No new washing machine is necessary!Why water in the fabric softener compartment? That's it and what you can do about it

Fabric softener compartment full of water? That could be the reason

Despite the wash cycle, some water remains in the fabric softener compartment of your washing machine? If the problem sounds familiar to you, listen up! Household expert Maria Lust, known as Putzmarie, explains in an RTL interview where the mistake is and how you can fix the water problem in no time.

If water collects in the fabric softener compartment of the washing machine, it is in most cases “due to a blockage or calcification of the nozzle through which the water is fed into the compartment during the rinse cycle,” she explains.

Residues of fabric softener or detergent or limescale can be the cause of a blockage. And once the small openings are sealed, the water no longer drains properly and accumulates in the compartment. This problem can affect any model of any brand – regardless of whether you have a Siemens, Bosch, Bauknecht or Miele washing machine.

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Cleaning the dishwasher compartment of the washing machine – this is how it works!

You've probably already guessed: In order to get the problem under control, you can't avoid a thorough cleaning operation. “A thorough cleaning of the detergent compartment helps in most cases,” says Putzmarie from experience.

This is how you clean the detergent compartment of your washing machine:

• First take out the entire compartment.

• Clean it with warm water and a brush.

• Make sure that you remove any residue, especially from nozzles and drains.

An additional tip from the household expert: “Vinegar or citric acid can also help to remove limescale deposits.”

This will prevent the detergent compartment from becoming clogged again

Washing machine cleaned? Super! To prevent nozzles and drains from becoming clogged again, it is recommended to clean the compartment regularly – “ideally once a month”.

Another tip on how you can prevent the dispensing compartment from becoming blocked in the future: Do not use too much fabric softener and sometimes even avoid it altogether.

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“If you live in a region with hard water, you can also use a descaler,” recommends Maria Lust.

Will a clogged dishwasher compartment break the washing machine?

You should definitely follow the tips for cleaning the detergent compartment! In principle, a full fabric softener compartment is not immediately dangerous, “but it can lead to problems in the long term”.

The standing water in the detergent compartment can lead to unpleasant smells and, in the worst case, even to the formation of mold. “In addition, fabric softener could enter the drum in an uncontrolled manner or the machine could be affected by deposits in the nozzles and hoses.” So if you don't want to buy a new washing machine soon, it's better not to leave the water standing – but rather start cleaning the fabric softener compartment.