What's your source for adding salt and vinegar? They aren't going to do anything useful.

Whirlpool has produced hundreds of topload washers of various mechanical designs over the course of many years. You didn't provide sufficient info to determine what type is yours.

It could be your washer but more info is needed on the model. And an unfortunate fact is most clothes are now poorly made. You might need to hand wash more items than previously. And I'd definitely avoid putting sweaters and other delicates in the dryer.

I only tumble dry towels, sheets and some clothing. All my sweaters and many of my shirts are air dried. Most have lasted for many years.

This all happens just straight out of the washer alone. I’ve tried air drying and the worn fiber stays worn, like in that photo.

The salt and vinegar was a tip I repeatedly read in how-tos for dealing with faded clothes. Vinegar is a natural fabric softener. With and without though, I get the extreme fading either way. Just trying everything at this point.

I have a whirlpool W10560163 model.

Maybe the inner tub of your washer has a buildup of scuz and old detergent that has optical brighteners? And some of the old detergent is affecting your new washes?

Ditto what Greeny says about the current quality of fabric & clothing.

"...all new clothes..." tells me there might be a recent decline in the fabric quality of the newer garments and not the fault of the washer. Polyester especially is prone to the fuzzies illustrated in your photo. How are your older garments holding up?

I didn’t find anything on that washer model either. I assume this washer is a few years old?

My clothes get fuzzy balls prematurely too. I buy my clothes at a semi-spendy store (I've sent plenty of emails letting them know what I think about the quality for what I pay!). Clothes are washed on gentle, cold water and NEVER put in the dryer. I also don't use fabric softener. I want them to retain their shape as much as possible. So, I think most of it is today's fabric.

ill try to track down the actual model.

as for quality of clothes, this is happening with both poor and good quality cotton. Jeans seem to have held up fine though, as well as athletic fabrics.

The fading/pulling is happening on even expensive organic fabrics (baby clothes), brands like Kate Quinn Organics, Milkbarn, and Hot Water Factory- where footies cost $40

and are fading after one wash!

The original photo is indeed cheap (like Target) but it’s happening as shown above with the expensive stuff too.

Fabric quality definitely seems to be the issue. Start using a specialty detergent like Woolite which contains cellulase to help keep fabrics looking newer longer.

Cellulase is an enzyme which will break down the fuzzies.

whelp I just checked my detergent and mistakenly wrote Cheer in the OP but it’s actually Woolite. So there’s that, and now I’m noticing tears and rips right in the fabric of one the nicer footies after only about 3 washes (milkbarn brand organic cotton).

"tears and rips" in the middle of the fabric and it is not at the seams? (Seams would indicate shoddy construction at the factory) This would be maddening for anyone.

some more thoughts:

- Have you run your hand around the inside of the washer to see if there is anything about the surface that could be snagging and tearing the fabric? Better yet, running a delicate knit fabric like pantyhose or lingerie that snags easily would get caught on and point to any surface inconsistency. Washing action alone cannot be tearing fabric that is not already compromised.

- And like dadoes asked, are all zippers closed and garments turned inside out before putting into the washer? Zipper teeth can really do a number on fabric, especially knits.

- BTW the old vinegar trick is more for "setting" the dyes in natural fibers before using and washing. One time that was the prescribed method. Vinegar setting dyes never helped with my quilting cotton fabrics, either..

- I have never heard of using salt in the wash.

thank you for validating that it’s maddening Cavimum! Yes it’s ripping in random places, not seams. Yes, clothes are all turned inside out, including zippers. I’m close to going out and buying a new washer (this one is only 5 yr old and has had this problem from the beginning. soo many kids clothes have been thrown away rather than handed down because they look so bad).

Here is a dress washed only twice. 97% cotton. 3% spandex. The material is thick and sturdy like khaki pants, but this is the wearing that I’m experiencing, where the fibers are all hanging out like fur... still stumped.

You mentioned you’ve had this problem from the beginning with that washer...BINGO!

Time to get a new washer. Front load washers are inherently much gentler than top loaders. Get one with a built-in heater. Consider the LG 3700 or 3900, or the 4370 if you can find it as it’s rated as being especially gentle.

I agree with littlegreeny - time to cut your losses and get a different washer, and consider a front loading model.

i have a friend with he top load no agitator and her clothes look awful. Ever since she got this machine her clothing looks old and tons of fuzzy’s. I’m betting its the machine. As soon as she went to a front load it no longer happened. If it were me I would get a new washer.

Our new Samsung washer (that I'm in the process of replacing) does this to our clothing. I noticed it right away. It's a top loader with impeller. This did not happen in our old Kenmore (with agitator). We are now getting a front loader.

What about the machines ruins clothing? Is the agitation too rough, shape of the agitator? I can understand tiny snags in the interior for sure.