GE Washer Not Dispensing Fabric Softener! (Read This First)

By - Rajib Ahmed

Updated -

Trying to get your GE washing machine to dispense the fabric softener on a washday without results can be frustrating. 

Many things could cause the washer’s fabric dispenser to function incorrectly. 

You’re in the right place if you’re looking for answers to fixing your GE washer fabric dispenser. 

When fabric softeners have the right consistency, they drain from the dispenser without hitches. However, there’s a problem if the softener dispenses after dilution. Sometimes, even after ensuring proper flow through the washer’s dispenser panel, the softener still won’t disperse. When this occurs, there may be a fault in the control or dispenser assembly.

This article explains the causes, fixes, and maintenance of your GE washer and the appropriate way to dispense fabric softeners to avoid faults in the future.

Why is My GE Washer Not Dispensing Fabric Softener?

GE Washer Not Dispensing Fabric Softener

If the softener is hard to dissolve, your GE washer might be unable to dispense it because it won’t properly flow from the dispenser. 

After verifying that you have diluted the fabric softener and properly let it flow via the dispenser drawer, the softener will not exactly spread.

The two possible causes are: 

  • After washing, you may still need to remove the fabric softener from your fabric unit.
  • The washing machine may have stopped the program before getting to the section where the softener was after removing it from the washer’s fabric compartment. 

These two causes can result in a blockage inside the detergent dispenser of your machine, preventing the fabric conditioner from being suitably extracted from the relevant unit.

Clean the washing machine’s soap drawer using a soft rag fabric regularly to stop your detergent from clustering from accumulating. 

Also, inspect fabric softener blockages in your input hose’s filters on your washing machine’s compressor. 

Always remember that if the washer’s water pressure is not enough, the softener may not be able to drain well enough. 

You can remove the residue with stainless steel kitchen tongs or other suitable tools. 

In some instances, the softener blocks this tube itself. So, if you can take out the softener dispenser drawer, you should not be unable to wash the entire machine.

How Do I Fix a GE Washer That isn’t Dispensing Fabric Softener?

After dispensing, there may be a build-up of dried fabric softener in the dispenser compartment of the GE washing machine. 

By cleaning the fabric softener cup, you can make it right. If any residue is visible in the fabric dispenser cup, you can remove it using a small brush and hot water.

Also, the “Quick Rinse Cycle” is another option for the washer. The first three minutes of the cycle should involve water flowing through the cup.

Make sure to reset the washer by performing the following if water does not flow through the cup:

  • First, remove the washer’s plug from the outlet.
  • By rotating the dial and checking for the display to illuminate again, you can make sure the washer is not in SLEEP mode.
  • Reconnect the washer’s plug.
  • Run the Quick Rinse cycle on the washer.

We recommend it for service when the fabric softener still needs to be dispensed. If you need service, arrange with your electrician or the GE appliance service.

How Do You Clean a GE Fabric Softener Dispenser?

It’s effortless to clean the GE fabric softener dispenser. However, maintaining the fabric softener dispenser’s functionality requires regular cleaning. 

If yours doesn’t distribute fabric softener correctly, you can manually clean it with a rag or toothbrush or pour some soapy water through the dispenser. 

The following items are required to clean your dispenser:

Cleaning your fabric softener depends on the dispenser type, either removable or non-removable.

#1. Cleaning Removable Dispensers

First, take the dispenser off the agitator’s top. Then, grip the top and push down with your fingers inside the dispenser cup to separate it from the cover. 

The cover will release, revealing the dispenser cup. Rinse the dispenser’s cup and fill it in the cleaning solution listed below to get the dispenser clean.

  • A cup of bleach
  • 1 gallon of clean, lukewarm water
  • 60 ml liquid dish wash soap.

After soaking, if required, remove any build-up using a soft, clean cloth. Avoid using a stiff brush since you can damage the dispenser’s surface. 

Finally, wash the dispenser and put it back together. Replacing the dispenser on the agitator is necessary.

#2. Cleaning Non-Removable Dispensers

Liquid dish wash and warm water should be combined and placed in a bucket. 

After adding a small cup of regular laundry detergent, fill a large pail container or a bucket with clean, lukewarm water you get from the kitchen faucet. 

After that, the washing machine stock dispenser with cleaning your mix. Then, pour the liquid gradually into the detergent and fabric softener dispensers.

While doing this, avoid pouring any water and soap combinations. 

Then, it would help if you ran the detergent and fabric softener dispenser through the washer while it is placed on “warm rinse.” 

You can perform the same cleaning process even if your washing machine only has a “cold rinse” option instead of a “warm rinse.”

However, add sudsy, soapy hot water to the softener dispenser between every rinse.

Rinsing with hot water enables whatever is creating a clog in the dispenser to be cleaned and broken down by the water and detergent. 

Rinse two times or more with clean, warm soapy water. Then, rinse the area four more times.

Running it multiple times allows the cleaning mixture to remove dirt and grime from your softener dispenser.

Each time, you’ll need to refill the fabric softener dispenser with a fresh bucket of lukewarm water and washing detergent. 

If there is any crud or filth inside the fabric softener dispenser of your washer that the cleaning agent and water solution haven’t removed. 

Reach inside and clean it with a damp rag to remove the remaining dirt.

Also, several cleaning pros advise using a cleaning solution infused with vinegar to wipe off your softener dispenser, so you can use vinegar to remove any remaining fabric softener.

You can use vinegar to get rid of the build-up of liquid soap, as water only clears your dispenser partially.

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You can use vinegar to clean out your fabric softener, soap dispensers, and the internal compartment of your washer and dryer, er from build-ups deposited over time.

Regular cleaning of the fabric softener is critical, especially when combined with baking soda. 

You can prevent the build-up in the following ways:

  • First, according to fabric softener manufacturers, always dilute liquid softeners with clean, warm water.
  • Fill the washer and detergent dispenser with hot water and liquid detergent once a month. Give it two hours to stand before running it through a standard cycle.

If you don’t regularly clean this build-up, it could result in an infestation of musty mold and mildew. 

However, it would help if you had more fabric softener in a top-load washing machine that won’t give your clothing the desired results.

If you rarely use fabric softener while washing your clothing, the dispenser won’t get clogged, and you won’t need to clean it.

Can You Put Fabric Softener Straight Into Your GE Washer? 

Yes, you can directly add fabric softeners to your GE washer. 

To put fabric softener into the washer, follow these simple steps.

  • Find the dispenser for the washer. It is typically at the top of the washer’s central column.
  • Utilizing the fabric softener cap, evaluate the appropriate dosage for your load of laundry and drop it into the dispenser.
  • Let the washing machine run its course. During the spin cycle, the fabric softener will immediately disperse.

Knowing when to apply fabric softener to a washing machine that doesn’t come with a  dispenser can be challenging if your GE model washer doesn’t have one. 

GE washers that come without dispensers come with agitators. 

The table below shows the GE models with agitators and dispensers. 

Agitator Dispenser
GE GTW580BMRWSGE GTW220ACK5WW
Energy StarGE GTW220ACK7WW
GE GTW680BMRWSGE WH43X139
GE GTW331BMRWS

The dispenser will eliminate the softener before it can act if added at the start of the wash cycle.

These models have an agitator cap that can be removed and swapped out for a fabric softener dispenser.

Pour fabric softener in during the rinse cycle to add it to a top-load washer without a dispenser. 

We advise dropping them in the laundry tub water rather than directly onto clothing to prevent stains.

Utilize the fabric softener cap to measure the appropriate quantity based on the size of your washing load.

FAQs

What is the Correct Method to Dilute Fabric Softener?

Using one capful of liquid fabric softener and 32 ounces of water in a small spray bottle is the proper way to dilute fabric softener.

Do Fabric Softeners Clog Pipes?

No, they don’t clog pipes since liquid fabric softeners, which are an efficient way to soften clothes, dissolve in the water for washing.

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