Foam party: is it possible to wash with shampoo in a washing machine?

Wash with shampoo intended for hair, you can neither in machines of the activator type, nor in machines. This tool "works" on a completely different principle - not like special powders and gels. Therefore, shampoo can damage both the clothes and the device itself.

However, in recent years, shampoos appeared on the market designed for washing down jackets, sleeping bags and other things stuffed with natural fluff. In the case of them, the opposite is true - washing your hair is not recommended, but you can fill it into the machine without risking its performance.

Likely Consequences

The scenario in which events after washing with an ordinary shampoo will develop depends on several factors:

• The amount of shampoo. The more it is, the more abundant the foam cap will be and the higher the likelihood that the machine will fail.
• The degree of foaming. Special substances are added to the shampoo, which contribute to a dense and resistant foam. This is necessary for high-quality degreasing of hair and removal of “adhering” contaminants. However, during washing, such a foam can seep into the electronics compartment and interfere with its operation.
• The load on the machine. The fewer things are in the tank, the more space is left for foam. Accordingly, there is a chance that its level will not reach a critical level.

The first consequence, as a rule, is the exit of the foam out through accessible openings (for example, a compartment for detergents). Most washing machines of the budget and mid-price segment do not have a very high quality sealing of the hatch, so another stream of soap bubbles rushes through it to the floor.

If washing is not stopped at this stage, the foam will penetrate the machine body - where all the sensors, cables and the motor are. In the best case, after that the security system will work and the device will turn off automatically, in the worst case, a short circuit will occur, the heater or motor will burn.

Repair of a washing machine that suffered from a foam flood will cost about the same amount as buying a new one, and further operation without inspection by a specialist will be associated with a risk to life.

Instructions for saving the washing machine

To minimize the consequences and give the car a chance at life, immediately after switching off, drain the water from the tank. Depending on the device model, this can be done in several ways:

• through the main or emergency drain hose, stretching it across the floor and lowering the free end into the basin;
• through the hatch - the machine should be tilted a little back, open the door and scoop up water;
• through the drain filter;
• through a drain pipe (they resort to this method only if the previous three turned out to be impossible).

During handling, the plug must be removed from the outlet. About all the nuances of emergency drainage can be found in the instructions for the machine.

After the tank is empty, you should remove the back cover of the washing machine and carefully inspect the details. Pay special attention to the board, since it is it that controls all processes. If traces of water or foam are found, you need to wipe the board with pure medical alcohol - firstly, it will wash off the alkali residues, and secondly, it will dry the surface and inhibit the formation of corrosion. They do the same with another electronic “stuffing”, they process the places of connection of electric cables.

When everything is ready, you must immediately call the master or take the machine to the service yourself.

Other reasons not to shampoo

As a tool for hair, shampoo contains not only surface-active substances, but also caring components (oils, keratin, silicones and other polymers). Some of them perform a temporary protective function, while others do not rinse out of the fabric, enveloping each thread and attaching to it. As a result of this, things lose their attractive appearance and become unusable faster. Products made of wool and polyester are most resistant to the negative effects of shampoo.

In addition, shampoo is not able to cope with complex dirt. The stain from juice, coffee, oil, blood, wine, sauce after such a washing will not disappear, it will stick even more strongly into the fabric thanks to the polymers mentioned above. Unpleasant odors will also remain in place.

Life hack

To combat increased foaming, there are special tools - defoamers. In scanty amounts, they are present in any shampoo, but much more is added to the washing gel.

If for some reason a person wants to wash with hair shampoo, and not specialized means, he needs:

• Find on the Internet an enterprise that conducts wholesale trade in chemical components for soap making, and purchase a defoamer designed for liquid detergents.
• Add the amount of antifoam recommended by the manufacturer to the shampoo. As a rule, it is 0.3–0.5%. Experimentally, you can find the optimal proportion for a particular shampoo, since they all foam in different ways.
• During washing, it is imperative to use anti-scale products and regularly care for the machine.

In order for the washing machine to carry out its functions faithfully for many years, only certified detergents should be poured into it, on which there is an icon in the form of a hatch or the mark “automatic”. And with shampoo, if such a need arises, it is worth washing by hand.