How To Clean Kenmore Washer Series 600

Linda on Feb 21, 2017

Don't worry, the machine is washing your clothes. The HE washers do not have the old agitator in the center, and it will first rinse your clothes several times, then wash. The agitation on the HE machines is performed by the barrel by agitating the clothes back and for, shaking them loose. Of course, you will have to watch the entire washing cycle to see it. At the end, it rinses again several times and clothes end up in bundle around the tub as in the beginning. I have had several of these machines, they save water and they do clean. The HE dryers really save on electricity or gas. Check your bills! Happy washing!!

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I appreciate your input. Thank you. I notice a lot of lint build up on my clothes,and if all the clothes end up inside a sheet bundle ,I don't understand the concept. I am washing everything on white or bulky hoping there is enough water to move things around. I also feel like my tshirts are getting stretched and pulled by less water,I have to untangle them. What do you think?
I never put anything else in the washer with sheets, and Queen or King sized sheets, including the pillow cases. I do one sheet at a time so they don't roll up together. I put the cases in with whites or colors, whatever their colors are. Don't over load your washer either, that goes for HE or agitator type machines. The clothes need room to get clean.
We have a g.e. that does the same thing. Stand there with the hose to fill it up to where it belongs. The new ones are All crap, due to gov't regs. you are not getting enough water. You have to baby sit it and fill it the rest of the way up. We got one, you want it? Tired of screwing with it. It is one year old. Hate it, using the other older washer.
We bought one less than a year ago and we have not had clean clothes since. If I put the powder, liquid, or pod in, they leave the clothes with residue. I have tried washing a very small amount of clothes, I have tried diluting my washing powder, I have washed them on the deep clean, I have made sure the washing powder is HE as the washer said to use, and still my clothes are dirty. I washed a pair of jeans that had a little dirt on the bottom, with a heavy pullover. The pullover, which was new is ruined, the dirt from the bottom of the jeans, which did not look like much when I put it in, ended up staining the pullover. Washing powder is dried on everything. The cloths stink and feel dirty when they are through washing, I have to wash them 3 or 4 times and they still do not come clean. This was a waste of my money and I will be looking for a good used old washer with an agitator, since they say I cannot buy a new one with an agitator. It is a Kenmore from Sears. I will never buy another product from them. They do not stand behind their products.
Well my HE Kenmore washer is eating my clothing. Rubbing it so hard against each other they are all faded. This is NOT ENOUGH WATER to wash or rinse clothes. I end up with lines of lint on my clothes. I did not buy this washer it is supplied by the apt complex. I have an older model Kenmore in storage. I want my old Kenmore back. This washer faded all my tops within the first week of use. I only use cold water.
I had the same problem with dark clothes. The dirt is trapped in the folds. When i pull them out to put in the dryer, there are dirt streaks throughout. If engineers are so concerned about reducing water usage, WHY did they get rid of the water saver feature that allowed you to reuse wash water from white load for s second washing.

I had an HE, I got rid of it! Our clothes were way too dirty for the amount of water it used to clean them. I would have to wash my husbands clothes 3 or 4 times to get the grease and dirt out of them. I went back to a washer with an agitator and that adds enough water to clean them.

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Thanks for validating....I also don't feel they are getting as clean as in agitator washers. When I can pick lint pieces off them,there's something wrong.
Wyndi on Jul 08, 2019

I am a teacher, so 99% of my day is inside. I began noticing some lightweight knit shirts looked dingy so I rinsed 1 in the sink, I could not believe the nasty brown/gray that was in that shirt. So I tossed several of my "clean" washed school items in the bathtub and again horrible nasty water. My husband works outside and it sometime takes 3-4 washes to get his jeans to appear washed. My HE machine is a top load Kenmore and I absolutely hate it!
I agree. I should have never gotten rid of my 30-year old washer with center agitator! So dissatisfied with this one!

Sounds like you are overloading the machine.Leave room for them to swish around.Crowded will roll up.

I am not overloading mine and they are still not clean and always have residue on them and dry spots and dirt.

Jane on Feb 23, 2017

I agree, I don't think they get clean enough. There is not enough water, I feel like filling up a bucket and pouring in more water!

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I always add extra water. Also if you open the lid afew times while its sensing, it automatically adds more water. My machine has a deep wash option. I use that mostly I thrn open and close lid several times while in the sensing mode. It's not as much as the old style but it is decent
Me too Mermaid1945!!! I am not happy with mine even tho it does have an agitator!

Its a short agitator!!!! I guess I'll learn to deal with it!!!😒😒😒
that is what we do. Use the hose from the laundry tub and fill with about another 6 gallons of water.
Great tip, but how does this save water? I thought the entire purpose of these machines was to be "high efficiency" - to me in drought riden So. CA this doesn't seem economical. Not knocking your suggestion in any way, just puzzled? I also live in a "mid-80's tract box" house, they did not see fit to put in laundry tubs and faucets. So sad I did not take the one from my mom's house and upgrade my laundry area.
I have started putting about 3 buckets of water in the machine for the wash. I also have tried putting weights in the tub on top of the clothes since the sensor decides by weight and bulk (although I do not see how a washer senses bulk) as to how much water to put in the tub. I have used the weights I use to exercise with. This is a lot of time spent on trying to get clean fresh clothes. How much you want to bet a man invented this failure.
Of course it was designed by a man... who never washed a load of clothes!
It must have been a man or perhaps a woman who doesn't wash laundry belonging to a man or kids. Either way they must not understand what it's like to wash laundry for a regular family.

I love my HE washer. It saves sooo much water and my clothes always get clean. And we live on a farm. Love it!

Lisa on Feb 23, 2017

I have a HE and love it! Mine has a setting for deeper water that I use with my whites or when I need to soak something.

Mine has that too but it does not always fill up.

I also love my HE washer. It saves tons of water and electricity and is so much easier on the clothes...less lint, fading and wear. I found that I had great results using the cold water setting, as the machine sensed the soil level and added detergent as needed and washed until everything was very clean. Be sure to use the recommended amount of a good quality detergent and don't use packets. Liquid is best and I have very hard water, so I use a couple of tablespoons of Raindrops Water Softening powder directly to the tub before loading clothes. Follow the manual recommendations to the tee and forget about what you thought you knew about doing laundry in a top loader. They are a different breed of machine but do a great job if you don't overdo the loading and adding detergent.

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This is a crap machine. My electric is up by $25.00 per month since moving to this complex. The loads I put in are small. The biggest is a set of sheets. I only use cold water. I use liquid detergent. and liquid softener.nothing else. Just a one person household how can bills go up that much? the Apt complex pays the water which is why they are forcing tenants to use these crap washers. I want my old Kenmore washer out of storage. I am speaking with the complex this week and considering seeing my attorney to get this changed.

After buying two HE in less than 14 years and needing a new washer, I Discovered SPEED QUEEN, they build washer the old fashioned way, agitator, stainless steel tub and NO computer boards. Also you can go on Youtube and see how to adjust your water level to fill the tub. I finally have clean clothes again and it takes half the time to do it. I have had it about a year and have no complaints!

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Thanks..sounds really good. We Should be able to wash more than one sheet at a time,shouldn't we? Not reasonable to not be able. .i will have to wait,but in the meantime I use the white or bulky setting and hope there is enough water to cover and move the clothes.
Thanks for the tip! I might be needing a new washer soon and was dreading the research involved . . . You made my day! Thanks! ☺
@naomimoore....I appreciate Lagrees info....yes I will be replacing this one too when the priority list gets down there. I do not overload the tub..it is bigger than my top loader that I had in the other house. It is pulling my clothes way too much especially when they get tangled. It is a top loader..and big tub...it should wash as much as I did before. And cleaner...and without leaving lint blobs,or stretching and tangling my clothes. So using the white or bulky setting aren't I using as much water as before? And they still come out as described above!
I agree will never get one like this again. I have to double rinse

I sympathishe with you. I bought an LG front load H.E. washing machine and it's terrible. We're just about to junk it. I never got 100% clean load.

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I understand.....my feeling exactly. I have found that the other appliances they installed are low end..the refrigerator and dishwasher...so cheaply made,I have to be real careful with them.
Bernice, if you're ever thinking of replacing those items I'd like to let you know that the Bosch dishwasher, not cheap, is completely useless. Also the LG French door refrigerator does not hold up well at all. Considering the price the quality is outrageous. I'm going back to the old tried and true simple appliances whenever I have to replace. I'll never buy any LG appliances again. Good luck with yours!
I have an inherited French Door LG fridge that runs like a charm. Absolutely nothing has ever gone wrong with it.

Now my friend bought a Bosch dishwasher because she is entitled to THE BEST and had nothing but trouble with it. I needed a new dishwasher at the same time and got a good old Kenmore and it still works perfectly.
Peggy on Feb 28, 2017

I admit, I have had 3 Bosch dishwashers and, I agree. They definitely don't clean that well. Won't be Bosch next time.
Thank you for the heads up.

my opinion on the dw..refrigerator and stove is how lightweight the doors are, the stovetop rattles and flexes,the dishwasher top pullout...I know it S going to break with one strong pull. 😖Grrrrr. But I am grateful to have them at present,we've got a long way to go in updating this small house. Not that I am into keeping up with the joneses, I just want things to work,and function and look good,and be a workable space.

It seems that people either love or hate the HE washers. My friends who all bought them hated them and have dumped them or are planning to. My girlfriend and her hubby had a high end expensive one. Two adults, 2 dogs. She did 3 times the laundry that I did (just me, 3 dogs, 6 cats, bird and dragon), and we live in So. Ca in a drought. Plus you need to use a special laundry detergent AND buy more products to keep clean. No thanks, not for me. So explain to us how this "saves water, gas and electricity?" It didn't, so they eventually ditched it for an old fashioned top loader. My thoughts - if it works for you, wonderful, if it doesn't, it was an expensive lesson, but at least you tried to do something good. The idea for these machines is great, just looks like it is not perfected yet.

How long have these been on the market? Seems like several years to me,because I remember the controversy about the smell..and having to leave the door open? And buying washing machine CLEANER for these new ones? Give me a break! SO I really appreciate Lagrees info on speed queen. Or I would just buy a used older one and maintain it. 🙃

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They have been on the market for years. I had a friend who bought one and had terrible time with smell. She put way too much soap in it and always shut the door. The repair guy told her that she should only use about two tablespoons of HE soap in it. He also told her not to shut the door but leave it open and try to remember to dry the inside rubber seal. When I bought my Samsung I did all these things and have NEVER had a problem with smell (had it for six years). As for the laundry soap it is as cheap as anything else on the market now and all of the major brands stock them. I love my HE. I find the clothes get just as clean, I have saved on water and electricity both with the washer and the dryer if I use it it. Lots of times (in the winter) the clothes are just damp so I hang them on hangers rather than use the dryer. I never use dryer sheets etc. I just use plain vinegar as a softener. Especially good for getting soap out of towels.
Hi Bernice, what type of vinegar do you use?

Thanks

i also have a kenmore, my question is ...is there a way you can stop the locking lid?i have tried to stop the washer if i forget to put something in,when i do it starts the cycle all over including draining and i have to add detergent all over again..they said it a safety feature! I not going to wash my clothes while wearing them! This is very annoying.

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Don't you have a pause button on yours? I am assuming this is a front loader? My Samsung does so it just stops I throw in the extra stuff and then close the door again and hit pause and it just starts up where it left off.
Yep a pause button...at least I found THAT,
Mine is a top loader...oh and I have to use a stool to get stuff out of the bottom of the tub..and I am a decent 5'4"......
yes it has a pause button,top loader...when you start the machine i have no way of opening the lid during wash cycle at anygiven time.I can hit the pause button,but it will not resume the cycle.it stop ,drains.spins therefore i have to start all over.I was trying to see if anyone has mastered getting rid of the locking system...I've tried every option..but thanks for your reply,If you have any ideas just let me know....Fran
unscred the lid strike and leave it in the lid lock latch now you can open as you please
I hate the locking lid too. I can understand about it being for the safety of children but it is just me, no kids.

I also have a Kenmore like yours, and while I do feel it is getting things clean, I find the "sheet wrapped around everything" feature very annoying! I presume it's just the natural result of they way things are agitated or stirred or whatever they do in there, but it makes an unholy mess to detangle at the end of the cycle. I do my sheets one by one now to prevent the bundling.

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I totally agree,what a detangling mess! Which is what I mentioned about my tshirts,sheets or no they get pulled and stretched. Thank you for validating! 😁
See and that kind of defeats the purpose of water saving when you have to watch everything individually.

mine is also a top loader,I too am short on the height.I am checking to see if anyone knowes how to stop the locking system on the lid.It has a pause button,but if you use it it starts the cycle all over.I have never seen the suds level,how it works during cycle.I like to see the inside whats happening.I haave never seen the water level.If you have any suggestions,pass them on to me...Thank You....Fran

hmmm When i pause and open i see where the water level is, usually it is not higher than the clothes sitting in it. hubs took our clothes to the laundro- mat today, company sheets..the owner was there helping nathan and said yes, these machines are so full of problems, he recommended an agitator style from Speed Queen, as did the poster above! So we are going t check into it. I am not aware of the cycle starting over again. Mine is a Kenmore..the lights dont change, indicating the cycle it is on--- is still on . But i wash everything on the whites and bulky; according to the PICTURE..it has the highest water level. but who knows really.

I have an older maytag he...I love it. I make my own laundry soap for pennies and I do use a second rinse for my whites. If your items are tangling...you are overloading your machine. Sometimes if I wash something other than a set of queen sized sheets..they become a bit tangled. I am very careful NOT to overload because clothes don't get clean and they get tangled. Another thing, the weight of the items you are washing contribute to tangling if there are heavy items like slacks in with lightweight shirts...try washing all pants together, light weight items together and heavy towels together...that way you can wash more like items than a mixed load. We have a well and the savings with the water are worth it.

I had same problem. Just call them and tell them to come get it. Thats what I did.

Ha! Well,they came with the house..but down the road..we will Sell and buy old. We had company recently which meant a lot of sheets for 4 beds...hubs took laundry to laundromat...we would have been doing laundry for hours and hours!

Actually I have to correct my comment on the washing machine, the washing machine is not L.G. Its a Samsung. Sorry!

However, I won't be buying either L.G. or Samsung anything again.

I have a Kenmore elite frontloading washer and dryer. Clothes are very clean, not tangled and I wipe out the rubber gasket when I am done with my laundry. Have not had any problem with smells. I have had it for a year and a half.

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tThat's good to hear, maybe they have improved on the front loaders. did you have to buy washer cleaner???

Rae on Mar 05, 2017

Oh I feel your pain Bernice! I remember screaming at my husband it is going to ruin all my clothes when I first saw the water level. One thing on my machine I might mention is to load everything around the outside of the agitator( agitator my hiney) and it does seem to help. I am going to hang in there with my HE machine until it dies but you can bet it will be my first and last. Btw mine is a top loader. Wouldn't have a front loader when you think of all that weight hanging on a couple bearings no wonder they don't last as long. Now you just watch my washer will probably outlast me since I talked bad about it!

Yup...Murphy's law...well,be sure to give it a run for its money.!😏

I have had Whirlpool HE Washers for years and have had no trouble with the top loaders. Everyone washes their own clothes in our house. Hubby has soap allergies and doesn't use same soap, son has too much dog hair on his, so all is done separately. I have not had any trouble with not getting clothes clean. Just replaced both washer and dryer about a year ago when dryer started making noises and not drying the way it should. My first matching set in over 30 years. Have no complaints with Whirlpool washer, have been using the brand since HE came out years ago, just won't use frontload. And yes it is the one you can run by your phone, but I still haven't use that function on washer and dryer.

I have a two-year-old Samsung Toploader. I hate everything about it. I've started adding distilled white vinegar to every load, even a small load tangles up in a ball, I'd give anything to have my cheap Roper agitator back.

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I totally understand. The reason we could do something about this newer kenmore pain in the ask...is because it came with the house. Hubs also does laundry...and one day at the laundromat....yes...a big load...the man who owns the mat told him about a hardware store that sells Speed Queen,and they are the best evidently. Anyway...he went over to the hardware store and bought his sweetie...ME ..a new washer! If you can love a washer...that's us. Agitation,water enough for clothes to move around..NICE,!! we sold the newer kenmore for 200 dollars! They are a dime a dozen on craigs List here. However we have to be careful 😳to not be so critical about the he washers,because many of our friends have them! And that's fine! I was ready to look for an older washer..but the SQ is new. I am much happier. I still have to do laundry in the garage,but I can deal with that. 😜So if you can find an older washer you might be happier,or bite the bullet and get a SQ before EPA makes them change too.
I thought of doing that but I've only been in this condo for two years and I was thinking of selling, so I would just leave the set with the place. I don't know why everyone thinks new and improved is better. When I bought the set they said they were phasing out the agitator type and I wouldn't be able to get parts, although at my age it would probably outlast me. I will definitely check out the speed queen and tell my friends about it too because so many people are unhappy with the new ones. I suppose it's OK for the younger generation since they probably never did laundry and like all the little bells & whistles and pretty lights. But I'm 70 and I know the difference. Thx for your reply. 😇
Isn't that the truth? Yes ..70 and over we know a thing or two! 🌷

I use the second rinse cycle on my older front loader. When it dies I will get another, the technology has improved so much, I will never go back to a toploader.

My LG HE, is computerized and I can download different wash settings. I don't know about yours.

Dian on May 11, 2017

When I redesigned our 1st floor bathroom, I needed to fit in a stacking

2 piece

washer & dryer. It's a Frigidaire brand, demo floor model, so we got it for about $400 off the regular price. Previously I had only had top loader washers. I honestly expected to hate it Boy, was I wrong! I fit more clothes per washer load without crowding. It uses about half of the water as the top loaders - GREAT for my 16 foot deep well! Everything I wash comes out perfect, with less detergent, less bleach, less water, less time & less noise. No more going up & down the cellar stairs 3 times for each laundry load. I leave the door open for 24 hrs to let it dry, & have never had any bad smell. The separate dryer it attached to the top of the washer. No more bending over to remove & fold dry laundry. I am extremely happy with my Frigidaire pair, after almost 10 years!

I believe in real washing., with water and detergent and if you don't use enough water the detergent is going to iritate my skin. I may be old fashioned , but water is the only way to wash. We could go back to the wringer type washers to save water. You start with the whites and then the colors in the same water. You rinse in a couple of tub of water. You only use the one washer load and the 2 rinses and your laundry is done and clean. Of course that means you have to tend to it and not go watch TV or whatever.

Kim on Aug 08, 2017

I love love my Whirlpool duet! I have 5 REAL boys and their clothes are always clean. We have a lawn business and they get really dirty.

I just leave the door cracked to keep it fresh inside.

I hated that Kenmore washer. $400 and my clothes were never clean. After 6 months I put it at the curb with a 'free to a good home' sign. My husband had a fit. I bought a machine (not Kenmore) with adjustable water level and an agitator. Ta da! Clean stuff without all the lint.

Yup me too! Speed queen-agitator...water level...we think alike! 😳🤗

Pat on Jul 08, 2019

Like Kim said..I love my whirlpool front loader also C!othes always get clean.

The problem which you are facing on your washing machine, similar issue also is happening on my washing machine as well. I have to call the washing machine repair service to fix the issues.

Pam E on May 14, 2020

I have had a Sears Elite HE Top Load Washer for three years. The water doesn't fill enough to clean the clothes, anything 100% cotton comes out with spots all over them and thus destroyed, and now there is powder dust on anything dark. We have tried all different detergents, water temps, etc. It is getting soon to be moved to the dump and a Speed Queen will be welcomed.

I think an HE washer is terrible. I put 3 lingerie bags that I used for claim boil and 6 washes later I threw them out because they did not come clean. I have been telling my husband for weeks things are not getting cleaned. He put in the washer 2 pairs of jeans 2 tee Shirts and the dirt which was just a dry dirt did not even come off his pants. I am all done going out this week end to get a new one with an agitator in the middle.

Niki on Aug 23, 2020

I have the exact same kenmore he top loader pictured above and i miss my old one! this one has never felt like the clothes get cleaned properly and have had multiple clothing items get ruined because they come out of the washer with what looks like oil stains! i can't wait for this one to die out to purchase a different washer.