Amana Home Laundry Automatic Washer User Manual

Use and Care Guide

Home Laundry Automatic Washer

D310IE3B

KEEP THESE INSTRUCTIONS FOR FUTURE REFERENCE. (If the washer changes ownership, be sure this manual accompanies the washer.)

Part No. 38839R3

September 1998

Table of

Contents

Important Safety Instructions ................................................................	2
Before Washing
Prepare Wash Load..............................................................................	4
Sort ......................................................................................................	4
Pretreat.................................................................................................	4
Loading the Washer
Load Articles .......................................................................................	5
Load Sizes ...........................................................................................	5
Water Level .........................................................................................	5
Water
Water Hardness ...................................................................................	6
Iron ......................................................................................................	6
Wash Temperature...............................................................................	6
Laundry Tips ...........................................................................................	7
Washing Temperature Guide ................................................................	8
Optional Features
Bleach Dispenser .................................................................................	9
Fabric Softener Dispenser ...................................................................	9
Agitator Cap ........................................................................................	9
Special Care
Starching............................................................................................	10
Knits ..................................................................................................	10
Permanent Press.................................................................................	10
Washing Special Items ..........................................................................	11
Washing Problems ................................................................................	12
Stain Removal ........................................................................................	13
Maintenance
Cold Weather Care ............................................................................	16
Care Of Your Washer ........................................................................	16
Vacations and Extended Non-Use ....................................................	16
Reinstallation of Shipping Materials .................................................	16
Motor Overload Protector ....................................................................	16
Before You Call For Service ................................................................	17
If Service Is Required ...........................................................................	18
Asure™ Extended Service Plan ...........................................................	18
Parts and Accessories ............................................................................	18
Information For Handy Reference .......................................	Back Cover

WARNING

For your safety and to reduce the risk of fire or an explosion, do not store or use gasoline or other flammable vapors and liquids in the vicinity of this or any other appliance.

W022E

Reprinted by permission of the publisher.

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IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS

(SAVE THESE INSTRUCTIONS)

WARNING

To reduce the risk of fire, electric shock, serious injury or death to persons when using your washer, follow these basic precautions:

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1.Read all instructions before using the washer.

2.Refer to the GROUNDING INSTRUCTIONS in the INSTALLATION manual for the proper grounding of the washer.

3.Do not wash articles that have been previously cleaned in, washed in, soaked in, or spotted with gasoline, dry-cleaning solvents, or other flammable or explosive substances as they give off vapors that could ignite or explode.

4.Do not add gasoline, dry-cleaning solvents, or other flammable or explosive substances to the wash water. These substances give off vapors that could ignite or explode.

5.Under certain conditions, hydrogen gas may be produced in a hot water system that has not been used for two weeks or more. HYDROGEN GAS IS EXPLOSIVE. If the hot water system has not been used for such a period, before using a washing machine or combination washerdryer, turn on all hot water faucets and let the water flow from each for several minutes. This will release any accumulated hydrogen gas. THE GAS IS FLAMMABLE. DO NOT SMOKE OR USE AN OPEN FLAME DURING THIS TIME.

6.Do not allow children to play on or in the washer. Close supervision of children is necessary when the washer is used near children. This is a safety rule for all appliances.

7.Before the washer is removed from service or discarded, remove the lid to the washing compartment.

8.Do not reach into the washer if the washtub or agitator is moving.

9.Do not install or store the washer where it will be exposed to water and/or weather.

10.Do not tamper with the controls.

11.Do not repair or replace any part of the washer, or attempt any servicing unless specifically recommended in the user-maintenance instructions or in published user-repair instructions that you understand and have the skills to carry out.

12.To reduce the risk of an electric shock or fire, DO NOT use an extension cord or an adapter to connect the washer to the electrical power source.

13.Use your washer only for its intended purpose, washing clothes.

14.ALWAYS disconnect the washer from electrical supply before attempting any service. Disconnect the power cord by grasping the plug, not the cord.

15.Install the washer according to the INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS. All connections for water, drain, electrical power and grounding must comply with local codes and be made by licensed personnel when required. Do not do it yourself unless you know how!

16.To reduce the risk of fire, clothes which have traces of any flammable substances such as vegetable oil, cooking oil, machine oil, flammable chemicals, thinner, etc. or anything containing wax or chemicals such as in mops and cleaning cloths, must not be put into the washer. These flammable substances may cause the fabric to catch on fire by itself.

17.Do not use fabric softeners or products to eliminate static unless recommended by the manufacturer of the fabric softener or product.

18.Keep your washer in good condition. Bumping or dropping the washer can damage safety features. If this occurs, have your washer checked by a qualified serviceman.

19.Replace worn power cords and/or loose plugs.

20.Be sure water connections have a shut-off valve and that fill hose connections are tight. CLOSE the shut-off valves at the end of each wash day.

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21.Loading door MUST BE CLOSED any time the washer is to agitate or spin. DO NOT by-pass the loading door switch by permitting the washer to agitate or spin with the loading door open. A brake will stop the washtub within seconds if the loading door is opened during spinning. If the washtub does not stop when the loading door is opened, remove the washer from use and call the serviceman.

22.Always read and follow manufacturer’s instructions on packages of laundry and cleaning aids. Heed all warnings or precautions. To reduce the risk of poisoning or chemical burns, keep them out of the reach of children at all times (preferably in a locked cabinet).

23.Always follow the fabric care instructions supplied by the garment manufacturer.

24.Never operate the washer with any guards and/ or panels removed.

25.DO NOT operate the washer with missing or broken parts.

26.DO NOT by-pass any safety devices.

27.Failure to install, maintain, and/or operate this machine according to the manufacturer's instructions may result in conditions which can produce bodily injury and/or property damage.

NOTE: The WARNING and IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS appearing in this manual are not meant to cover all possible conditions and situations that may occur. Common sense, caution and care must be exercised when installing, maintaining, or operating the washer.

Always contact your dealer, distributor, service agent or the manufacturer about any problems or conditions you do not understand.

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Before Washing . . .

Prepare Wash Load

Empty Pockets and Cuffs

Make sure all pockets are empty and turn them inside out. One bobby pin, metal or plastic toy, nail or sharp object in a load can catch laundry and cause tears.

Facial tissue left in a pocket will produce extreme “lint”. A crayon or lipstick in a wash load may cause stains that cannot be removed. Roll down cuffs and shake out grass, sand, and gravel.

Mend Rips and Tears

Little holes can become bigger in the washer. Mend holes and tears before placing garments in the washer.

Close Zipper and Fasten Hooks

These can catch on garments in a wash load and tear them. Tie belts and sashes so they won’t wind around clothes.

Remove Nonwashable Trim

Check for colorfastness by squeezing a portion of garment in warm or hot sudsy water. If the color bleeds or runs, wash the item separately in cold water.

Sort

Proper sorting is easy if you follow a few guidelines:

1. Sort by Color

Whites

Darks

Lights

Non-Colorfast

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2. Sort by Fabric and Construction

Cottons and	Permanent
Linens	Press

Synthetics,	Delicates
Blends & Poly Knits

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3. Sort by Care Label

Cold

Warm

Hot

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4.Sort By Type and Amount of Soil

Children’s play clothes, as well as work clothes, will need extra treatment. Lightly soiled clothes can become dingy if washed with heavily soiled items.

5.Sort Lint “Shedders” From Lint “Receivers”

Some fabrics attract lint and should not be washed with lint-shedding loads. Lint shedders are cottons, terry towels, chenille bedspreads, rugs, and clothes which have been heavily bleached.

Lint receivers are synthetics, permanent or durable press, knits (including socks), corduroy, and other smooth fabrics.

Pretreat

Pretreat shirt collars and cuffs with a pre-wash product or liquid detergent when placing them in the washer. Before washing, treat special stains with bar soap, liquid detergent or a paste of water and granular detergent. Use a pretreat soil and stain remover.

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Loading the Washer . . .

Load Articles

Load items by the amount of space they take up, not by their weight. Mix large and small items in a load to get the best washing results.

Drop items loosely into the washtub. The bulk of the clothes rather than the weight

will determine load size. Do not pack items in or wrap them

around the agitator. Overloading can cause poor

cleaning, excessive wrinkling,

and tears.

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Items should move freely through the wash water for best cleaning results. Items should rollover, sink and then reappear.

When washing very large items, do not fill washtub as full as with other loads.

Load Sizes

Small

3-4 perm. press dress shirts OR

1 twin sheet, 1 pillow case OR

1-2 lightweight dresses

Medium

6-7 perm. press shirts OR

2 twin sheets, 2 pillow cases OR

8 standard bath towels, 6 wash cloths

Large

10-11 perm. press shirts OR

2 full size sheets, 2 pillow cases, 2 pair men’s pajamas OR

12 standard bath towels, 4 hand towels, 4 wash cloths

Extra Large (OPTIONAL)

8-9 shirts and 5 pair polyester pants OR

2 queen size sheets, 4 pillow cases,

2 nightgowns, 1 pair men’s pajamas OR

1 queen size bedspread

Reset (OPTIONAL)

Use the RESET if agitation has started and more water is needed for the load.

Water Level

Right

Wrong

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The water level in your washer should fit the size of your wash load. Small loads will use lower water levels. There must be enough water in the washtub to allow items to move and turn over freely.

Overloading the washtub can result in poor washing and rinsing.

Overloading may also cause wrinkling and tearing of items.

IMPORTANT: If in doubt always use a higher water level. Most average loads will require water setting of Large. Failure to have the correct volume of water relative to the load will increase the incidence of excessive lint.

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Water . . .

Water Hardness

Soft Water

0 to 10 milligrams per liter

Moderately Hard Water

300 milligrams per liter

Hard Water

500 milligrams per liter

Very Hard Water

Over 500 milligrams per liter

W120IE1A

Water hardness is measured in grains per gallon (G.P.G.) or parts per million (P.P.M.). To learn your water hardness, call your Water Department or State Extension Service. Hard water will not remove soil as well as soft water and can result in gray, dingy laundry. To get clothes clean in hard water, use a phosphate detergent or use more detergent if using a nonphosphate detergent. Do not use soap.

Hard Water May Be Softened By:

1.A mechanical water softener installed in your home.

2.The use of a packaged water conditioner.

Soft Water

Water should be soft enough to allow soaps and detergents to remove soil effectively. Clothes will be whiter and brighter when washed and rinsed in soft water.

Iron

If iron is present in the water, the clothes may become an all-over yellow or they may be stained with brown or orange spots or streaks. Iron is not always visible in the water.

Solutions to Iron Problems

The installation of a water softener will remove small amounts of iron from the water supply. The installation of an iron filter may be necessary for more severe cases. If the iron comes from the pipes, it may be sufficient just to let the water run into the empty washer for about one minute. This may help to clear the pipes. Spin this water out of the washtub before starting the wash.

If iron comes from the water heater, drain the heater occasionally to remove the rust.

If the Iron Condition Cannot Be Corrected

Prepare the wash water first by adding detergent (not soap), then add the clothes to the washtub. Use a phosphate detergent. The phosphate content of a detergent is listed on the package side panel.

Add a nonprecipitating water conditioner to the washtub just before the rinse water enters. Do not use fabric softener in the rinse water if a packaged water conditioner is used.

Iron With Chlorine Bleach

The use of chlorine bleach with water that contains iron will make the rust discoloration worse. Use an “all fabric” bleach.

Wash Temperature

Hot Water

Hot water will give the best results of cleaning and sanitizing, but it is not suitable for all items. It is best for sturdy whites and colorfast items, heavily soiled items and diapers.

Warm Water

By using warm water, there is less chance of color loss in items. Warm water also reduces wrinkling in permanent press items. Use with light and moderate soils, non-colorfast or dark colors, permanent press, silks, woolens, nylon, and acrylic.

Cold Water

Cold water is less effective in cleaning than hot or warm water, but it does minimize wrinkling and color fading. Use it for washing extra-sensitive clothes and for the rinsing of all fabrics.

Energy

You can save energy when washing by following a few guidelines:

1. Heating water accounts for the greatest energy expense when washing.

Save on heating water by

140ºF HOT

using cold rinses.

2.Wash full loads, but do not overload.

3.Use soak cycles for heavily soiled items to reduce wash times.

4.Select a shorter wash time for lightly soiled items.

100ºF WARM

60ºF COLD

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