I was wondering if it is possible to use Retayne in a high efficiency washer- since the tub does not fill with water, instead it sprays it periodically...would it be better to soak the fabric in a tub instead, then wash it? Thanks!

I don't know for sure, but I don't think it matters. It is the high temperature of the water that activates the Retayne (I think).

your machine doesn't have a soak cycle? Can you stop the machine after it fills and let it soak?

Oh, I just got a high efficieny and never considered this... ugh. may have to take my new fabrics to the laundry mat.

Are you talking about a front-load????

I have a front loader (HATE it) mine does not have a soak if I want to soak anything I have to pause it and set a timer to remind me to go and turn it back on to finish the cycle. If I have to ever buy another machine I will go back to a top loader.

Good question.

I'm just eavesdropping......:)

I talked to my daughter about her new front loader. She doesn't like hers either & said she wouldn't buy another one. 1 no soak cycle, 2 if you forgot 1 item, it has to wait for the next load - no opening the door once it starts, 3 she doesn't think it cleans the clothes that good either. About the Retayne, not sure what the answer is.

AHHHHH- mine DOES have a soak cycle, great thought!Thank you. It is a TOP loading high efficiency, and I must say I love love love it, have had it about two years and it really is the best of both worlds- our electricity bill was cut in half since we got the new washer dryer- I know the front loaders have some issues, but seriously no problems with this- you can add garments once the cycle starts, etc.

Just my two cents worth - I already hate reaching into my dryer because I'm very tall, the last thing I need is to bend over to put stuff in/out the washer too. Regardless of the pedestal bases, they're still not high enough.
I'll keep my top loaders too.

Sorry, but I have a HE front loader and love it. It has a soak cycle and you can add clothes during the inital wash. It has a light that signals how long you can add clothes. You can also stop or pause it just by pushing the pause button. Never used Retayne so can't speak to that.

I have a Whirlpool Duet HE front loader. Had it for at least 6 years. LOVE IT! It has a soak cycle and cleans my DH dirty factory clothes like a dream. I put the Retayne in the bleach dispenser and it works fine.

What's RETAYNE? Is that the color catching sheets? If so, I've used color catching sheets in my front loader and it worked...actually I threw 2 sheets in because it was all red flannel fabrics.

I LOVE my front loader and I sit on a chair to sort and load it...no straining here! It's extremely efficient with water and detergent and has a soak cycle but I never use it. It has a rinse/spin cycle and I use it A LOT!

I use Retayne - washing/soaking in the kitchen sink. I haven't used it in the HE - but earlier post had really good luck.

A quote from http://www.prochemicalanddye.com/store/home.php?cat=323
"Please note: The new front loader energy efficient washing machines do not supply enough water to properly treat your fabrics with Retayne. You will need to use the Hand wash method below or a top loader in your local laundromat."

retayne is NOT color catchers. it is a liquid additive to 'set-color' usually used when hand dyeing fabrics. Total different animal from a color catcher.

Jane, thanks for the definitive answer! I did end up doing it in the sink, worked fine.

that is a good question

We have a top loader HE washer. It also does not soak like a traditional washer. When it was installed, the appliance repair guy told us that they will no longer be manufacturing the old style washers after the first of the year. The new "water saving" machines will be the only ones made. If you want the old style, buy one quick! lol

He said the number one complaint for the HE machines is that you cannot soak and that the tub doesn't fill with water.

Our machine does have a soak option but it doesn't fill with water and you cannot stop it in the soak cycle to let it sit overnight. It is only about 10 minutes and it just sprays water on the clothes and lets it sit. I am not a fan. But, it works and our last one broke. lol So, I like it because it works.

I agree. I hate my front loader, plus it stinks!! Always needing to run a cycle with the unstink stuff. So far I know of three different brands you can buy for this, so they can't tell me this isn't a problem. As soon as I can, it's going out the door.

I love my front loader. If I want to add something, I just push pause and open the door. I would never go back to a top loader. My clothes are sparking clean now. If I have to use Retayne, I will use it in the sink and finish in the washer.

I use my laundry tub when using Retayne but have to tell you I love, love, love my HE front loading machines. I do have the pedestals,(I'm tall, got the taller pedestals and will never bend over to do laundry again!!!) a soak cycle and a feature which allows me to add a garment. I can wash rugs, quilts, huge comforters, a ton of towels or jeans at a time etc. Saves a ton of water and electricity. I may never go back.

I hadn't thought about the bleach dispenser. Thanks for the tip. I have the Duet also.

Thanks so much . I purchased 5 yards of whale corduroy washed it 8 times only to find it still bleed. Used Retayne still bleed. Now I know it was the HE washer. I was going nuts. $1200 washer that can wash corduroy. :thumbdown:

I sure agree with you on this one! I really dislike my HE front loader!! I got it for all the right reasons--uses less water, supposed to be gentle on clothes and better for septic system--but I miss being able to do small loads, soak things, dye/re-dye fabric, etc. And if I load it and add soap but delay in turning it on, the soap drips down through the door. On top of all that, you have to run a special cycle to clean the machine once a month to keep it from smelling. (How ridiculous is that to have to wash the interior of a washing machine...) I'd take my top loader back in a heartbeat...

Leaving the door to the washer open as few inches helps keep mildew from building up. I leave mine open about two inches after washing and haven't had a problem with smells or mildew. I did run one of the washer cleaners through it to clean it first. If you look at the ingredients on the cleaners they are mostly clorine. Try running a cycle with hot water and clorine in the bleach dispenser. It's cheaper than buying the cleaners. Might try adding vinegar as well.

I'm so glad to hear this because I just bought a Whirlpool Duet set last week. So far I love it also.

We have a washer like yours & I soak it in a tub first before putting through the wash cycle

Same here or the rinse/spin cycle. It is inconvenient about soaking, but I still love me HE-have had mine for over a year now. I do a clorox load once a week-nothing delicate in our house, only bullet proof :) and the washer has never had a smell. I always leave the door ajar. If you see a lot of suds, you're using too much detergent-will shorten the life of the machine.

I also love my HE front loader. Mine does have a soak cycle and I have used Retayne with no problems.

I have to agree... I love my front loader!

Jane, Thanks so much for researching Retayne in an HE washer. I'd hesitate to use any chemicals in my front-loader -- just never would trust to do it. I've had my Dark RED front-loader HE set for nearly 3 yrs & LOVE, LOVE, LOVE 'em. I'm only 5' tall, so the pedestals mean I never have to bend over -- what a back-saver! We used front-loaders (much small versions) when stationed in Europe & they always got our clothes cleaner (longer cycles). I find my clothes now have fewer wrinkles & I have separate steam & soak cycles, too.

I love my top loader washer. We bought new washer and dryer when we built our house 7 years ago. I like the efficiency of it and the fact it wrings the clothes out so good and takes less drying time. Mine soaks and I can stop the cycle to add something else by opening the soap dispenser which unlocks the door and starts the washer by closing the dispenser.

I had to look up retayne I had no idea what you were talking ab out. Everyone that I know that has a front loader loves it. I plan on getting one when my top loader goes. I would not add any chemical to my material to retain the colors. Let them age as they would, I always wash in cold water and use the color catcher to pick up any dyes..

Retayne is for setting unset dyes; it does not prevent fabric dyes from aging normally. Basically Retayne is used on "bleeder" fabrics to prevent the dye from bleeding all over the other fabrics in a quilt. Heavy bleeding fabrics are rare, thank goodness, but if you happen to include one in a quilt then cold water and color catchers may well not be enough to prevent damage to the quilt. Retayne is used only on individual fabrics before they are put into a quilt; it should never be used on a finished quilt, as it would permanently set any bleeds.

Many chemicals are used to set dyes into fabrics. It's just that sometimes factories make mistakes. Retayne offers the quilter a home opportunity to set dyes into a fabric when the factory has not done it correctly.

Last New Year's Day my washer and dryer broke at the same time. I got a new set and decided against the front loaders. Everyone that I know that has the front loaders, the washer stinks to high heaven after a year. The salesman said I'd have to do special things to keep the door seal from leaking, mildew from building up etc. I will not pamper an appliance. I want to turn it on and be done with it. If it breaks after a few years I don't want to wail about how much I paid for it but think well I got my money's worth. I use the soak cycle too much to not have a top loader. I soak my fabric and drain without agitation, great for small cuts of fabric.

I've heard that and never want one. not until they fix that fact. i soak things a lot.

I see there is are mixed feelings about the HE front loader. I am not thrilled with mine.
The pkg for the Color Catcher said to put it in a lingere bag when using in a HE washer. Haven't tried it yet, but will.

I think the biggest mistake I have ever made with a washing machine was buying a front loader you can't even stop it and open the door to throw in that darn sock you found under the couch right after you started the wash. I have told my husband that I want a second washer top loader so I can soak things and, or stop and open in mid cycle, I told him a used one would be fine. He seems to think I am out of my mind, but I have complained so much about the new washer he has caved and is looking on craigslist for a top loader for me.

How tall is very tall? I am 6 feet and love my HE washer and dryer on pedestals. I put Retayne in with my detergent and also used a color catcher and it worked out fine.