Community Forums

Boomer · 11-02-2018, 07:41 AM

DW and I just realized that the new fancy washing machine is very explicit about NO CHLORINE BLEACH (only did a few loads with bleach).
Does any of the very knowledgeable people on the forum know WHY and if so what to use instead of bleach. I may end up calling Whirlpool, just wanted to know if others have been down this road before.

bruceisla · 11-02-2018, 11:19 AM

https://www.reference.com/home-garde...41ccf3be3cb693

twojayhawks · 11-02-2018, 03:28 PM

I assume no chlorine bleach because these are small capacity and front loaders as well. Front loaders use much less water than top loaders. The problem might be the machine can't introduce the bleach in a manner that doesn't put the clothing at risk for bleach spots. That's just my theory.

TJ · 11-02-2018, 08:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by twojayhawks

I assume no chlorine bleach because these are small capacity and front loaders as well. Front loaders use much less water than top loaders. The problem might be the machine can't introduce the bleach in a manner that doesn't put the clothing at risk for bleach spots. That's just my theory.

I think that's a very credible theory! Also, I found something online at Whirlpool stating that prolonged use of chlorine bleach can damage the washer. I'm thinking that this may mean corrosive damage to some rubber seals.

Since these really are low-water-use machines, using a quantity of chlorine bleach appropriate to a larger home machine might result in a heavy concentration of chlorine in the smaller machine. Old habits are hard to break and Whirlpool may be aware of that.

TJ

Boomer · 11-03-2018, 07:32 AM

Being an engineer I love hearing theories, just riddle me this - our 2015 Canyon Star had less fancy version of Whirlpool washer and had a compartment where you put the detergent for (drum roll please) chlorine bleach.

Another theory I just thought of, since the new fancy washer has it's own water heater (no hot water hookup) maybe chlorine damages this heater.

So far 2 theories

Algoma · 11-03-2018, 03:52 PM

My previous model machine has a place in the drawer to add bleach. If the new model doesn't have that spot to add the bleach, how would you add bleach anyway? Personally, if any whites I have really need to be bleached I stick them in a bucket.

computerguy · 11-04-2018, 06:31 AM

Hmmm, not sure I agree with the above theory. My Splendide is a HE low volume water machine and can use bleach. It has a separate compartment for it.

RetireeKeith · 11-15-2018, 03:25 PM

The Whirlpool wash machine in my 2016 Dutch Star also has a loading basin labeled bleach next to the detergent loading basin. Whirpool is ripping people off with the new model not taking bleach. Very strange.

As an engineer, I know that many elastomers (rubberlike plastics) are not compatible with bleach and rapidly deteriorate with it. And wash machines are full of elastomers. So it may be that some of the materials used in the new washer are not compatible with chlorine bleach. For example, one of the most common elastomers used in plumbing, Buna-N (aka black nitrile), is severly deteriorated by chlorine bleach. If you are old enough, you may remember in the early seventies that there were a lot of problems with the then new drop in toilet bleach tablets eating up elastomers that were common in toilet tank components. They had to redesign the toilet components.

I have noticed that the "rubber" gasket around the drain in my DS bath sinks is badly affected by concentrated bleach. It starts to dissolve and release a black slime so I suspect it is a Buna-N gasket.

Over the long term, many polymer components can be affected by chlorine but some deteriote faster than others.

Just a thought.

Keith

Ricci · 11-15-2018, 05:05 PM

Hi - The simple way around this is to use an oxygen bleach (Oxiclean, for example). Sprinkle it in when you are loading the machine (or so I am told). Out of my sphere of influence!

Tom