LG front loader empties softener tray and detergent tray at start of wash cycle. I have cleaned everything with a tooth brush to ensure filling heads not blocked. Softener tray is emptied together with washing powder as soon as water enters the machine via the dispenser trays.

Change detergent box uper side block it

Water remaining in soap dispenser. In front loading washers made by LG (some Kenmore too), water may remain filled in the soap dispenser after the wash cycle. This may be caused by the siphon tube being contaminated by detergent residue. To clear it, remove the siphon cover from the tube, and clean them thoroughly, making sure that all residue is removed. Replace the cover and make sure it seats properly all the way down. This will ensure that the siphon starts and continues until the dispenser tray is emptied. A small amount of water, a half inch or less, remaining is normal. There is a video on YouTube that suggests buying a new detergent tray. Try cleaning it first. There are no parts that will break or wear out under normal use.

Hi from retired Englishman in SW France,

A quick and easy way to find out which tray is which is to pull the detergent drawer out just so that you can see into it. Start a pre-wash and see where the water runs in, then advance to the main wash and observe. Finally start a rinse cycle and where the water goes in is where the conditioner/softener goes.
In a few cases I have come across, the pre-wash tray shares with the conditioner/softener part but the pre-wash powder goes in the front and the softener in the back.

If this has assisted you please consider a 4 thumbs up for the rating.
Thanks and good luck!
John C

The Solution: Top up the softener tray with extra water so that it is up to the 'max level' mark.

The softener tray works by a siphon action. Thus, the reason the tray does not empty is that not enough water is added by the machine during the softening cycle, so that the machine does not completely fill the softening tray; only when the softening tray is filled beyond the 'max' mark does the siphon action works. A partially filled tray will never empty - it's impossible due to the siphon.

The reason that not enough water is added to the tray during the softening action is that the water inlet of the machine is partial blocked (you can try to fix that) but it is simpler to just added more water to the conditioner tray.

Thus, the easiest way to ensure that the softener tray empties every time (after adding the softener to the softener tray of course) is to top up the softener tray with extra water, top it up to the 'max level' line (keep a bottle of water by the machine). That way, even if only a little water is added to the softener tray during the softening cycle by the machine it is enough to trigger the siphon action and the tray will empty!

Works for me every time, and no need to remove any parts - I used to take the tray out, clean it, scrub the outlet holes that fill the tray etc, but they used to gum up again quite quickly!

Hope that helps

Water in the fabric softner slot is normal, but for the detergent slot you have to clean out with a tooth brush if you can't get the tray out. If there is water there it is quite a serious block, which is affecting your wash.

Is water left in the dispenser at the end of the cycle?
About two tablespoons of water remaining in the dispenser compartment at the end of the cycle is normal. At the end of the wash cycle, fresh water automatically cleans the dispenser. Check that the cycle is complete before opening the dispenser drawer.
Is the dispenser drawer clogged?
A clogged dispenser can block the flow of water through the dispenser and cause water to leak out. Manually remove the dispenser, and clean any leftover detergent or additives that could clog the flow of water through the dispenser. Also, check that the detergent drawer is always completely closed during the cycle. If the drawer is not closed completely, water can leak out onto the floor.
Are the additives dispensing too early?
Here are a few things that can cause the additives (detergent, fabric softener or liquid chlorine bleach) to dispense early:

• Check that the dispenser is not overfilled. Do not fill past the MAX fill lines on the dispenser. Overfilling can cause early dispensing of liquid chlorine bleach and/or fabric softener.
• Check that the detergent separator is in the correct position. For liquid detergent, the separator should be in the front position. For powdered detergent, the separator should be in the rear position. If the separator is in the rear position while you are using liquid detergent, it will dispense immediately, which is not how it is designed to work.
• Use powdered HE detergent when using the DELAY WASH option. Liquid detergent may dispense prior to the start of wash.

Are the additives dispensing too late?
The additives will not dispense until the proper time if the DELAY WASH option is selected.

The brand of your front loader is not that material on this issue. What is happening is that your old top load washer may have used as much as 45 gallons of water per cycle, while some front loaders use as little as 12. Because of the low water use, you must cut back on the additives you are using. Use only 1 tablespoon of HE detergent (even less if 2x or 3x detergent) per load. If you use fabric softener, use only 1 teaspoon per load. Odor on clothes after wash is indicating that the detergent and or softener has not been fully rinsed out. If you throw a load of washed towels into your machine and start a cycle without any soap, then stop the cycle, you should not see any suds. If you do, there is obviously soap left in the clothes. With bath towels, the towels are used to absorb clean water off a clean body. They do not need soap when you wash them, and never use fabric softener on towels.
If your washer is a LG WM-1832 it has a assessable filter behind the access door on the lower left front of the machine. Clean that out first, and if it has a tub clean or sanitary cycle use that cycle (if not, use hottest longest cycle available) with 3 Affresh tablets or use whirlaway to clean out the washer outer tub (the not visible tub that holds the water). You might want to use another cycle like that with bleach to head off mold or mildew growth. Use of proper amount of detergent and fabric softener should really help the clothes odor issue from then on. Also check the tub seal at the bottom of the door area to clean out any lint from drain hole areas to help prevent water from remaining in the tub seal area.

The brand of your front loader is not that material on this issue. What is happening is that your old top load washer may have used as much as 45 gallons of water per cycle, while some front loaders use as little as 12. Because of the low water use, you must cut back on the additives you are using. Use only 1 tablespoon of HE detergent (even less if 2x or 3x detergent) per load. If you use fabric softener, use only 1 teaspoon per load. Odor on clothes after wash is indicating that the detergent and or softener has not been fully rinsed out. If you throw a load of washed towels into your machine and start a cycle without any soap, then stop the cycle, you should not see any suds. If you do, there is obviously soap left in the clothes. With bath towels, the towels are used to absorb clean water off a clean body. They do not need soap when you wash them, and never use fabric softener on towels.

Try pulling out the tray gently. Your tray is clogged with detergent which you have to remove with a tooth brush or something.....minor problem u have.