Adding bleach to front load washing machine

I hope this is helpful

Hello Denise C - There are several things that could cause the bleach to not dispense into the washer. Are you sure the liquid in the dispenser after the wash is bleach? If it is pure bleach, the solenoid that lets the water into the dispenser is not working. This solenoid is located on the back of the dispenser. It only gets voltage during the dispense time and fills the bleach dispenser with water. The bleach dispenser fills while the washer is filling for the rinse cycle.



When the washer begins to fill for the rinse cycle, the bleach solenoid is energized and water flows into the bleach dispenser cup. When the cup is full the water siphons out and bleach and water flow into the tub.



If the liquid in the bleach dispenser is pure bleach you may need a technician to diagnose and repair the problem. The voltage will have to be tested to the bleach solenoid and a volt meter is required.



If the liquid in the bleach dispenser is water you probably need to clean the dispenser cup. Scum will build up in the siphon tube and stop the liquid from going into the washer tub. The incoming water will dilute the bleach and overflow the dispenser cup and run into the tub.



Remove the insert from the bleach and fabric softener compartments. Clean the bottom of the insert and the bleach and fabric softener compartments. Reinstall the insert and put the drawer back inside the washer.



To test the siphon action slowly pour water into the bleach compartment. When the water level goes above the maximum line stop pouring. The water should all drain out. You may also test the fabric softener compartment the same way.



I do hope this information proves to be helpful.

It should be okay to use dry bleach, if you follow the instructions on the bleach. Some bleaches require dissolving in water first, others can be used dry.

bad check valve!!! :)

According to the manual on pages 12 & 13.

1. Place a load of sorted clothes into the washer. See “Laundry
Tips.”
■ Load evenly to maintain washer balance. Mix large and
small items. Items should move easily through the wash
water.
■ Load only to the top of the basket as shown. Overloading
can cause poor cleaning. Items need to move easily
through the wash water.
2. Pour measured powdered or liquid High Efficiency detergent
into the detergent dispenser. Always use the detergent
dispenser, and do not put detergent directly onto clothes in
the washer.
3. Add color-safe bleach (powdered or liquid) to this dispenser,
if needed. Be sure to match powdered color-safe bleach with
powdered detergent or match liquid color-safe bleach with
liquid detergent.
4. Pour measured liquid chlorine bleach into the liquid chlorine
bleach dispenser, if needed. Bleach is diluted and
automatically dispensed at the proper time during the wash
cycle.
■ Do not overfill. Do not dilute. Do not use more than 1 cup
(250 mL) for a full load. Use less with a smaller load size.
■ Follow the garment and the chlorine bleach
manufacturer’s directions for proper use.
■ To avoid spilling, use a cup with a pouring spout. Do not
let bleach splash, drip, or run down into the washer basket.
■ At the end of the cycle, a small amount of water may be
left in the dispenser. This is normal.
NOTE: Use only liquid chlorine bleach in this dispenser.

5. Pour measured liquid fabric softener into the fabric softener
dispenser, if desired.
■ Do not overfill. The dispenser holds 3 oz (94 mL), or a
capful of fabric softener.
■ The fabric softener is dispensed in the final rinse. If Extra
Rinse is selected, the fabric softener will be dispensed
during the Extra Rinse.
■ Do not spill or drip any fabric softener onto the clothes.
■ At the end of the cycle, a small amount of water may be
left in the dispenser. This is normal.
NOTE: Use only liquid fabric softener in this dispenser.
6. Close the washer lid.
7. Press POWER. This turns on the washer display.
8. Select a Wash Cycle. See “Cycles.”
9. Select the desired Modifiers. See “Modifiers.”
10. Select an Option, if desired. See “Options.”
11. Select Delay Wash, if desired. See “Delay Wash” in the
“Modifiers” section.
12. Press START. The wash cycle begins, and the display shows
the estimated remaining time. The lid will lock.
NOTE: If you do not press Start within 5 minutes of pressing
Power, the washer automatically shuts off.


The way that I read the manual, your color safe bleach would go in the detergent dispenser. Your liquid chlorine bleach would go in the bleach dispenser.

Please rate this solution

The control board program has many sensors built into the unit to determine when to dispense the bleach and the softener.  LG tech documents doesn't list when these liquids are dispensed so there must be a program that matches the current operation and loads of each wash program.  That's the best answer I can give you at this time.

Washer Monthly Maintenance Procedure:
This cycle uses higher water volumes in combination with liquid chlorine bleach to thoroughly clean the inside of your washing machine.

1. remove any clothing or items from washer
2. CLOSE door (duh)
3. open dispenser drawer and remove the detergent compartment and set aside. No laundry products will be added at this time. You will be required to add only liquid chlorine bleach at a later step.
4. For Kenmore Elite HE products press a specific combo of buttons.

• Select Rinse/Spin program
• select low spin speed
  
• select warm/cold water temp.
• select 2nd rinse option
• push the "end of cycle" signal button 4 times within 5 seconds to start the cycle

The machine will fill and run a short sensing cycle. This will take about 3 minutes.

Step 5

1. The washer will provide 4 short tones. Check the: ESTIMATED TIME REMAINING display for the codes indicated below:

• if "Ab" (add bleach) displayed in the estimated time remaining window (you'll hear 4 short tones) proceed to Step 6.

• if "rL" (remove load) displayed in the Estimated Time Remaining window an error tone will sound. The door will unlock.
  -open the door and remove the items from the washer.
  -continue the cycle by pressing the START button.
  
  NOTE: The water in the unit will dispense for a moment, then the door will unlock, lock again, and then the cycle will continue with another check for items in the washer.
  
  The machine will fill and run a short cycle to determine whether any items have been left in the washer. This will take approx 3 minutes.
  
  the washer will repeat Step 5 until it can determine that there are NO items n the washer and will display "Ab" (add bleach).

6. Add liquid chlorine bleach.

• If using the maintenance procedure for the first time, open the dispenser drawer and immediately add 1 cup liquid chlorine bleach to the Main Wash detergent compartment. The liquid bleach should immediately flow out of the dispenser.
  
• If doing a monthly maintenance procedure, open the dispenser drawer and immediately add 1/3 cup bleach to the Main Wash detergent compartment. The liquid chlorine bleach should immediately flow out of the dispenser.
  
  NOTES:
• Water will be flowing into the dispenser drawer when the bleach is added ... this is normal.
• Do not add any detergent to this cleaning cycle. Use of more than 1 cup of bleachw ill cause product damage over time.

7. Once the cleaning cycle has begun, allow the cycle to complete. An est cycle time will appear on the display.

8. After the cleaning cycle is complete, leave the door open, clightly to allow for better ventilation and drying of washer interior.

9. Replace the detergent compartment divider.

This may not be relevant, but by design, bleach does NOT dispense in the Buly/Bedding, Kids Wear, and Silk/Ultra Delicate cycles. If you try to use it, it remains in the dispenser.

As for the yucky smell, leave the door open when not in use.

I have the same problem and here is the reason and the solution. When you add bleach it sits in the dispenser until the rinse cycle. During the rinse cycle the machine pours a lot of water through the dispenser. The bleach is diluted and washed out with all this water into the tumbler and you clothes are rinsed with bleach. Sometimes when this rinse happens, the water does not completely drain from the bleach dispense. It sits in there. If this happens, the next time you add bleach, there is too much liquid in the dispenser and it leaks out onto your clothes.
Solution: Before you add bleach, take the whole dispenser out and see if there is a lot of water still standing in the bleach dispenser section. If there is a lot of water, spill it out into a sink. Then fill the dispenser with your bleach and it will all work out the way it should. I was having your same problem until I discovered this. I have never had the problem since.
Let's give a toast to Bright Whites!!

As far as I am aware, there IS NO dispenser for bleach, you have to put bleach in drum before adding clothes and starting cycle. The far right compartment is only for "pre-wash" cycles, and if no pre-wash is selected, water will run through ALL compartments at the rinse stage..... Oshie