For an Amana NTW4516 that is not getting clothes clean, the guide lists specific causes. The washer adds only the water the load needs, so a load that is not completely under water is normal, and adding water lifts the laundry off the washplate and cleans worse. Detergent belongs in the bottom of the basket before the clothes, not on top. Non-HE or too much detergent makes suds that stop the washer working properly. And the wrong cycle helps nothing: use a higher soil level and warmer water, or the Heavy cycle for tough cleaning.
Differential
Likely causes of “Amana NTW4516 top-load washer does not clean clothes well”, and how to tell them apart
- 1
Extra water added by hand
What separates it The clothes are lifted off the wash plate and poorly cleaned because extra water was added by hand
How to confirm Do not add water; the washer senses the load and adds the correct amount
- 2
A tightly packed load
What separates it The clothes are compacted and stay dirty because the load is tightly packed
How to confirm Load dry items in loose heaps evenly around the basket wall
- 3
Detergent placed on top of the load
What separates it There are streaks and residue because the detergent was placed on top of the load
How to confirm Add detergent to the bottom of the basket before the clothes
- 4
Wrong cycle or too cold
What separates it The stains remain because the wrong cycle was used, or the water was too cold
How to confirm Use a higher soil level, warmer water or the Heavy cycle
Before you touch a setting
Record this first — changing settings destroys the evidence
- What stains or soil remain and on which fabrics
- Detergent type, amount and where it was placed
- The cycle, temperature and load size
Try in this order
0 of 5 completedDo not add water
ReversibleDo not add water, since the washer senses the load size and adds the right amount, and extra water reduces cleaning.
Load loosely
ReversibleDry items in loose heaps around the basket wall; add only 1 or 2 garments after the washer has started.
Add detergent first
ReversibleHE detergent, oxi products and color-safe bleach go in the bottom of the basket before the load.
Pick the right cycle
ReversiblePick the right cycle, and use Heavy for tough cleaning, with a higher soil level and warmer water.
Use Extra Rinse with softener
ReversibleUse Extra Rinse with softener, since cycles with a spray rinse need it for the softener to distribute.
Model-specific
What is true of this model and not of its siblings
- Bleach, dye and fabric-care notes
- Use the dispenser to avoid chlorine bleach staining, load it before starting a cycle and avoid overfilling; do not put load items on top of the bleach dispenser when loading. Wash like colors together and remove them promptly to avoid dye transfer. Always read the garment care label, and use Extra Rinse whenever fabric softener is used.
- Water, detergent placement and rinse
- Two of the guide's not-cleaning causes are easy to reverse. Adding water by hand lifts the laundry off the washplate and cleans worse, and adding detergent on top of the load instead of the bottom of the basket leaves residue and poor results. Cycles that default to a spray rinse also need Extra Rinse when softener is used, or the softener is not distributed and can leave marks.
- Parts for this problem on the NTW4516 (RepairClinic, 2026-09-21)
- water inlet valve, part number W11210459, at $66.77; bleach dispenser, part number WPW10192089, at $12.03.
- Other models this page answers
- These steps also fit the NFW5800 front-load washer.
Stop boundary
When this stops being a self-service repair
- !If clothes stay dirty with correct detergent, load and cycle and the tub fills correctly, call Amana service
- !If the washer cannot fill or drain, follow those pages first
Evidence ledger
Sources behind this answer
Amana's own table of top-load washer codes and resolutions.
Amana's own symptom articles for top-load washers, each.
A dealer listing giving the NTW4516FW's capacity, cabinet size and feature list.
Parts and list prices as shown on RepairClinic's parts search for this model number on 2026-09-21.
Exact questions
Common questions
Why isn't my load covered in water?+
On an HE low-water washer with the knob on Auto Sensing, the load will not be completely under water; that is normal.
Should I add water?+
No; adding water lifts items off the washplate.
Where does detergent go?+
In the bottom of the basket before the clothes.
How do I clean stubborn stains?+
Use the Heavy cycle, a higher soil level and warmer water.
Does Deep Water Wash help?+
It fills to the maximum water level, at the price of longer cycle times.
What does the monthly cleaning do?+
The Clean Washer with affresh cycle helps optimize the water level and wash performance by clearing soil build-up in the basket.