Fabric Softener & bleach dispensing

Check water flow INTO the dispenser. This happens during the
cycle to dispense the bleach evenly through the load.

the soap dish area inside needs a good clean

Hello - There are several things that could cause the fabric softener to not dispense into the washer. Are you sure the liquid in the dispenser after the wash is fabric softener? If it is fabric softener, 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 fabric softener dispenser with water. The fabric softener dispenser fills while the washer is filling for the rinse cycle.

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

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

If the liquid in the fabric softener dispenser is water you probably need to clean the dispenser cup. **** will build up in the siphon tube and stop the liquid from going into the washer tub. The incoming water will dilute the softener and overflow the dispenser cup and run into the tub. The instructions for cleaning the dispenser should be located on page 43 of the use and care guide that came with the washer.

If you don't have the use and care guide these instructions will help. Open the dispenser until it stops. In the left rear corner of the dispenser, there is a release that is labeled push. Press down on the push area and you can slide the dispenser drawer out.

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 fabric softener compartment. When the water level goes above the maximum line stop pouring. The water should all drain out.

Hope this information proves to be helpful however if it is ineffective please contact a professional to move forward accurately.

I had the exact same problem. The problem is that your fabric softener dispenser is clogged up with a lot of dried, sticky fabric softener. The flooding comes from the part of the cycle when water that is to be flushed through the fabric softener dispenser can't drain properly so it spills into the bleach dispenser and onto the top and into the lid gasket as well.

To remove the dispenser for cleaning, you need to open the top of the washer. (First pull it away from the wall.) Carefully pry off the little emblem in the front center of the washer lid. Then remove the screw. Then slide the top forward to you about a 1/2 inch and prop it up carefully.

You then need to remove both hoses that are attached to the bleach and fabric softener dispenser (part of the same unit). Then unsnap the combined unit from the washer top. Then clean all the gunk out by running it under scalding hot water in the laundry tub and swirling the gunk out. Don't attampt to remove the blue round fabric dispenser part from the unit.

Put it all back together and you're good until you clog it up again with too much fabric softener; maybe several years again.

Good luck.

JRR

I'll see if I can help. Can you just clarify if by won't drain. Does it look like no water flow is flushing the the Bleach and Fabric Softener dispensers?

The Fabric Softener dispenser could be clogged but I suspect the dispenser’s valves are not opening to flush the dispenser’s. If the Fabric Softener dispenser is clogged you can flush with White Vinegar solution and clean exit port with a pipe cleaner. I do not suspect a clog with the Bleach dispenser.

You could go into Service Mode and turn on the water valves for the dispensers to check if water is sent to the dispensers.

If you have no water flow to the Softener dispenser here is the non technical troubleshooting I would take. Go into Service Mode (page 14 of the Service manual) by Pressing Enviro Plus and Spin Only keys (simultaneously) for three seconds or until the console beeps.

Now go to page 16 to Service Manual and enter Board Output Test by pressing the Delicates key. This will lock the lid. Now press the Wrinkle Control Key Pad on the console. The Control Board will send 120VAC to the bleach dispenser water valve. Did you hear the Solenoid hum? If so and you have no water flow diverted to the Softener dispenser the solenoid valve may be stuck closed. If you did not hear the solenoid valve hum the solenoid field coil may be open. Do the same process for the Bleach dispenser water valve with Bulky Items Key Pad.

Final technical troubleshooting as a technical owner of the machine would be to take my DVM and verify 120VAC from the Control Board to the Bleach/Fabric Softener dispenser valves.

See page 36 lower left hand corner is the Bleach/Softener dispenser valve.

Here is the Service Manual for reference. Sears Parts Direct for reference.

The Part Number for the Dispenser Valve is 25001043 you can order from this site or search the internet for best price.

Good luck…….Rich

Purchase some fabric softener and place it in its normal location at the beginning of the cycle. At the end of the cycle check to see if fabric softener has been dispensed and whether there is water in the cup.

If the fabric softener is gone, but there is water in the fabric softener cup, then your problem may be with the water valve assembly. The water valve assembly (as one complete unit) has a separate solenoid for hot and cold water temperatures, bleach and fabric softener. The fabric softener solenoid on the water valve assembly could be defective (allowing water to fill the fabric softener cup).

Contact an appliance service company.

Fabric softener is to slow mix with rinse water in the rinse cycle... check the cold water supply line for a clogged screen or a clogged dispenser box cover... hope it helps

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 fabric softener dispenser is notorious for clogging. Liquid fabric softener is essentially a liquid form of wax. After a period of time it begins to gunk up the inside of the fabric softener dispenser. If you remove the dispenser drawer and look into the cavity, there should be a series of holes in the upper part of the compartment where water sprays into all the dispenser trays. These holes get gunked up and clogged and water will not dispense properly. As a result, the washer goes through a complete cycle, but the dispenser stays full. If this is the case, you can take some cotton swabs and/or toothpicks and clean these holes real good. It may be a bit meticulous, but it should take care of the problem. Post back and let me know if this helps.

I'm sure you heard a small motor running from time to time during a cycle. That moves an "arm" which sends water to the different chambers during a cycle. Fabric softener is dispensed when water goes to that chamber and dilutes the fabric softener. That chamber then empties by a siphoning action.
If you want to narrow down the problem a little to help trouble shoot -- put some wet rags in and run the Rinse and Spin cycle with some fabric softener. If the softener is not dispensed, then you know that the water isn't being sent to that chamber properly.
If you are intrepid enough to take the top off your washer, do that and see if the arm appears to be moving during a normal cycle. Maybe the arm got dislodged or broken during the move.
If water isn't being diverted properly, I think this calls for a real repair person.