Canada Service Site

text.skipToContent text.skipToNavigation

Online support service

WASHERS

What do I do if my washer fills but does not wash?

To minimize the possibility of electric shock, unplug this appliance from the power supply before attempting any maintenance or cleaning.

If the washer stops after filling, check the house circuit breaker/fuse as well as the outlet and plug. Washers should be plugged into their own separate outlet. If it is not a power supply issue, check the following:

Newer top-load washers are designed to operate much quieter than a typical washer. To test to see if it is agitating:

Open the lid and place a new article of clothing in the washer and note its position.
Close the lid.
Let the washer run for a minute or two and open the lid. If the agitator is working properly, the article of clothing should have moved around in the wash.

If the washer is not agitating, you may need to reset your washer motor . If your washer senses a power spike, unbalanced load, or disruption in power it will send a fault code to your motor and may require the motor to be reset:

Unplug the washer for 1 minute from the electrical outlet.
Plug the washer back in and lift and lower the lid 6 times within a 12 second period.
You have 30 seconds to start lifting and lowering the lid. The lid must be raised a minimum of 2” ensure the magnetic connection on the lid is interrupted. Make sure you close the lid completely each time.
The motor has now been reset and is ready for you to start a cycle.

On newer washers, it takes about 20-30 seconds for the machine to sense the load and engage the drive system after the water has stopped filling.
Make sure the washer lid is down. The washer will not agitate or spin with the lid up, though many models will still fill and drain and the timer will advance.
Most models have either a lid switch probe or a magnet on the lid that activates the lid switch when the lid is closed. If missing or damaged, the washer will not agitate or spin, even with the lid closed.
Lid switch probe: A small plastic piece that fits into a hole in the bottom right side of the open lid.
Magnet: Plastic coated magnet that is fastened with two screws in the top right side of the open lid.
The washer cycle could have been stopped or paused by accident. Make sure the Start/Stop or Pause button was not pushed, or that the timer knob was not pushed in.
Check the cycle selection to make sure it is not in a soak cycle. Some models have soak cycles that may be selected for 15 or 30 minutes prior to the main wash. See the Owner's Manual for information on your model.
Check the speed selector switch. Make sure it is pointing at the speed, not stuck in the middle. Turn the switch to the correct speed and try again.
If the washer is stored in below freezing temperatures, water in the pump can freeze and lock the motor. Allow time to thaw, and start the washer again.
If CAnCELEd (“canceled”) scrolling on control panel or the two furthest lights are flashing (2015 and newer models): This indicates that an error has occurred. Select Drain & Spin and press Start, this will attempt to clear the error. If problems persist, disconnect power to the washer for 1 minute, reconnect and retry by either re-starting your previous wash cycle settings and press Start or select Drain & Spin and press Start.

If the above suggestions do not correct the situation, service will be required.

Why is my washer not spinning?

If your top load washer will not spin:

Pauses:

Wait for a few minutes, since pauses of up to three minutes may occur between cycles as the timer advances in steps. For example, there may be a 3-minute delay at the end of agitation and prior to the washer pumping out the water.
The pump-out process itself can then take an additional 3 minutes.
After the pump out, the washer will begin to spin. Do not manually advance the timer if it's pausing after agitation, as you may miss the pump-out cycle.

Loss of Power:

Check your house fuses, circuit breakers, and the wall outlet. A loss of electrical power to the washer will cause a failure to spin. To check for power at the wall outlet, carefully plug a small table lamp or hair dryer into the wall outlet and turn it on.
If it does not work, you may have blown a fuse, tripped a circuit breaker, or have a defective wall outlet.

Lid is up:

Make sure washer lid is down. Some older washers will agitate with lid up, but none will spin with lid up.

“SPIN” light is flashing or “bALAnCINg” (balancing) is in the display (2015 and newer models):

This means the washer cannot spin properly. After the wash cycle was complete, the items in the load were no longer evenly distributed in the tub enough to spin-out the water. Manually re-distribute the items in the load more evenly in the tub, then resume your cycle by pressing START or select Drain & Spin and press START.

“SPIN” light is not flashing and “Lid Lock” light is off:

First check your OPTIONS knob to ensure that the knob is pointing at an option. If the knob is between options or pointing down, the unit may not spin.
Turn the OPTIONS knob; you should notice that the washer beeps every time a different option is selected. Set the OPTIONS knob to your desired setting, set the washer to Drain-and-Spin, and START.
If the washer does NOT beep as you turn the OPTIONS knob, then the knob is not working and a service call will be needed.

If CAnCELEd (“canceled”) scrolling on control panel or the two furthest lights are flashing(2015 and newer models): this indicates that an error has occurred. Select Drain & Spin and press Start, this will attempt to clear the error. If problems persist, disconnect power to the washer for 1 minute, reconnect and retry by either re-starting your previous wash cycle settings and press Start or select Drain & Spin and press Start.

Motor Reset:

If the machine pumps water out and you are positive that the motor is running, but tub is not spinning, service would be required.

Why is my washer not draining?

If your top-load washer is not draining, check the following:

Water sloshing sound:
If no water is visible in the basket but you hear a “sloshing water” sound, this is likely the washer's balance ring. The balance ring is an enclosed plastic container partially filled with a saltwater (brine) solution that is attached to the inner clothes basket. It allows the basket to spin smoothly during an out-of-balance situation.

Pauses:
If your washer is not draining, wait a few minutes. For many models, it is normal to have pauses between cycles of up to 3 minutes. If you have a dial, do not manually advance the timer if it is pausing after agitation, as you may miss the pump-out cycle.

Lid is up:
Make sure the washer lid is down if it is a 1994 or older model. Since the washer spins and drains at the same time, the lid must be down for it to operate.

Drain hose or Plumbing:

Make sure the drain hose is not kinked or clogged.
Make sure the washer is not trying to drain more than 8 ft. higher than the floor. The maximum height most GE full size washers will pump is 8 feet from the floor; 5 feet for a compact or portable washers. Check your Installation Instructions for more details about drain height.
The drain hose goes into a standpipe, drain or other household plumbing .Remove the drain hose and pour a quart of water into the standpipe or drain. If water will not drain, a plumber is recommended.

RINSE light is flashing or “Po” is scrolling on the display (2015 and newer models):
The washer took too long to pump out. There may be a clog.

Press Start to resume the cycle, or you can select Drain & Spin and press Start. If the washer drains properly, then the clog has likely cleared.
If water remains in the washer, check for a pinched or flattened drain hose. You may even need to disconnect power to the washer and remove the drain hose from the back of the machine and the plumbing, to see if there is a clog inside the drain hose.
If you clear a clog, press START to resume your cycle, or you can select Drain & Spin and press Start.
If the water drains, then the clog is clear. If problems persist, service will be required.

Tub full of water and just hums:
Schedule service.

If these suggestions do not help the situation, please schedule a service appointment

What do I do if my washer is leaking?
Why does my Hydrowave washer hesitate after it fills with water?

A HydroWaveTM washing machine is designed to operate quieter than a typical washer.

Each time the lid is closed, the HydroWaveTM wash system senses the washer load and engages a new smart drive system that produces less noise, reduces wear on clothing and maintains great cleaning performance. You might not even know when it is operating.

Below is a list of sounds you may hear during typical operation:

Sound	Cycle	Reason
No Sound (pause)	At the beginning of the cycle or when the lid is closed	The smart drive system is sensing the load.
Gentle splash sound of water	Main agitate cycle (Quiet)	Operation normal – virtually sound free.
Back and forth “swoosh” or “zip” sound during agitation	Agitate (Quiet)	The machine has a drive system that doesn't use gears. The sound is the motor rotating back and forth to agitate the laundry.
Metallic “click”	Beginning and end of agitate.	The drive system will engage at the start of agitate and disengage when agitate is complete. This occurs multiple times.
Quick short agitate sounds at the end of agitate.	End of agitate	At the end of agitate, the motor makes short agitation strokes to redistribute the load. This lasts for about 10 seconds.
Motor “ramping (speeding) up” or “coasting (slowing) down”	Beginning and end of spin	The motor will speed up incrementally during the spin cycle. When the spin is complete, it will coast until it stops or until the lid is raised.

Follow these steps to check if your washer is working:

Agitation Test:

Open the lid and place a new article of clothing in the washer and note its position.
Close the lid.
Let the washer run for a minute or two and open the lid.
If the agitator is working properly, the article of clothing should have moved around in the wash.

If you find that the clothing has not moved, service will be required.

What's the clicking sound from my Hydrowave washer?

A HydroWaveTM washing machine is designed to operate quieter than a typical washer.

Below is a list of sounds you may hear during typical operation:

Sound	Cycle	Reason
No Sound (pause)	At the beginning of the cycle or when the lid is closed	The smart drive system is sensing the load.
Gentle splash sound of water	Main agitate cycle (Quiet)	Operation normal – virtually sound free.
Back and forth “swoosh” or “zip” sound during agitation	Agitate (Quiet)	The machine has a drive system that doesn't use gears. The sound is the motor rotating back and forth to agitate the laundry.
Metallic “click”	Beginning and end of agitate.	The drive system will engage at the start of agitate and disengage when agitate is complete. This occurs multiple times.
Quick short agitate sounds at the end of agitate.	End of agitate	At the end of agitate, the motor makes short agitation strokes to redistribute the load. This lasts for about 10 seconds.
Motor “ramping (speeding) up” or “coasting (slowing) down”	Beginning and end of spin	The motor will speed up incrementally during the spin cycle. When the spin is complete, it will coast until it stops or until the lid is raised.

Follow these steps to check if your washer is working:

Agitation Test:

Open the lid and place a new article of clothing in the washer and note its position.
Close the lid.
Let the washer run for a minute or two and open the lid.
If the agitator is working properly, the article of clothing should have moved around in the wash.

If you find that the clothing has not moved, service will be required.

Why does my washer not fill?

To minimize the possibility of electric shock, unplug the washer from the power supply before attempting any maintenance or cleaning. Turn the house circuit breakers/fuses to the off position.

If your top-load washer will not start filling:

Check the house fuse/circuit breaker box and the washer plug. The washer should be on a separate outlet.
Is water turned on to the washer? Make sure the hot and cold water valves are fully open.
Some electronic control models will time out if the washer takes longer than 20 to 40 minutes to fill. This could be caused by low water pressure or clogged screens. Check the water valve screens on your water inlet hoses.
On mechanical models, be sure the timer knob is pulled out completely and set to the beginning of the cycle. It may be necessary to advance the timer slightly and pull the knob out again, in case the start of the cycle varies a little from the graphic on the control panel.
The washer cycle could have been stopped or paused by accident. Make sure the Start/Stop or Pause button was not pushed, or that the timer knob was not pushed in.
If the washer was stored where temperatures are below freezing, water in the pump can freeze and lock the motor. Allow time for thawing and it should start.
If the Fill light is flashing or H2O SUPPLY is scrolling on the display (2015 and newer models): the washer will initiate a 3 or 4 minute lock-out period (depending on model). The washer controls won't respond or change during this time. After 3 or 4 minutes, you can choose your settings and press Start. Unplugging the washer will start the 3 or 4 minute lock-out period again.
If CAnCELEd (“canceled”) is scrolling across the control panel or the two furthest lights are flashing on the control panel (2015 and newer models): This indicates that an error has occurred. Select Drain & Spin and press Start, this will attempt to clear the error. If problems persist, disconnect power to the washer for 1 minute, reconnect and retry by either re-starting your previous wash cycle settings and press Start or select Drain & Spin and press Start.

If the above suggestions do not resolve the issue, service may be needed.

My top load washer is making noise during the cycle. Are these normal sounds?
Why aren't the lights / controls on my washer working properly?

If there is a pause in the washer cycle, the controls will lock up. The pause can occur because of the following:

A power failure or if it was put in the test mode at the factory.
If the washer was stopped before the cycle was complete.
The stop/pause button was pressed to temporarily stop the cycle and was not reset. In this case, the washer will pump out and spin after 24 hours, but will stay in the final spin.

To correct the situation, shut off the circuit breaker for 30 seconds or unplug the washer, then turn the timer knob around and back to any position other than final spin. Verify the water is turned on and restore power. This should resolve the issue. If the above recommendation does not correct the situation, service will be required.

What do I do if my washer drains and fills at the same time?

If the washer is filling and draining water at the same time check the following:

Make sure that the house drain is at least 30 inches high. If so, check to make sure the drain hose is not pushed too far down into the drain. If it is, pull it out 2” inches. That should solve the problem.
If house drain is not at least 30” high, an anti-siphon clip was included in the installation package. It attaches to the hose and the back of the washer to lift the drain hose up.

If the above does not correct the issue service may be necessary.

How do I remove the agitator?

Occasionally a garment may get caught under the agitator of the washer. These models require a GE Appliance technician to remove the agitator.

What do I do if my top load washer “walks” or vibrates?

There are many sounds associated with washers; however if your washer is noisy there may be a simple solution.

To minimize the possibility of electric shock, unplug this appliance from the power supply before attempting any maintenance or cleaning.

If the washer is walking, vibrating, shaking, or moving, check the following:

On 1995 and newer top load washers, you must remove the shipping material just before sliding the washer into place. There will be either a shipping rod, Styrofoam shipping material, or cardboard base and cardboard cone. Consult your Installation Instructions for removal of the shipping material.
Do not remove the shipping material prior to sliding into place, since using the washer on a cart or dolly without it can cause the washer to be noisy and vibrate.
On models with a shipping rod, locate the shipping rod on the bottom right side of the washer, grasp the end of the rod, and pull straight out to release the suspension system.
If the washer has been operating for a short time with the shipping rod in place, no functional damage should have occurred.
Make sure the washer is level. The washer needs to be level and sitting on a good, solid floor. Refer to the Installation Instructions for proper leveling.
Unbalanced loads can cause the washer to vibrate more. Stop the machine and redistribute the load. The more the legs are extended, the shakier the washer will be during operation.

If the above suggestions do not correct the situation, service may be needed.

Why can I still wring water out of my clothes after the spin cycle?

If the clothes seem too wet after the wash cycle is complete, the following are possible causes:

A “slow spin” may have been selected. A slow spin will eliminate less water than a fast spin.
Cold water can make clothes feel more wet. If this is not the case, service may be required.
Oversudsing from too much detergent may slow down the final spin cycle, causing a suds lock.
Lower than normal spin speed/wet clothes: this occurs as a result of oversudsing. The use of HE detergent will decrease the chance of suds lock; use HE detergent only and be sure to use the recommended measured amount. Run a drain/spin cycle to remove the excess water in the clothes.

What water level setting should I use for my load size?

We recommend trying to match water levels and load size as closely as possible.
Load dry items loosely, no higher than the top row of holes in the washer tub.
Using too much water can result in poor washing performance due to lower detergent ratio.
Using too little water can cause poor rinsing, linting problems, wrinkling, and excessive wear on fabrics.
Try to wash same type materials together. For example, do not wash lint producing fabrics with lint “collecting” fabrics (i.e., towels with corduroy).

Why is there lint on my clothes after I wash them?

The following information are possible causes of excessive lint and solutions.

LINT FILTER IS DIRTY

Solution:

Clean lint filter before each load.

UNDISSOLVED GRANULAR DETERGENT may leave white powdery residue on fabrics, which can be mistaken for lint. Feel lint deposit by rubbing between fingers. If the residue is from detergent, it will spread out. This usually increases during winter months because of water temperatures being colder.

Solutions:

Add detergent and start the washer before adding clothes so that the detergent can dissolve completely & work effectively.
Reduce the amount of detergent
Increase wash water temperature.
Change to a liquid detergent.

SORTING: Mixing “lint producing” fabrics with “lint collecting” fabrics allows lint to transfer to other garments, instead of being trapped in the lint filter. This is one of the most frequently found causes of linting.

Solutions:

Separate lint producers (flannel, cotton knits, terry towels) from lint collectors (fuzzy, brushed fabrics, synthetic blends. ex. corduroy, acrylic blankets, children's sleepwear).
Separate dark colors from white and light-colored items.

LENGTH OF CYCLE: Washing (agitation) beyond what's necessary to clean clothes will generate lint.

Solution:

Shorten wash time (use medium or light soil wash) for smaller loads or lightly soiled garments to avoid washing clothes longer than needed.

WATER LEVEL: Setting the water level switch to a higher setting than needed will cause linting due to excessive movement of the clothes in the water

Solution:

Select a water level proper for the load.

LOAD SIZE: Overloading can prevent lint from being flushed away during the washing process as well as increase the effect of clothes rubbing against one another and generating lint.

Solution:

Loosely load clothes no higher than the top row of holes in the washer tub.

TOO MUCH BLEACH: Over-bleaching will damage fabric & cause excessive lint

Solution:

Follow manufacturer's instructions on the amount of bleach to use.

TOO MUCH FABRIC SOFTENER will coat the fabric and make clothing stiff (rough to the touch). Fabric softener may chemically combine with detergent to form a deposit, which can be white.

Solutions:

To remove coating, wash and dry without fabric softener 3 times.
Use fabric softener only in rinse cycle, unless softener manufacturer specifies adding to wash cycle. Use your fabric softener dispenser (if your washer is so equipped.)

PILLING naturally occurs with polyester/cotton blends. The stronger man-made fibers, instead of breaking off, will collect and hold small bundles of fibers resulting in “pills”. Lint becomes entangled in the “pills” and makes the lint appear more obvious.

Solution:

Turning the garments inside out may provide some protection.

ITEMS LEFT IN POCKETS such as paper, tissue, etc. can cause lint on clothes.

Solution:

• Empty all pockets before laundering clothes.

How can I reduce the amount of wrinkling in my clothes?

Reasons for clothes wrinkling:

Improper sorting of the load (i.e. loading large, heavy items with lightweight, delicate materials).
Too many items in washer for the load size.
Use of incorrect wash cycles. Incorrect water level during the wash cycles (not enough water for amount of clothes).
Washing repeatedly in water that is too hot for fabric.
Accumulations of lime scale due to use of carbonate detergents.
Failure to use fabric softener.

Note: If you follow good laundry procedures and “permanent press” clothes still come out wrinkled, the finish may no longer be good quality. The permanent press “memory” has been worn away.

Steps to prevent wrinkling:

Avoid laundering heavy permanent press items, such as work clothes, with lighter permanent press items, such as shirts or blouses.
Do not wash permanent press items with ordinary items such as towels, bed linens, etc.
Items must have room to move freely. Permanent press loads should always be smaller than regular loads, and no more than medium loads.
Use Permanent Press Wash Cycles. This cycle provides a cool down rinse to minimize wrinkling.
Use Full water fill for medium load, Medium fill for small loads.
If a non-phosphate detergent must be used, avoid the use of a high-carbonate detergent (high carbonate would be in the 7% range).
Proper use of fabric softener will minimize wrinkling.

What do I do if my water temperature is too hot or too cold?

If you experience issues with the water temperature check the following:

Check to ensure both Hot and Cold water supply valves are turned on.
Check to ensure the hose connections were not reversed. The hoses are marked with letters “H” for HOT and “C” for Cold.

Check to ensure the proper temperature setting was selected:

Check the household water heater to make sure it is delivering water at 90-120 degrees F.
HOT wash water is the house hot water supply, when it reaches the washer.
WARM is the mix of hot and cold water coming into the washer and can change depending on the incoming water temperatures to the washer. Note: Starting with 1995 and newer models washers, the warm water temperature is slightly lower than on previous models. This is due to a different mix of hot and cold water. This was done to meet federal energy guidelines. The biggest cost of energy for a clothes washer is the cost of heating the water, so slight changes reducing the amount of hot water result in energy savings without reducing wash performance.
COLD depends on the incoming supply and can vary from near freezing in some areas in the winter to about 80 degrees Fahrenheit in the summer. Note: The effectiveness of detergent is seriously diminished in extremely low water temperatures (below 60 degrees F, 15.6 degrees C). During the winter, incoming water temperatures are lower and the resulting warm water temperatures are lower as well.
Check the water valve screen for a clog. One half of the water valve can fail and only hot or cold will come into the washer. Select cold or hot temperature and if one or the other does not work the valve screen may be clogged.

Note: On models that have a temperature sensor, you might hear the water valves automatically turn on and off while the temperature is being adjusted.

Why do I have a strange odor inside my washer?

Washer odors (like mildew) are usually caused by leaving the washer lid closed when not in use. This does not allow air to circulate and dry out the moisture remaining in the tub area. The air and moisture mixture becomes stagnant and creates an odor. When the washer is not in use, leaving the lid up/open for air circulation will help prevent odor.

To minimize the possibility of electric shock, unplug this appliance from the power supply before attempting any maintenance or cleaning.

To clean and get rid of odors inside of the washer follow one of the below suggestions:

Use Glisten Washer Magic and follow the instructions on the bottle.
Use Tide Washing Machine Cleaner and follow the directions on the package.

You may also try:

Fill the washer with hot water; set at regular speed and the longest wash cycle.
Add 3/4 cup of a water softening additive which can be found in the laundry detergent aisle (baking soda or vinegar can be substituted).
Allow washer to complete entire wash and rinse cycle.
If odor lingers, repeat entire process.

Odors may come from the drain hose if it is pushed too far into the drain stand pipe. It can siphon drained water back into the washer causing a musty odor. We recommend clipping the hose to the side of the stand pipe so this does not occur.

Why does my washer spin and stop repeatedly?

All washing machines that are 1995 and newer drain out the water with a separate drain pump before spinning the clothes out.

Occasionally, the timer may be advanced to the pump out portion and the washer will try to spin with a full or partial tub of water. In this case the washer will try to spin, recognize there is water still in the basket and stop and pump out, try to spin again, stop and pump out, etc. This will continue until all of the water is out. It will then complete the spin cycle (if there is any time left).

This is a normal situation and will not harm the washer. If this situation is noticed, it is best to advance the timer all the way around and try setting it at an earlier position in the pump out sequence.

On models prior to 1995 the washer drains while spinning.

How can I keep my clothes from getting tangled and twisted?

Tangled, twisted or knotted clothes are usually a result of improper sorting of wash loads.
To prevent clothing from knotting and twisting:

Avoid mixing heavy items with light items.
Avoid putting too many or too few items in the washer.
Make sure you set the proper water level for the size load you are doing.
Never wrap the clothes around the agitator.
Be sure your wash water is not too hot for the fabric.

Why am I getting grease/oil stains on my clothes after I wash them?

The 1995 and newer washer transmission design makes it impossible for oil from transmission to get into washer and splatter on clothing.

Most of the time it is caused by splatters from cooking oil. Stains from foods or cooking oils, sometimes called “invisible stains”, may not be noticed as you put clothes in the washer. If not completely removed in the wash cycle, the oily spots may pick up dirt from wash water making the spots visible. The washer does not cause these spots.

To prevent:

Wash garments as soon as practical after wearing, using more detergent than normal and the hottest wash water fabric can stand.

To correct:

Rub in undiluted detergent, let stand 30 minutes and rewash, using hottest water fabric can stand.

If your water is extremely hot, 150 degrees or higher, the water inlet hose(s) could start to break down, causing black greasy stains on clothes. Refer to the Owner's Manual for your water heater, set the temperature accordingly, and replace the inlet hose(s).

My washer fills or drips when not turned on.

If the washer fills or drips water in to the tub even when it is not turned on, the water valve on the back of your washer may have failed. The valve may need to be replaced.

What are some good ways to remove stubborn stains?

Common stains and the proper removal procedures:

Blood: soak in cold water, then launder in warm water.

Chewing gum: rub with ice, scrape off excess, sponge with cleaning fluid, rinse and launder.

Chocolate: soak in cold water for 15 minutes, rub detergent into fabric and launder in the hottest water that is safe for the fabric.

Coffee/tea: soak in cold water, then use bleach treatment with the hottest water that is safe for the fabric. Launder.

Cosmetics: apply undiluted liquid detergent to stain, or dampen stain and rub in soap, forming a paste. Work until stain is gone and rinse well. Repeat if necessary, bleach if safe for fabric.

Crayon: loosen stains with kitchen shortening, apply detergent, working in until outline of stain is removed; launder as usual.

Cream/milk: sponge or soak stain with cool water for 30 minutes or longer, work detergent into stain and launder as usual.

Deodorants/antiperspirants: scrub area using white vinegar. If stain remains, saturate with denatured alcohol and scrub, rinse, and launder as usual.

Fruits,fruit juices,wine: follow same procedure as for coffee. If stain persists, blot with lemon juice or hydrogen peroxide. Where hot water cannot be used, sponge well with cool water and work glycerin into stain.

Grass: rub detergent in stain, launder in bleach, if possible.

Grease: scrape off as much as possible, rub plenty of detergent into stain, launder as usual.

Ink/ballpoint: spray stain with hairspray until wet looking, allow to soak briefly. Hand scrub using heavy application of liquid detergent. Launder and repeat, if necessary.

Ketchup: scrape off excess, soak in cold water, launder as usual.

Meat juice: scrape off dried portion. Sponge with cold water. Rub with detergent, launder as usual.

Mildew: pre-treat with detergent, launder. If stain remains treat with hydrogen peroxide, launder as usual.

Mud: brush off dried portion, sponge with cold water then launder in the hottest water fabric can take. If stain remains, sponge with 1 part rubbing alcohol and 2 parts water, launder as usual.

Mustard: work glycerin into stain. Pre-treat with detergent, launder as usual. (You should be able to obtain glycerin at drug stores.)

Nail polish: do not use nail polish remover. Sponge with chemically pure “amyl acetate” (i.e. banana oil - can be purchased at local drug stores). Launder as usual. If stain persists, sponge with rubbing alcohol and launder.

Oil: pre-treat with concentrated detergent. Let it sit for 1/2 hour, then launder in the hottest water possible, bleach if fabric can withstand. Launder as usual.

Perspiration: if color is affected, sponge fresh stain with ammonia. Old stain, sponge with vinegar. Rinse and launder in the hottest water that is safe for fabric. If fabric is yellow, bleach if possible.

Rust: apply rust remover, using manufacturer's directions.

Soft drinks: sponge immediately with cold water and launder.

Transmission oil: usually impossible to remove. Best possible treatment is detergent and the hottest water the fabric can handle.

What do I do if my Spacemaker® washer does not rinse?

For Portable Spacemaker® washer models, the washer will not enter the Rinse cycle if the water supply is hooked up incorrectly. The supply hose must be attached to the COLD water inlet on the back of the unit. Also, please make sure the COLD water supply is turned on.

What do I do if my washer tub becomes stained or discolored?

Most GE Appliance washers have a glossy white non-staining surface. For the rare occasions when dye, calcium, or iron build-up would need to be removed, we have several recommendations for cleaning:

Fill the tub to the highest water level with hot water
Pour 1 cup of chlorine bleach directly in the tub.
Run through a regular cycle.

Use a citric acid treatment:

Fill the tub to the highest water level with hot water. Add 3-4oz. of citric acid crystals (these are available through GE Appliance Parts, at drug stores or some grocery stores.) Hydrous crystals are recommended.
Run through a regular cycle.
After the cycle is complete, run through another regular cycle with detergent.

Note: If tar or something similar has gotten on the tub, you can clean with a citric acid cleaner like Goo Gone® or a hand cleaner.

Back