My Kenmore front loading washing machine model 970-C45062-10 is not dispensing the fabric softener. The fabric softener remains in the dispenser (with additional water that was added at some point during the cycle) and the dispenser for the bleach is also full of water (i never use the bleach side of the dispenser). i have cleaned the dispenser but it does not make a difference. I have also checked the drain hole where the water goes into the washer and it had a bit of dry softener that I removed. Still no difference. any advice?

SOURCE: Bleach and fabric softener dispensers full of water

This is a problem common to virtually all front-loaders. Pull the dispenser drawer right out (it is designed to come right out - you might just need to give it a bit of a jiggle to get it past the stop) Remove the cover/caps from the drawer (sometimes this is a snap-on cover over the back of the drawer, sometimes a top-hat shaped cover over the siphon spigots). Give everything a thorough clean off with hot water (scrubbing with an old toothbrush helps), then reassemble. A.

James Greene

• 240 Answers
• Posted on Nov 18, 2007

SOURCE: Bleach and Fabric Softener Dispensers don't work

Need a litle more inflormation from you if you could. What is the make and model number of the unit? Does water flow through the dispensers for rinsing action? If it is a front loader or higher dollar machine, the dispensers are sometimes controlled by the timer or control boards. They control water valves that control the rinsing water entering the chambers. This raises the level, and causes a siphon or flushing action at certian points of the wash cycles. There could be a nuber of issues, a bad timer or control board, bad water solinoid(s), wiring issues, or clogged hoses or ports. If this is a new washer, do you still have a service policy or warranty left with it? Let me know what kind the unit is and a model number and will try to help you out a little more. Thanks Jim

SOURCE: Fabric Softener Won't Dispense

The fabric softener dispenser is notorious for clogging. Liquid fabric softener is essentially a liquid form of wax. After a period of time it begins to gunk up the inside of the fabric softener dispenser. If you remove the dispenser drawer and look into the cavity, there should be a series of holes in the upper part of the compartment where water sprays into all the dispenser trays. These holes get gunked up and clogged and water will not dispense properly. As a result, the washer goes through a complete cycle, but the dispenser stays full. If this is the case, you can take some cotton swabs and/or toothpicks and clean these holes real good. It may be a bit meticulous, but it should take care of the problem. Post back and let me know if this helps.

SOURCE: Water goes thru fabric softener dispenser not soap dispenser!

Yes you will need a service call, you may have a issue with the water valve or control, At the start of the cycle it should not be filling the softener dispenser till later in the program.

SOURCE: Whirlpool Duet dispenser problem

I had the same problem my fabric softener would not dispense.Close shut-off valves and take off the water hoses off the back of the washer and look for blockage on the screen.Mine was plugged up and after cleaning it off it works like new.