Detergent in the Fabric Softener Dispenser (room, build, washing, load)

[justNancy]

I am renting a room in a furnished home and, while doing laundry, I accidentally poured some detergent into the fabric softener dispenser. I've never owned a washing machine with a separate dispenser. (plus I don't use fabric softener!)

I noticed chunks of blue stuff around the tub when the load finished, so I cleaned it off and ran my clothes through another rinse. The clothes were fine, but there was still some blue residue, so I took off the dispenser and soaked it in hot water. I didn't want to risk removing any other parts, so I used Q-tips to unclog the holes. There is still a tiny amount of blue gunk in it, but it could have already been there. Anyway, after running 2 more rinses, I stopped seeing the chunks of blue around the tub. I was thinking of running an entire wash/rinse cycle tomorrow - I have to find some more dirty clothes - to make sure everything is working properly.

I know what I did wasn't too bright, but this mistake can't be too unusual. Can this cause any damage to the machine?

[SATX56]

Originally Posted by justNancy

I am renting a room in a furnished home and, while doing laundry, I accidentally poured some detergent into the fabric softener dispenser. I've never owned a washing machine with a separate dispenser. (plus I don't use fabric softener!)

I noticed chunks of blue stuff around the tub when the load finished, so I cleaned it off and ran my clothes through another rinse. The clothes were fine, but there was still some blue residue, so I took off the dispenser and soaked it in hot water. I didn't want to risk removing any other parts, so I used Q-tips to unclog the holes. There is still a tiny amount of blue gunk in it, but it could have already been there. Anyway, after running 2 more rinses, I stopped seeing the chunks of blue around the tub. I was thinking of running an entire wash/rinse cycle tomorrow - I have to find some more dirty clothes - to make sure everything is working properly.

I know what I did wasn't too bright, but this mistake can't be too unusual. Can this cause any damage to the machine?

You're good!! You could have run a load of whites through and poured bleach in the fab softener dispenser. You might run a quick wash cycle to be sure and get all the bleach out . It all goes in the tub it's just timed in the fab dispenser. No worries!

[justNancy]

Thanks for your reply. Maybe there was already some build-up in the dispenser, since it came out in chunks, although the owner is a clean freak. I ran a small load today and everything was fine.

Believe it or not, I actually don't have any whites (just a few socks)