Whirlpool RAL5144BG0 User Manual

Home Appliances

Use And Care

0 0 01 oo O

A Note To You
Understanding

Washer Safety 3
Knowing Your

Washer's Features 4
Operating Your

Washer 5
Other Features 10

Laundry Tips 12
If You Need

Assistance
Or Service 22

Warranty 24

1-800-44-ROPER

Call us with questions or comments

ONE SPEED AUTOMATIC WASHERS

A NOTE TO YOU

A Note To You

Thank you for buying a Roper appliance.

You have purchased a quality, world-class home appliance. Years of engineering experience have
gone into its manufacturing. To ensure that you will enjoy many years of trouble-free operation, we
have developed this Use and Care Guide. It is full of valuable information on how to operate and
maintain your appliance properly and safely. Please read it carefully. Also, please complete and
mail the Ownership Registration Card provided with your appliance.

Your safety is important to us.

This guide contains safety symbols and statements. Please pay special attention to these symbols
and follow any instructions given. Here is a brief explanation of the use of each symbol.

AWARNING

This symbol will help alert you to such
dangers as personal injury, burns, fire and
electrical shock.

This symbol will help you avoid actions which
could cause product damage (scratches,
dents, etc.) and damage to your personal
property.

ACAUTION

Our toll-free number, 1-800-44-ROPER (1-800-447-6737), is available 24 hours a day.

If you have a question concerning your appliance’s operation, or if you need service, first see “If
You Need Assistance Or Service” on page 22. If you need further help, call us. When calling, you
will need to know your appliance’s complete model number and serial number. You can find this
information on the model and serial number plate (see diagram on page 4). For your convenience,
we have included a handy place below for you to record these numbers, the purchase date from
the sales slip and your dealer’s name and telephone number. Keep this book and the sales slip

together in a safe place for future reference.

Model Number
Serial Number
Purchase Date

Dealer Name
Dealer Phone

UNDERSTANDING WASHER SAFETY

IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS

^WARNING

• Read all instructions before using your
washer.

• Do not machine wash or machine dry
items cleaned, washed, soaked in, or
spotted with wax, paint, gasoline, oil, or
other flammable fluids. The fumes can
create a fire hazard or explosion. Always
hand wash and line dry items containing
these materials.

• Flammable fluids (dry-cleaning solvents,
kerosene, gasoline, etc.) should not be
used or stored in or near your washer. Do
not add flammable fluids to your wash
water. These substances give off vapors
that can create a fire hazard or explosion.

• Do not allow children to operate, play with,
or crawl on or inside your washer. Super
vise children closely when your washer is
used near them.

• Before your washer is removed from
service or discarded, remove the lid to
prevent accidental entrapment.

• After starting a cycle, do not reach into the
basket unless the Cycle Control Knob is
pushed in and all motion stops.

• Do not tamper with the controls.

To reduce the risk of fire, electrical shock or injury to persons
when using your washer, follow basic precautions, inciuding the
following;

• If your hot water has not been used
recently (usually 2 weeks or longer),
hydrogen gases may build up in your
water heater and your hot water pipes.

HYDROGEN GAS IS EXPLOSIVE. To

prevent injury or damage, before using
your washer, turn on all hot water faucets
and allow water to run for several min
utes. This will allow gases to escape. Do
not smoke or use any open flame near
your faucet while it is open.

Please ...

• Have only a qualified person install,
repair, or replace parts on washer.

• Maintain washer properly.

• Protect washer from the weather and
keep it where the temperature will not fall
below freezing.

• Install and level washer on a floor that
can support the weight.*

• Connect washer to the correct 3-prong
outlet, electrical supply, water supply, and
drain.*

• Ground washer properly.*

*See the Installation Instructions.

Understanding your responsibilities

• store detergent, laundry aids and other
materials in a cool, dry place where

children cannot reach them (in a locked
cabinet if possible).

• Read and follow instructions on pack

ages of detergent and laundry aids,
especially warnings and precautions.

• Do not wash or dry items that are soiled

with vegetable or cooking oil. These
items may contain some oil after laun
dering. Due to the remaining oil, the
fabric may smoke or catch fire by itself.

- SAVE THESE INSTRUCTIONS -

’ Do not use chlorine bleach and ammonia

or acids (such as vinegar or rust re
mover) in the same wash. Hazardous

fumes can form.

' Unplug power supply cord before

attempting to service your washer.
Do not machine wash fiberglass

materials. Small particles can stick to the
fabrics washed in following loads and
cause skin irritation.

KNOWING YOUR WASHER’S FEATURES

Knowing Your Washer's

Features

The parts and features of your washer are illustrated below. Become familiar with all parts and
features before using your washer.

NOTE: The drawings in this book may vary from your washer model. They are designed to show the

different features of all models covered by this book. Your model may not include all features.

Load size Temperature
selector selector

Cycle control knob

Toll-free number
1-800-44-ROPER
(1-800-447-6737)

Agitator

Model and serial

number plate

(under lid)

Bleach dispenser*

Other features not shown:

Self-cleaning lint filter*
Manual clean lint filter (inside agitator)*

‘Available on some models

Tub

Basket

OPERATING YOUR WASHER

Operating Your Washer

In This Section

Before starting your washer
Starting or stopping your washer

Selecting a load size..................................

Selecting wash-rinse temperatures

.....................

.............

.........

Page

...........

............5

...........

Selecting a cycle and time

5

Using rinse and spin
What happens in each cycle

6

.................

...........................

...............

Page

.................6

.................

9

Operating your washer properly ensures maximum washing efficiency. This section gives you
important information to help you to select a cycle, time, and temperature for your wash load.

Before starting your washer

Add measured detergent. Then place a sorted NOTE: Remove any hang tags or temporary
load in the washer before starting. See page 12 labels before using your washer,
for additional “Before you wash” information.

Starting or stopping your washer

starting your washer:

1. Select a load size and water temperature.

2. Push in and turn the Cycle Control Knob
clockwise. Stop when the indicator on the

knob’s outer ring points to the number in the

wash cycle you want. The numbers are

minutes of wash time.

3. Pull out the Cycle Control Knob.

Refer to pages 6-9 for additional information to

help you make selections.

Stopping and restarting your washer:

• To stop the washer at any time, push in the

Cycle Control Knob.

•To restart the washer, close the lid (if neces

sary) and pull out the Cycle Control Knob.

Selecting a load size

Position the Load Size Selector at the setting
that corresponds to the size load you want to
wash. Select a load size based upon the size
of the load and the fabric you are washing. See
page 12 for additional loading information.

To change the load size setting after the
washer has started to fill, move the selector to
the desired new setting.

Cycles may vary with model

Settings may vary with model

OPERATING YOUR WASHER

Load size tips

• Items should move freely in the washer. Do

not overload the machine or select a load size
that is too small for the wash load.

• Use a large load size setting for best results

with permanent press clothes.

• Reduce wash time when using a small load

size setting. Loads with only a few items need

less wash time.

Selecting wash-rinse temperatures

Match the water temperature to the type of
fabric and soils being washed. The top tempera
ture is the wash water and the bottom tempera

ture is the rinse water.

NOTE: The Regular cycle features all cold

rinses.

Water temperature tips

• Use warm wash water with the Permanent
Press and Fabricare cycles.

• Always use cold rinse water for permanent

press fabrics.

• For heavily soiled permanent press or knit

clothes, prewash or presoak before washing in
warm water.

See the “Water usage guide” on page 16 for
more information.

Settings may vary with modei

Selecting a cycle and time

You will find the information you need to help
you make correct cycle selections in this
section.

• Pages 7-8: Use the information on these

pages to guide you when selecting a wash
cycle and time.

• Page 9: Use this page to help you understand

what happens during a wash cycle.

Cycles may vary with modei

Heavy cycle

The Heavy cycle features longer spins to
shorten drying time.

• Use 10-12 minutes of wash time to clean
large loads of sturdily constructed fabrics that
are heavily soiled.

• Use 6-8 minutes of wash time to clean
sturdily constructed fabrics that are moder
ately soiled.

OPERATING YOUR WASHER

Regular cycle

The Regular cycle features longer spins to
shorten drying time. All rinses are cold.

• Use 10 minutes of wash time to clean cotton
and linen fabrics that are heavily soiled.

• Use 8 minutes of wash time to clean cotton

and linen fabrics that are moderately soiled.

NOTE: The Regular cycle features all cold

rinses.

Fabricare cycle

The Fabricare cycle features a brief wash cycle
and shorter spins for gentle soil removal.

• Use 6 minutes of wash time to clean delicate

items and washable knits that are lightly to
moderately soiled.

Permanent Press cycle

The Permanent Press cycle features a cool
down rinse, and shorter spins to reduce
wrinkling.

• Use 8 minutes of wash time to clean perma

nent press and some synthetic fabrics that
are moderately soiled.

• Use 6 minutes of wash time to clean perma

nent press and some synthetics that are

lightly soiled.

NOTE; The washer pauses briefly during the

wash cycle. This is normal for washer
operation.

Heavy cycle

Regular cycle

Fabricare

Permanent press cycle

OPERATING YOUR WASHER

Soak cycle

(on some models)

The Soak cycle features brief periods of
agitation and soak time to help remove heavy
soils and stains that need pretreatment.

• Use warm water when soaking laundry. (Hot
water can set stains.) See pages 13-15 for
stain removal information.

• Use the amount of detergent or presoak
additive recommended by manufacturer.

• After the Soak cycle ends, add detergent

and set a new wash cycle.

Using rinse and spin

When using extra detergent for heavily soiled
clothes, or washing special-care items, you

may want an extra rinse and spin.

1. Push Cycle Control Knob in and turn
clockwise to one of the dots on the dial, as
illustrated.

2. Pull Cycle Control Knob out. The washer
will fill to selected level, agitate, drain, and
spin.

Soak cycle