, smelly, and blocked up - but even worse the tube down to the drum gets blocked, and it's VERY difficult to clean.

You still need the draw for fabric conditioner though, as that goes in at the final rinse.
The drawer won't open though as the cover has broken away and I can't get the drawer released asa result.

Go and buy some washing pods to use instead of powder till you can get it repaired.
Do these pods also do the job of what a conditioner would too? I looked up pods and it didn't specifically mention if they provide conditioner in the 3 in 1 process.

Is the drawer itself broken as if it is and you use the washer you will get water all over the floor as it is pumped through the drawer to get to the drum.
No I don't think its broken per se. The plastic lining might be slightly out as I was trying to force the drawer quite hard to get released without any avail but its not broken, just the cover has come loose from the drawer and it looks like it can't be re-connected to the drawer while the drawer is pushed in the machine.

I'll have to watch the machine on its first wash and see what happens.
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Old 02-01-2017, 13:22
barbeler
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"Adding a cupful of vinegar to the rinse cycle of your washing machine can freshen up bright colors and give you cleaner laundry. Acetic acid won’t harm fabrics, but it dissolves the soap residue that can dull dark clothing. It also acts as a fabric softener, a static reducer, and a mildew-inhibitor." Great for your clothes and your washing machine!

White vinegar is the secret to many cleaning jobs, it's also 'green'. http://www.care2.com/greenliving/23-...e-vinegar.html
But don't your clothes come out smelling of pickled onions?
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Old 02-01-2017, 13:22
barbeler
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Duplicate deleted.
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Old 02-01-2017, 13:22
davidseven
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Yes, they do have a conditioner in the washing pods so that will save you having to add it separately.
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Old 02-01-2017, 13:25
Styker
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Yes, they do have a conditioner in the washing pods so that will save you having to add it separately.
Ahh thanks for that tip. I appreciate it. I'll go and buy some later on.
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Old 02-01-2017, 16:02
flowerpowa
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For a good few years now I've put the washing powder directly onto the clothes in the washing machine, with no adverse affects. In fact I think it's prolonged the life of the machine and done no harm to the clothes. Once every few weeks I give it a very hot wash 95c to give it a good clean through, using washing up liquid squirted onto a cloth.
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Old 03-01-2017, 15:53
Styker
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I've bought those washing pods, just one other question, can I still add anti bacterial liquid cleaner into the drum too with these pods being inside the drum? Or will the anti bacterial liquid dissolve those pods quicker than they're supposed to?
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Old 03-01-2017, 17:14
Styker
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One more question, these pods are liquid in a little plastic/pouch/pod, am I supposed to put them straight in and if I do will they open ok or am I supposed to peel away and pour in into the drum?
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Old 03-01-2017, 17:51
Styker
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Washing machine is runing at the moment, so far its hard to tell if the pods have opened/disolved as I can only see small amount s of liquid in the drum window like but then again they are liquid pods and not powdered, I did think they'd be powdered ones.

I'll have to wait and see on how well they work. I called Ariel about these pods too, apparently they don't have a conditioner built into them but Bold ones do.
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Old 03-01-2017, 18:48
postit
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You're going to be losing money fast! The detergent pods are expensive and unnecessary. Certain laundry detergent bottles have a top that serves as the detergent holder, e.g. Ariel, Aldi's own brand. Pour liquid detergent into the top, chuck it into the drum, add washing machine softener balls http://www.dryerballs.co.uk/
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Old 03-01-2017, 19:59
Styker
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You're going to be losing money fast! The detergent pods are expensive and unnecessary. Certain laundry detergent bottles have a top that serves as the detergent holder, e.g. Ariel, Aldi's own brand. Pour liquid detergent into the top, chuck it into the drum, add washing machine softener balls http://www.dryerballs.co.uk/
I don't have much of a choice at the monent. I only bought this machine a few months ago and until/if the dispenser drawer is repaired, I'd rather pay slightly over the odds to be able to continue using the current machine than fork out for another one.
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Old 04-01-2017, 00:48
evil c
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Just reading your last post OP, if you've had the machine less than 6 months the onus is on the retailer to prove it was of satisfactory quality when you received it. It's not for you to prove that the item was not of satisfactory quality in order to get it repaired or replaced during the first six months after purchase.

You have to give the retailer one opportunity to repair or replace the machine if it is unsatisfactory quality, unfit for purpose or not as described. You can choose whether you want the machine to be repaired or replaced.

But the retailer can refuse if they can show that your choice is disproportionately expensive compared to the alternative.

If the attempt at a repair or replacement is unsuccessful, you can then claim a refund or a price reduction if you wish to keep the product.

Also from your first post you say you are waiting for the manufacturer. Presumably this was done via the retailer, rather than you contacting the manufacturer direct. All your dealings should be via the retailer as this is who your contract is with.

After 6 months the postion is reversed as the burden of proof falls on you to prove a fault was present at the time of purchase in order to make a claim.

More info here from Which? http://www.which.co.uk/consumer-righ...faulty-product
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Old 04-01-2017, 18:30
njp
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Do these pods also do the job of what a conditioner would too? I looked up pods and it didn't specifically mention if they provide conditioner in the 3 in 1 process.
A built-in conditioner can't possibly do the same job as a stand-alone one, because that is added to the final rinse. Then again, as fabric conditioners are pretty much just a way of coating your clothes and the inside of your washing machine with a thin layer of scented lard, I don't understand why you would want it in the first place!
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Old 04-01-2017, 19:18
Styker
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Just reading your last post OP, if you've had the machine less than 6 months the onus is on the retailer to prove it was of satisfactory quality when you received it. It's not for you to prove that the item was not of satisfactory quality in order to get it repaired or replaced during the first six months after purchase.

You have to give the retailer one opportunity to repair or replace the machine if it is unsatisfactory quality, unfit for purpose or not as described. You can choose whether you want the machine to be repaired or replaced.

But the retailer can refuse if they can show that your choice is disproportionately expensive compared to the alternative.

If the attempt at a repair or replacement is unsuccessful, you can then claim a refund or a price reduction if you wish to keep the product.

Also from your first post you say you are waiting for the manufacturer. Presumably this was done via the retailer, rather than you contacting the manufacturer direct. All your dealings should be via the retailer as this is who your contract is with.

After 6 months the postion is reversed as the burden of proof falls on you to prove a fault was present at the time of purchase in order to make a claim.

More info here from Which? http://www.which.co.uk/consumer-righ...faulty-product
The washing machine arrived at the end of May so its beyond 6 months and this is what I'm slightly bothered about if I get an awkward repair person claiming that I must have done something to cause the fault.

Don't the manufacturers still have a duty to repair items under a 1 year manufacturers guarantee or has that been done away with under this latest act and or they have a get out clause if i can't prove to their satisfaction that the machine was faulty to start off with?

What happened was its the first time I tried to clean the dispenser drawer as it was always looking very clean after every use and because I was using an anti bacterial liquid cleaner with the washes too.

When I tried to use it before the dispenser drawer broke, there was left over water in the fabric compartment and I tried to release the dispenser drawer to clean it but the dispenser draw was would not release easy at all and I had to pull hard and took several times to get it released, When I put the dispenser drawer back in is when the cover came loose and now the compartment will not open without the cover clicking back in and I can' click the cover back in without the dispenser drawer being out too.

As it was the first time I've released the dispenser drawer, I think it was faulty to start off with but i can see the repair guy saying I should have been cleaning it on a regular basis and trying to get out of it on those grounds too. This machine also arrived with a very short wire for the power socket that barely goes beyond the front of the machine and I had to use an extension lead/adapter to get it to a socket and the manufacturer says extension leads must not be used but I had no other choice.

If they do try and wriggle out of it, I'll be complaining to trading standards/citizens advice and I think I'll see them in court too if they demand a call out charge but its hassle I don't need. Indesit is the company in question if you wanted to know.

p.s. The other thing is I didn't register the machine with Indesit for their 10 year guarantee or parts as I thought they'd claim a get out on me using an extension lead but do you think they'll be able to wriggle out of of the 1 year manufacturers gurantee because I didn't register with them or will my proof of purchase (e-mail confirmation from retailer) be enough?
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Old Yesterday, 10:02
Nigel Goodwin
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p.s. The other thing is I didn't register the machine with Indesit for their 10 year guarantee or parts as I thought they'd claim a get out on me using an extension lead but do you think they'll be able to wriggle out of of the 1 year manufacturers gurantee because I didn't register with them or will my proof of purchase (e-mail confirmation from retailer) be enough?
The registration is ONLY to get your details passed to an insurance company, who are actually who you ring (Domestic and General Insurance). As long as you have 'proof of purchase', then that's all you need.

My only concern is what is actually 'wrong', it sounds like the draw is broken (there's not really anything to go wrong with a draw) - so could be considered 'misuse' and not covered by guarantee.

Just call them out, and see what they say.
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Old Yesterday, 12:37
Styker
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The registration is ONLY to get your details passed to an insurance company, who are actually who you ring (Domestic and General Insurance). As long as you have 'proof of purchase', then that's all you need.

My only concern is what is actually 'wrong', it sounds like the draw is broken (there's not really anything to go wrong with a draw) - so could be considered 'misuse' and not covered by guarantee.

Just call them out, and see what they say.
The dispenser cover came loose and won't click back in while the rest of the dispesner drawer is still in the machine and the dispenser drawer won't open/release without the cover. This happened after I pulled the dispenser drawer out to clean it for the very first time as it had water left in the compartment and the dispenser drawer was very stiff when trying to release it. I managed to pull it out but it took some force and when I went to put the drawer back in is when the cover came loose.

It has to be a manufacturing defect as it shouldn't of been stiff, but I'm worried that they'll say that as I hadn't cleaned it before and its supposed to be done regularly that they will not honour the 12 month guarantee. I didn't need to clean it before as it was always clean etc.
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Old Yesterday, 13:32
Paul_DNAP
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On the other hand, if it was that stiff and you needed to force it then maybe it wasn't supposed to move? e.g. was it being held in place by some catch or latch that needed releasing first? It does sound like you broke something when you opened it for sure, the only debate would be if you followed the correct procedure when opening it.

Still, you've got nothing to lose by trying to claim against your warranty, the worst that could happen is they refuse and you're left where you are now. They may be able to send a replacement drawer. What's the make/model?
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