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Post by shanni on Oct 20, 2014 19:42:19 GMT
Did you know you aren't supposed to use color catchers in front loading washing machines? I didn't, and it cost me $250 today! I'm mad at myself. I should say here that you CAN use them, you just have to use them differently. It says on the color catcher box that in order to use it in a front loader you need to put it in a delicate mesh bag. I just never read the back of the box. Turns out they can get down into the drain and break the drain pump. Cha-ching. Thought I would put my stupid mistake out there in case anyone else uses color catchers in front loaders. I just honestly never realized that things (other than tiny things) could get through the drum and down into the drain. Lesson learned.  |
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Post by padresfan619 on Oct 20, 2014 19:43:44 GMT
Ugh! An expensive lesson to learn for sure. I have a front loader and stopped using the color catchers because they always ended up in the rubber seal. I figured that wasn't good for the machine.
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Apr 26, 2024 4:18:14 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Oct 20, 2014 20:50:30 GMT
I've never heard that...one more reason I am glad I got rid of the front loader!!!
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Post by originalvanillabean on Oct 20, 2014 20:52:19 GMT
No idea, but I use them when I wash a quilt. We still have a top loader, and that is just another reason to keep it. Sorry the lesson was so expensive for you OP  Yikes. |
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Deleted
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Apr 26, 2024 4:18:14 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Oct 20, 2014 20:54:33 GMT
Huh. I have used them in almost every load for 5 years and have never had an issue.
Sorry you had trouble!
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Post by LAM88 on Oct 20, 2014 21:04:10 GMT
Huh. I have used them in almost every load for 5 years and have never had an issue. Sorry you had trouble! Me too!!! I use them with just about every color wash I do and it just ends up with the clothes like a wash cloth or any other small article of clothing. It's certainly no smaller than a baby sock. |
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Post by cmpeter on Oct 20, 2014 21:11:05 GMT
I use them frequently. I do check my rubber seal after most loads though. We have some smaller socks get caught there, so it's just a habit of mine.
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Apr 26, 2024 4:18:14 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Oct 20, 2014 21:39:27 GMT
When we took our hose off to clean the filter, we found a sock, a pair of panties and over $3 in change. You would be surprised at what can get in there.
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Post by theroadlesstraveledp on Oct 20, 2014 21:55:45 GMT
Ouch! That is a good FYI.
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Post by mirabelleswalker on Oct 20, 2014 23:45:18 GMT
I have never heard of a color catcher. What is it?
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Post by scrappinjen on Oct 20, 2014 23:50:54 GMT
I had no idea-thanks for sharing! Sorry that you had to learn the hard way. I use them all the time in my front loader-will change that up now
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Post by freecharlie on Oct 20, 2014 23:53:17 GMT
I read it as catheter and wondered why there were colored ones.
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The Birdhouse Lady
Drama Llama
Moose. It's what's for dinner.
Posts: 7,145
Location: Alaska -The Last Frontier
Jun 30, 2014 17:15:19 GMT
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Post by The Birdhouse Lady on Oct 21, 2014 1:58:10 GMT
I have never heard of a color catcher. What is it? I don't know what it is either! Glad I am not the only one!  |
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Post by Kate * on Oct 21, 2014 2:20:57 GMT
I have never heard of a color catcher. What is it? I don't know what it is either! Glad I am not the only one! Never heard of that either. . .
When we took our hose off to clean the filter, we found a sock, a pair of panties and over $3 in change. You would be surprised at what can get in there.
And this. How is this done?
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Mary Kay Lady
Pearl Clutcher
PeaNut 367,913 Refupea number 1,638
Posts: 3,073 
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Post by Mary Kay Lady on Oct 21, 2014 2:28:41 GMT
A color catcher is a product similar in size to a dryer sheet that is placed in the washing machine along with a load of clothes. The color catcher is supposed to "catch" the colors/dye from clothes that might bleed onto other clothing.
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Apr 26, 2024 4:18:14 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Oct 21, 2014 2:32:30 GMT
Our washer wasn't draining, so we googled our brand and model, and it showed how to get the filter out and empty it. It was pretty easy and saved us a repair bill. Once we emptie the filter it worked perfectly again.
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Dani-Mani
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,706
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Post by Dani-Mani on Oct 21, 2014 2:36:21 GMT
Add me to the list who have never heard of color catchers. And never had an issue with colors bleeding unless I accidentally put a dark color in a white.
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Post by BeckyTech on Oct 21, 2014 3:31:06 GMT
I'll be darned. And that's what I love about this place. You learn the most random things here that you didn't even know to ask about.
So do these work if you put something red into a white load? Do you really trust it that much?
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Post by LAM88 on Oct 21, 2014 12:54:54 GMT
I'll be darned. And that's what I love about this place. You learn the most random things here that you didn't even know to ask about. So do these work if you put something red into a white load? Do you really trust it that much? Even better...I accidentally put a white sock in a red load with the color catcher sheet. The sheet came out red and the sock came out white! |
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Post by snugglebutter on Oct 21, 2014 13:59:20 GMT
Interesting. I use them in my front loader sometimes (usually when we have new jeans or other dark stuff) and they are always right there with the clothes. I usually only use half a sheet too.
(money saving tip - you can cut/tear the color catchers in half and they still work just fine!)
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Post by shanni on Oct 21, 2014 14:03:15 GMT
Our washer wasn't draining, so we googled our brand and model, and it showed how to get the filter out and empty it. It was pretty easy and saved us a repair bill. Once we emptie the filter it worked perfectly again. My repairman showed me how to do this. He said that it should be emptied twice per year. There were 2 color catchers in the filter, and we were hoping that was the only problem. Tried to drain it but nope, still not working. He took the pump off and found another color catcher in the pump, and the pump was shot. I felt so stupid. I seriously had no idea that there was a way for things to get down in there. I really thought that the little holes in the basin were the only holes/gaps, and that nothing bigger than those holes could get through. My daughters really like to wear peds with their flats, and those aren't much bigger than color catchers! He recommended that I put anything that size in a mesh bag so they can't work their way through. I have been having my kids all do their own laundry for the last year. They each usually just have enough clothes for one load, so I have them throw everything in with a color catcher. We will have to go back to doing laundry all together after the tips the repairman gave me about extending the life of front loaders. He said that you should never run a very small load because then the barrel gets off balance and it wears out the motor quickly. He also said that mixing loads is a huge no-no with front loaders. Apparently if you throw one towel in with a bunch of lighter weight stuff, that also throws off the balance and wears down the motor. So we will go back to doing laundry the way my mama taught me- no more shortcuts for me! lol |
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SweetieBsMom
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,599
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Post by SweetieBsMom on Oct 21, 2014 14:03:29 GMT
Never knew that. I just used 2 a couple of weeks ago to clean my clothes after the Color Run. Dodged a bullet!
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Post by shanni on Oct 21, 2014 14:05:45 GMT
Interesting. I use them in my front loader sometimes (usually when we have new jeans or other dark stuff) and they are always right there with the clothes. I usually only use half a sheet too. (money saving tip - you can cut/tear the color catchers in half and they still work just fine!) I've never noticed any going missing either. I always thought that they were coming out with the clothes. (They usually do!) But I had at least 3 get through over the course of a year. So frustrating! I may still use them, I'll just make sure to put them in a mesh bag first. |
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Post by BeckyTech on Oct 21, 2014 14:06:19 GMT
Even better...I accidentally put a white sock in a red load with the color catcher sheet. The sheet came out red and the sock came out white! Wow. That sounds like a great thing to use when you have a new item of clothing or towels and you aren't sure what will happen. So can I use one in my new LG top loading HE machine or is that not recommended? Or should I pull out my user manual? |
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Post by shanni on Oct 21, 2014 14:09:02 GMT
Even better...I accidentally put a white sock in a red load with the color catcher sheet. The sheet came out red and the sock came out white! Wow. That sounds like a great thing to use when you have a new item of clothing or towels and you aren't sure what will happen. So can I use one in my new LG top loading HE machine or is that not recommended? Or should I pull out my user manual? They are HE safe. You should be fine with a top loader.  |
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~Susan~
Pearl Clutcher
You need to check your boobs, mine tried to kill me!!!
Posts: 3,258
Jul 6, 2014 17:25:32 GMT
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Post by ~Susan~ on Oct 21, 2014 14:09:42 GMT
I have never used color catchers in my front loader, but seems like a another good reason not to get another one when this one plays out on me.
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Post by maryland on Oct 21, 2014 14:47:48 GMT
I hate our front loader. So maybe I should use a color catcher (what is that?) so I can replace it! Just kidding! Even though I don't like a front loader, I hope it lasts a few more years. We got a front loader because everyone said how wonderful it is! But now it seems that many of our friends who got them don't like them. Big reason is because the clothes smell. That's my big complaint.
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mnscrapper
Junior Member
Posts: 52
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Post by mnscrapper on Oct 21, 2014 16:46:10 GMT
Our washer wasn't draining, so we googled our brand and model, and it showed how to get the filter out and empty it. It was pretty easy and saved us a repair bill. Once we emptie the filter it worked perfectly again. This happened to me just this past week. We also googled how to clean out the filter.....found a pencil, some random miscellaneous and lots of change in the the filter! Unfortunately we also had to replace the drain pump, but speedy Amazon shipping and googling for instructions saved us a lot of money.
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lynr6
One Post Wonder
Posts: 1
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Post by lynr6 on Jan 5, 2022 12:09:46 GMT
Several people have asked what Colour Catchers are. Try asking Google. Very useful for finding any kind of information! 😂
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lesley
Drama Llama
My best friend Turriff, desperately missed.
Posts: 7,166
Location: Scotland, Scotland, Scotland
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Post by lesley on Jan 5, 2022 12:22:55 GMT
What a strange post to resurrect just to give us the Google lecture! Don’t you just love it when people register an account to do that?  |
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Yikes.
