needanap

the water added to the fabric softener chamber causes siphoning that if the fabric softener is too thick may impede on proper dispension. Since you already checked that the dispenser is clean, make sure the dispenser pieces are reinserted properly and add a capful or two of water to dilute the fabric softener. The watered down softener will pass through the dispenser much more easily.

Sounds like something has gummed up the siphon or tube that carries the fs on its way. You didn't say which Miele you have but in my, much older machines, one can take the entire drawer assembly out for cleaning which is what I would recommend at this point.

Once it is clean try using less, no fs, or or even just plain vinegar. I never use fs in my Mieles and only rarely vinegar.

The other possibility is that the water openings above the fs compartment have gotten plugged up with scale. Aside from a little careful toothpick poking at them to dislodge it, the fix is complicated. Check to see that water is being dispensed properly from all the jets above the compartment - a small mirror like the dentist uses is good for this to avoid excess splashing. If you find some are not open, come back and I'll help you troubleshoot further.

HTH,
Molly

If it didn't happen with Downy but is happening with another FS then the problem is most likely something about the formulation in the new FS. I have had this problem and still have it from time to time depending on what FS is being used.

I can use Comfort(Unilever from GB) and not have this problem. If I use Ecover there is a problem. I can use Vernel and no problem. I can use Snuggle(Unilver IN USA) and no problem. I can use Sun and Earth(I think that is the name) and there is a major problem. Sometimes FS contains oil from plant or vegetables and the non "green" friendly ones may contain oils derived from animals or petroleum products. I think Sun and Earth contains corn oil and so I think that sometimes this does not mix well with cold water. When I used S&E I top off the dispenser with HOT water and then mixed it a bit with my finger. This helped.

So I think the issue is not so much the dispenser as it is the formula of the FS.

I have gotten in the habit of mixing the FS with my finger and diluting it a bit with hot water when I put it in regardless of brand.

I also do a routine cleaning of my washer once a month and as part of this I will remove the dispenser and clean it and the dock it slides into.

Thanks, you guys! I will try diluting the FS with warm water in the next wash and see what happens. I feel better already!

Molly, just curious - how much vinegar do you add per load, and does it leave a sour smell on your clothes? (I guess not, or you wouldn't do it!) What does vinegar do for you? Do you use it in cold, hot, or both?

Well, I don't use it consistently. In fact I haven't used it for several months. I find that it aids rinsing of any remaining detergent, and therefore leaves the clothes a little softer, without using any f/s. I hang my clothes to dry so this is probably skewed by the generally less-soft state of my laundry due to drying on a line, not tumbling in a dryer.

I dispense it from a recycled 2L Poland Spring water bottle fitted with a jigger-sized bar whiskey-dispensing thingy, so I'm guessing I'm using a fluid ounce.

No, it does not leave any smell in vinegar, at all. Perhaps because the Mieles rinse so well, however, I also use it in my Askos. (My DH abhores the smell of vinegar, so I'm sure I would have had complaints if it was sense-able at all.)

What I believe is going on when I use it, is that I am slightly acidifying the rinse water to counteract the higher pH (more alkaline) detergent in the wash liquor. One needs a certain higher pH for good cleaning and soil sequestration, so it's intended that detergents do this. But acidifying the rinse water helps return things to normal, which makes fabric feel better, especially for the largely natural fibers (cotton, linen wool and silk) which make up practically all of my wash. I think it would have less of an effect on man made fibers, though I have never noticed any untoward reaction, either. Even if the fabrics weren't improved by the slightly acidic bath, detergent residue would be precipitated and rinsed away by the vinegar.

At the extreme end of things washing soda (and Borax) are highly alkalyzing, and effective, but harsher cleaners. When I do use those, I add a bit more vinegar in the last rinse.

BTW, I find the vinegar doesn't evaporate in the dispenser-covered bottle that I use, but occasionally the cats will knock it over and it spills. You might find one of those water bottles with what I call "adult baby-bottle" caps that kind of pull up to open would be more convenient as they are easy to open and close, and when they are closed, they are spill-proof.

Molly~

Wow, Molly, thanks for the very thorough answer! I'm impressed with how much laundry knowledge you have. You must have a PhD in both chemistry and home economics!

I have learned more than I ever knew there was to know about laundry from reading everyone's posts. Who knew there was so much to it?? Anyway, thanks to all for the education. My laundry is much cleaner since I got my Miele. And the enthusiasm on this site for Mieles (largely from Molly, Jon, and others) had a lot to do with my purchase.

BTW, I did start diluting the fabric softener, and that seems to have done the trick.

Yeah, I know this is an ancient post but it comes up on google. What my problem was with the fabric softener not emptying was that the machine was slightly tilted backwards, I screwed the rear feet out so they were higher and that completely fixed the issue :)