Why a Washer is Producing Excess Suds

When you combine any soap with air and water, you will get suds. If you look inside your washer during a wash cycle, you will see that the agitation has turned that once liquid laundry detergent into a nice froth. However, if you notice that they suds are left behind on your clothing or the interior of your washer after a rinse cycle – you have a problem.

The rinse cycle can handle a few suds, but if they are left behind after the washer has run its course, then it is producing too many. The cause of this may be indicative of a problem with your washer, or it could be simpler.

In some cases, you are just being overzealous with your detergent use or using the wrong detergent for your washer. For example, if you got a new washer and it is a high-efficiency model, you need high-efficiency detergent. If you are using normal laundry detergent, this will overproduce suds. Make sure your washer isn’t a high-efficiency model (or switch detergents if it is) and try scaling back how much detergent you use.

Another cause of overproducing suds in a washer is a change in agitation. If the washer is not agitating correctly or as designed, then it can result in under washed clothes or overproduced suds. Listen to your washer during the wash cycle is you have a top-load model or watch it if it is a front-load model. The drum should move smoothly back and forth. If it does not, you will want to check the belt responsible for it. It is likely that it has become loose somehow and will need to be realigned.

If you want to quickly remove the overproduced suds from your washer to prevent them from caking on the interior, add vinegar and run a short cycle. This will clear up excess soap and clean the interior to boot.