Sorry to be extra dull but in 50+ years of existence I've never had one single reason to use fabric softener, and I suspect that the last 30,000 years worth of human generations didn't either
Why pollute the planet more for absolutely no reason?
this post was submitted on 27 Nov 2024
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Hard water I believe. But not sure of how or why it helps if it does
It doesn't
Fabric Softener is the absolute worst. It builds-up in pipes, clogs everything.
I had a system similar to yours, the softener would come out little slots on the outside of the agitator, about half-way down. I just fed a long plastic zip-tie up the slot and opened things up that way. Then a few months later it clogged up again, and I grabbed another zip-tie. Eventually I quit using softener and just threw a dryer sheet into the dryer.
I think the part you're talking about does come off. https://www.repairclinic.com/Repair-Library/Part-Testing/8363/Washing-Machine-Agitator-Or-Wash-Plate-Removal
You're right, though. It just spits the stuff out during the first spin cycle. If it doesn't spin fast enough, the softener won't come out, so it might be that you're overloading the machine?
That video isn't super helpful, but the part you're looking for is basically "pull this part off, then move on to the next step".
If it's the other style dispenser, this video describes how to take one apart. They might have videos for your specific model. https://www.repairclinic.com/Repair-Library/Part-Replacement/7476/Whirlpool-Top-Load-Washer-Fabric-Softener-Dispenser-Assembly-Replacement-W11175629
It does come off but doesn't come apart. There's a big green ring around it that says "pull up to remove," comes off real easy but it's one solid unit and I can't get into it, I have no clue how they manufactured it. The manual for the washer just says rinse it; I can't get it apart to pick out any gunk that's in any narrow crevices or whatnot. The last time these were rinsed was never ago.
I'd leave it submersed in a bowl of warm water for a while and then try flushing any openings with warm water from the tap. Failing that try a pipe cleaner. It's only gotten gunked up with stuff that's water soluble..
Soak it in a hot lye solution for a bit. That shit eats all kinds of organic crud. I keep huge bottles of it for making soap and fixing and restoring things.