Samsung WA55A7300 top-load washer does not clean clothes well

The checks in more detail

That works well when the drum has room for the clothes to move and the right amount of detergent is used, and poorly when it is packed or over-dosed. Start with the load. A drum packed to the top gives the clothes no room to move, so soil and water do not reach the fabric; fill it loosely to just below the top row of holes, and mix large and small items so that they tumble. Do not wrap sheets or long items around a center agitator post, if yours has one; on an impeller model spread items loosely around the plate.

Next, detergent. Use high-efficiency detergent in the amount printed for the load size and soil level; more is not better, because excess detergent makes suds that cushion the clothes and leave a film. Pretreat stains, which a low-water cycle cannot lift alone, and choose a cycle that suits the soil: Heavy Duty or Deep Fill for dirty loads and bulky items. Then clean the machine. A drum with a film of detergent and body oil leaves clothes smelling stale.

Run the Self Clean cycle when the reminder shows, empty, and wipe under the lid and around the wash plate. Check that both taps are open, so the washer fills properly, and that the water is not very cold on a stain-removal cycle. If clothes are clean on small loads with the right detergent but not on others, the cause is the load, not a fault. If a correct, modest load still comes out dirty, an inlet valve or the pump may be failing, which Samsung service can check with the model number.