For a Kenmore 110 washer that does not clean, the guides point to detergent, loading and the washer's own features. The front-loader's Catalyst Cleaning Action sprays a concentrated detergent solution onto the clothes at the start to help remove stains without pretreating, its Thermal Optimizer heats the water for Heavy Duty, Whitest Whites and Sanitary, and the Detergent Advantage System releases bleach after the enzymes have worked. Use only HE detergent, measured to the maker's amount, and never put products directly in the tub. On the top-loader, adding detergent on top of the load, adding water by hand and tightly packing the basket are the listed causes; use the Heavy cycle or a higher soil level and warmer water for tough soil.
Differential
Likely causes of “Kenmore 110-series front-load washer does not clean clothes well”, and how to tell them apart
- 1
Non-HE or too much detergent
What separates it There is poor rinsing and there are dull results because of non HE or too much detergent
How to confirm Use HE detergent to the maker's amount, and measure it
- 2
Products put in the tub instead of the dispenser
What separates it The cleaning is uneven because products were put in the tub instead of the dispenser
How to confirm Use the dispensers, and do not pour products in the tub
- 3
A tightly packed load
What separates it The clothes do not move and stay dirty because the load is tightly packed
How to confirm Load loosely, so that the clothes move freely
- 4
The wrong cycle or a cool temperature
What separates it Stains remain because the wrong cycle or a cool temperature was used
How to confirm Use a heated cycle or a higher soil level
- 5
Top-loader (110-series HE, Water Level knob): the wrong detergent or too much detergent
What separates it Clothes are not clean and suds keep the washer from operating correctly
How to confirm Use only HE detergent and measure it by load size and soil level
- 6
Top-loader (110-series HE, Water Level knob): added water or a tightly packed load
What separates it Soils remain because the load could not move freely
How to confirm Do not add water and load items in loose heaps around the basket wall
Before you touch a setting
Record this first — changing settings destroys the evidence
- What the soil looks like on the clothes
- The cycle and the temperature that you chose
Try in this order
0 of 7 completedUse HE detergent
ReversibleUse HE detergent, and measure it for each load you wash, and then test again to see whether it helped.
Use the dispensers, and do not pour products in the tub
ReversibleUse the dispensers, and the detergent type selector, for each product, and then test again to see whether it helped.
Pick the cycle
ReversiblePick the cycle, such as Heavy Duty, Whitest Whites or Sanitary for heated cleaning on the front loader.
Load loosely, so that the clothes move freely
ReversibleLoad loosely, and do not add water by hand on the top loader, and then test again to see whether it helped.
Run Clean Washer
ReversibleRun Clean Washer monthly, to clear the build up in the drum, and then test again to see whether it helped.
Use HE detergent correctly
ReversibleKenmore says the suds from regular detergent can keep the washer from operating correctly, so use only HE detergent, measure it correctly and follow the manufacturer's directions for load size and soil level. Add detergent, oxi products and color-safe bleach to the bottom of the basket before the clothes.
Match the cycle to the load
ReversibleUse a higher soil level and a warmer wash temperature for heavy soils, and the Heavy Duty cycle for tough cleaning. Load garments in loose heaps evenly around the basket wall, do not pack the tub, and do not add water because the washer senses the load.
Model-specific
What is true of this model and not of its siblings
- Spin and dry
- Kenmore says the front-loader's stainless steel drum enables higher spin speeds for more water extraction, helping to reduce drying time, and its Dynamic Balance system reaches up to 1,050 rpm. A load that is well extracted also comes out cleaner because less soiled water is left in it, so a spin or balance fault can look like a cleaning fault.
- Larger loads
- With no agitator the front-loader washes larger, bulkier items such as an average size sleeping bag, pillow or king-size comforter, and more clothes at one time. It saves energy because only the required water is used, and with a low water level the same results can come from smaller amounts of laundry products. Overloading is still the commonest cause of poor cleaning.
- Front-loader guide: stains, lint and gray whites
- Kenmore's own 110.4996x guide lists the causes of stains, residue and dingy loads as detergent added to the drum rather than the dispenser, too little HE detergent, above-average iron (rust) in the water, which may call for an iron filter, unsorted loads, leaving the wash in the drum after it stops, powdered detergent in a low-speed cycle and Express Wash used on a large load. Wash water colder than 60 degrees F (15.6 degrees C) may not dissolve detergent fully, and heavy soils in cold or hard water need more detergent.
- Not cleaning checklist
- Added more water, not loaded as recommended, adding detergent on top of the load, not using HE detergent or using too much, not using the correct cycle for the fabric type, and not using dispensers are the causes Kenmore lists. It is normal for the wash load not to be completely covered in water.
- Other models this page answers
- These steps also fit the 110-series top-load washer.
Stop boundary
When this stops being a self-service repair
- !If results stay poor with HE detergent and a loose load, call Kenmore on 1-800-4-MY-HOME
- !If the washer will not fill or drain, follow those pages
Evidence ledger
Sources behind this answer
Kenmore's own guide for the 110 front-loader in full: the pages that carry the troubleshooting, care and cleaning sections are images, so they were read by text recognition and checked against the printed page.
Whirlpool's own table of front-load washer codes, used for the builder's front-load platform.
Exact questions
Common questions
What is Catalyst Cleaning Action?+
A concentrated detergent solution sprayed onto the clothes at the beginning of the cycle to help remove stains without pretreating.
What is Sanitary?+
A heated cycle that starts with Stepped Cleaning to remove stains like blood or grass.
Can I add water on the top-loader?+
No; added water lifts the laundry off the wash plate and cleans worse.
Should detergent go on top of the load?+
No; on the top-loader add it to the bottom of the basket before the load.
What is Whitest Whites?+
A heated cycle on the front-loader for white loads.
Should I add water to the washer?+
No, added water results in less effective cleaning.
Where do I put oxi boosters?+
In the bottom of the basket before adding the load.