Fabric Softener Dispenser Overflowing

either the auto dispenser is sticking , take out and clean with hot water. Or flow control valve needs replacing.

Hello - There are several things that could cause the fabric softener to not dispense into the washer. Are you sure the liquid in the dispenser after the wash is fabric softener? If it is fabric softener, the solenoid that lets the water into the dispenser is not working. This solenoid is located on the back of the dispenser. It only gets voltage during the dispense time and fills the fabric softener dispenser with water. The fabric softener dispenser fills while the washer is filling for the rinse cycle.

When the washer begins to fill for the rinse cycle, the fabric softener solenoid is energized and water flows into the fabric softener dispenser cup. When the cup is full the water siphons out and softener and water flow into the tub.

If the liquid in the fabric softener dispenser is pure softener you may need a technician to diagnose and repair the problem. The voltage will have to be tested to the softener solenoid and a volt meter is required.

If the liquid in the fabric softener dispenser is water you probably need to clean the dispenser cup. **** will build up in the siphon tube and stop the liquid from going into the washer tub. The incoming water will dilute the softener and overflow the dispenser cup and run into the tub. The instructions for cleaning the dispenser should be located on page 43 of the use and care guide that came with the washer.

If you don't have the use and care guide these instructions will help. Open the dispenser until it stops. In the left rear corner of the dispenser, there is a release that is labeled push. Press down on the push area and you can slide the dispenser drawer out.

Remove the insert from the bleach and fabric softener compartments. Clean the bottom of the insert and the bleach and fabric softener compartments. Reinstall the insert and put the drawer back inside the washer.

To test the siphon action slowly pour water into the fabric softener compartment. When the water level goes above the maximum line stop pouring. The water should all drain out.

Hope this information proves to be helpful however if it is ineffective please contact a professional to move forward accurately.

Purchase some fabric softener and place it in its normal location at the beginning of the cycle. At the end of the cycle check to see if fabric softener has been dispensed and whether there is water in the cup.

If the fabric softener is gone, but there is water in the fabric softener cup, then your problem may be with the water valve assembly. The water valve assembly (as one complete unit) has a separate solenoid for hot and cold water temperatures, bleach and fabric softener. The fabric softener solenoid on the water valve assembly could be defective (allowing water to fill the fabric softener cup).

Contact an appliance service company.

Sounds like the seals & gaskets have failed. If you removed the wash plate trying to unjam the washer and did not also replace the gasket kit, you may have violated the integrity of the water tight seals. However, sometimes also the fabric softener dispenser especially, gets clogged and may overflow and leak if the tubes are clogged with coagulated fabric softener. As I am writing this, my washer's fabric softener dispenser is clogged and the method I use to clear it has not worked this time - a cup of boiling water to melt the congealed fabric softener. One has to open the top lid (method varies by Calypso model - Whirlpool or Kenmore) to get to the dispenser tubing and reservoir underneath to get things flowing again, and in fact I have a small water leak on the floor where the dispenser overflowed a bit. That you have a leak, if it happens to come from such a clog, at least gives you a sign that your dispenser solenoids are not malfunctioning, requiring replacement of one of the circuit boards.

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.

Remove the dispenser cup and clean it. Be sure to use He soap.

Thanks for using FixYa - a 4 THUMBS rating is appreciated for answering your FREE question.

Okay...the cone actually goes inside the the two other pieces you mention. The cone is to be inserted upside-down. That is, the opening of the cone should be facing UP. The way this fabric softener dispenser is supposed to work is, you place fabric softener thorugh the opening of the dispenser. The cone actually holds it like a cup. When the washer goes through the initial spin cycle before the rinse cycle begins, the centrifugal force of the washer spinning forces the fabric softener out of the cone and into the wash tub.

The dispenser assembly should just snap right on top of the agitator. If the dispenser does not stay on securely any longer, you may have to replace it with a new one. You can find replacements at searspartsdirect.com. Just type in the same model number you provided and look for item number 1 under the "Motor, Basket and Tub Parts" heading.

I hope you find this information helpful. If you still have questions, please let me know.

PS It is also a good idea to periodically remove the dispenser and soak it in some hot water to get rid of accumulations of hardened softner. They will clog from time to time.

According to the manual on pages 12 & 13.

1. Place a load of sorted clothes into the washer. See “Laundry
Tips.”
■ Load evenly to maintain washer balance. Mix large and
small items. Items should move easily through the wash
water.
■ Load only to the top of the basket as shown. Overloading
can cause poor cleaning. Items need to move easily
through the wash water.
2. Pour measured powdered or liquid High Efficiency detergent
into the detergent dispenser. Always use the detergent
dispenser, and do not put detergent directly onto clothes in
the washer.
3. Add color-safe bleach (powdered or liquid) to this dispenser,
if needed. Be sure to match powdered color-safe bleach with
powdered detergent or match liquid color-safe bleach with
liquid detergent.
4. Pour measured liquid chlorine bleach into the liquid chlorine
bleach dispenser, if needed. Bleach is diluted and
automatically dispensed at the proper time during the wash
cycle.
■ Do not overfill. Do not dilute. Do not use more than 1 cup
(250 mL) for a full load. Use less with a smaller load size.
■ Follow the garment and the chlorine bleach
manufacturer’s directions for proper use.
■ To avoid spilling, use a cup with a pouring spout. Do not
let bleach splash, drip, or run down into the washer basket.
■ At the end of the cycle, a small amount of water may be
left in the dispenser. This is normal.
NOTE: Use only liquid chlorine bleach in this dispenser.

5. Pour measured liquid fabric softener into the fabric softener
dispenser, if desired.
■ Do not overfill. The dispenser holds 3 oz (94 mL), or a
capful of fabric softener.
■ The fabric softener is dispensed in the final rinse. If Extra
Rinse is selected, the fabric softener will be dispensed
during the Extra Rinse.
■ Do not spill or drip any fabric softener onto the clothes.
■ At the end of the cycle, a small amount of water may be
left in the dispenser. This is normal.
NOTE: Use only liquid fabric softener in this dispenser.
6. Close the washer lid.
7. Press POWER. This turns on the washer display.
8. Select a Wash Cycle. See “Cycles.”
9. Select the desired Modifiers. See “Modifiers.”
10. Select an Option, if desired. See “Options.”
11. Select Delay Wash, if desired. See “Delay Wash” in the
“Modifiers” section.
12. Press START. The wash cycle begins, and the display shows
the estimated remaining time. The lid will lock.
NOTE: If you do not press Start within 5 minutes of pressing
Power, the washer automatically shuts off.


The way that I read the manual, your color safe bleach would go in the detergent dispenser. Your liquid chlorine bleach would go in the bleach dispenser.

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I'm sure you heard a small motor running from time to time during a cycle. That moves an "arm" which sends water to the different chambers during a cycle. Fabric softener is dispensed when water goes to that chamber and dilutes the fabric softener. That chamber then empties by a siphoning action.
If you want to narrow down the problem a little to help trouble shoot -- put some wet rags in and run the Rinse and Spin cycle with some fabric softener. If the softener is not dispensed, then you know that the water isn't being sent to that chamber properly.
If you are intrepid enough to take the top off your washer, do that and see if the arm appears to be moving during a normal cycle. Maybe the arm got dislodged or broken during the move.
If water isn't being diverted properly, I think this calls for a real repair person.

Fabric softener is mostly a liquid wax. It is common for dispensers to have problems if the you use liquid fabric softener a lot. The softener becomes a sticky solid and can gunk up everything over time. I believe the type of dispenser on your washer simply flushes water into the reservoir at a prescribed time and then dispenses into the wash tub. If this reservoir becomes clogged somewhere it may actually be filling up and overflowing into another reservoir in the dispenser and getting dispensed that way. I would try cleaning the dispenser thoroughly, first. Since it IS dispensing (but at the wring time) I don't think you have a control problem. Try cleaning and let me know if this helps. PS Sorry to ignore your request for online assistance. I was already in the middle of typing a solution for you. I hope this was the help you needed.