Allison, We are sorry to hear about your concerns in regards to your Washer. We would recommend balling up the clothing similar to the size of a soccer ball, and place around the agitator one at a time. We would also recommend stacking it up so it's around the sides and the agitator plate is visible with all of the clothing around it. Do not fill up past the 2nd to last row of holes in the basket to help overloading. The bulky cycle will allow more water to enter the tub, but will not spin on the highest spin setting. Since the washer uses less water than a traditional washer it makes it harder for it to remove excess detergent, and it can redeposit on the clothing. Use no more than 2 tablespoons per load, filling all the way to the top row or holes. Make sure the water heater is at 120°F, the best temperature to mix with cold water in. A lower temperature may not make the water hot enough, and the detergent will not dissolve properly. If you need any further assistance after trying these troubleshooting tips, please email us your address, phone number, the model and serial number, the website you were contacted on, Fixya, your review ID, and date of purchase to
[email protected].