This document is a Use & Care Guide for a White-Westinghouse Washer, also referred to as "LAVADORA" in Spanish. It covers various models including SWX703HS, SWX703HQ, SWS833HS, SWS833HSQ, SWS1233HS, SWS1233HQ, SWS1339HS, SWS1339HQ, SWS1649HS, and SWS1649HQ. The manual provides essential information for safe operation, proper usage, and maintenance of the appliance.
The primary function of this device is to wash clothes. It is designed for household use and offers various washing procedures to accommodate different types of laundry and soil levels.
Important Safety Instructions:
The manual emphasizes several critical safety warnings. Users are cautioned against fire and electrical shock hazards. It explicitly states not to use adapter plugs or extension cords, and to never remove the grounding prong from the electrical power cord. Mixing liquid chlorine bleach with other household chemicals like toilet cleaners, rust removers, acids, or ammonia-containing products is strictly prohibited due to the risk of producing dangerous fumes that can cause serious injury or death.
To prevent fire, users must not wash items previously cleaned, soaked, or spotted with flammable substances like gasoline, cleaning solvents, kerosene, cooking oils, or waxes, as these give off vapors that could ignite or explode. Oily or greasy rags/clothing should not be placed on top of the washer. The addition of flammable substances to wash water is forbidden. The manual also warns about hydrogen gas, which can be produced in hot water systems unused for two weeks or more. Before using the washer after such a period, hot water faucets should be run for several minutes to release accumulated hydrogen gas. Smoking or open flames are prohibited during this time.
To protect children, the manual advises against allowing them to play on or in the washer and emphasizes close supervision. Packing materials should be destroyed immediately after unpacking, as they can pose suffocation risks. Laundry products must be kept out of children's reach. Before discarding the washer, the lid should be removed to prevent accidental entrapment.
To prevent injury, the washer must be installed and electrically grounded by a qualified service person according to local codes. The electrical power cord must be plugged into a properly grounded and polarized 3-prong outlet, and the third grounding prong must never be removed. Grounding the washer to a gas pipe is forbidden. Extension cords or adapter plugs should not be used. All repairs and servicing must be performed by an authorized servicer using authorized factory parts. Users are warned not to tamper with controls or install/store the washer where it will be exposed to weather. The washer must always be disconnected from the electrical supply before any service or cleaning.
Washing Procedures:
The manual outlines a step-by-step process for washing clothes:
- Sort Laundry: Items should be sorted by color, water temperature, wash time, and agitation/spin speed. Separate whites, lights, and colorfast items from dark and non-colorfast items. Separate items that shed lint from items that attract lint. Delicate items should be placed in a mesh bag. Empty pockets before washing.
- Prepare Items: Empty pockets, close zippers, fasten hooks, ties, snaps, and remove non-washable trims and ornaments. Remove pins, decorative buttons, belt buckles, and other objects that could damage the washer or other items. Mend rips and tears. Place delicate items in a mesh bag to prevent tangling. Turn knit items inside out to prevent pilling.
- Pretreat Stains: Refer to the "Stain Removal" section for detailed instructions.
- Add Measured Detergent: Follow manufacturer's directions. The amount depends on detergent type, load size, and water hardness.
- Add Liquid Bleach (some models): For models with a bleach dispenser, dilute the recommended amount of liquid chlorine bleach in 1 quart (0.95 L) of water and add to the dispenser. For models without a dispenser, add diluted bleach to the wash water after the wash cycle has started. Never pour bleach directly on the wash load.
- Add Laundry Load: The dry load level should not exceed the top row of holes in the wash tub. Do not overload the washer. Items should not be placed on top of the agitator or wrapped around it. Load items evenly, combining large and small items. Large items should not exceed half the total wash load. For single heavy items, 1 or 2 towels should be added to balance the load.
- Add Liquid Fabric Softener (some models):
- Built-in Dispenser: Add liquid softener to the dispenser, following label directions. Add water to the fill line on the dispenser cap. Remove and rinse the dispenser after each use.
- Removable Dispenser: Attach the dispenser to the agitator, add softener and water to the peg's top. Remove and rinse after each use.
- Without Dispenser: Add diluted fabric softener to the final rinse. Do not pour directly on the wash load.
- Set Controls: Adjust the cycle selector knob and other washer controls based on load type, size, soil level, and detergent used. Refer to the "Operating Instructions" for specific model controls.
- Start Washer: Close the lid and pull out the cycle selector knob. The washer will not fill, agitate, or spin if the lid is open. Push the knob in to stop the washer. To change a cycle, push the knob in, turn it clockwise to the desired setting, and pull it out to restart.
- Remove Items: Remove items once the cycle is complete. The lid locks during spin and remains locked for about 1 minute after the tub stops. To open the lid during a spin, push in the cycle selector knob and wait for the lid lock to release. Do not force open a locked lid.
Maintenance Features:
- Inside Cleaning: Remove items promptly after the cycle ends to prevent wrinkling, color transfer, or odors. Wipe the tub with a nonabrasive household cleaner and rinse thoroughly. Clean the agitator or tub from fabric dye stains using a nonabrasive household cleaner.
- Outside Cleaning: Wipe off surfaces with a damp cloth. Turn water faucets off to prevent pressure buildup in hoses. Clean the cabinet with mild soap and water. For stubborn stains, use diluted chlorine bleach (1/2 cup (120 ml) in 1 quart (0.95 L) water). Rinse several times. Remove glue residue with tape or labels with a mixture of warm water and mild detergent.
- Moving the Washer: Place a strip of cardboard or thin fiberboard under the front leveling legs to prevent floor damage.
Winterizing Instructions (for cold weather care):
- Turn off water supply faucets.
- Disconnect hoses from water supply and drain water from hoses.
- Plug electrical cord into a properly grounded electrical outlet.
- Add 1 gallon non-toxic recreational vehicle (RV) antifreeze to the empty wash tub. Close the lid.
- Set the cycle selector knob at a spin setting. Pull out the knob and let the washer spin for 1 minute to drain out the water. Not all of the RV antifreeze will be expelled.
- Push in the knob, unplug the electrical power cord, dry the tub interior, and close the lid.
- Store the washer in an upright position.
- To remove antifreeze from the washer after storage, run an empty washer through a complete cycle using detergent. Do not add wash load.
Troubleshooting (Avoid Service Checklist):
The manual includes a comprehensive troubleshooting guide for common issues:
- Noise: "Clunking" or gear sounds are normal for heavy-duty washers. Rattling and clanking may indicate foreign objects in the tub or pump, or belt buckles hitting the tub. Squealing sounds or hot rubber odors suggest an overloaded washer. Thumping sounds are normal for heavy wash loads but may indicate an unbalanced load. Vibrating noise can be caused by an unlevel washer, shipping bolts not removed, or an unevenly distributed load.
- Operating Issues:
- Washer does not start: Check if the lid is completely closed, the power cord is plugged in, the house fuse/circuit breaker, water supply faucets are on, or the cycle selector is in the correct position. An overheated motor will stop automatically and restart after a cool-down period.
- Washer won't spin: Ensure the lid is completely closed.
- Water Issues:
- Wash load too wet after spin: Indicates an overloaded or unbalanced load, or a kinked drain hose.
- Water does not enter or enters slowly: Check if the lid is closed, water supply is adequate, faucets are fully open, or water is being used elsewhere.
- Water level does not cover load: Kinked water inlet hoses or an overloaded washer.
- Warm or hot water is not hot enough: Hot water heater set too low, distance from heater, or hot water being used elsewhere.
- Water does not drain or drains slowly: Kinked or clogged drain hose.
- Water leaks: Loose fill hose connections, clogged house drain pipes, or oversudsing.
- Incorrect wash and rinse temperatures: Hot and cold water hoses connected to the wrong supply faucets.
- Water entering but tub does not fill: Incorrect drain hose standpipe height.
- Water present in tub after wash cycle or drain/spin cycles did not occur: Lid lock malfunction.
Common Washing Problems and Solutions:
- Blue stains: Caused by detergent or liquid fabric softener not dissolving/dispersing. Solution: Soak in white vinegar and water, or rub with bar soap. Prevention: Add detergent before the wash load, dilute fabric softener.
- Discoloration, graying: Not enough detergent, low wash water temperature, incorrect sorting. Solution: Rewash with correct detergent and hottest water. Prevention: Sort by soil level/color, use correct detergent/water temperature/bleach.
- Greasy, oily stains: Not enough detergent, undiluted liquid fabric softener. Solution: Pretreat with stain remover/liquid detergent, increase detergent/water temperature, rewash. Prevention: Use correct detergent/water temperature, do not pour fabric softener directly on fabric.
- Holes, tears, snags: Incorrect use of chlorine bleach, unfastened zippers, rips/tears, overloading, fabric degradation. Solution: May be irreversible. Prevention: Never pour bleach directly on fabric, check item condition.
- Lint: Incorrect sorting, tissues in pocket, overloading, not enough detergent, undissolved detergent, static cling, load washed too long. Solution: Reduce load size, rewash with correct settings, add water conditioner, add fabric softener, dry in dryer, remove lint. Prevention: Sort, prepare load, do not overload, use correct detergent/water.
- Pilling: Normal with synthetic/permanent press fabrics due to abrasion. Solution: Use lint brush/shaver. Prevention: Use fabric softener, spray starch, turn items inside out.
- Residue or powder on dark items; stiff, harsh fabrics: Undissolved detergent, nonphosphate granular detergents with hard water minerals. Solution: Reduce load size, add dissolved detergent, soak in white vinegar. Prevention: Increase water temperature, do not overload, use liquid detergent or nonphosphate granular detergent.
- Wrinkling: Overloading. Solution: Reduce load size, rinse in cold water with liquid fabric softener. Prevention: Do not overload, remove items promptly, use liquid fabric softener.
- Yellow buildup of body soil on synthetic fabrics: Agitation time too short, low wash water temperature, not enough detergent. Solution: Soak in detergent booster, wash in hot water with full permanent press cycle, increase detergent, add bleach, or use color remover. Prevention: Wash synthetics frequently with hot water and correct water level.
- Yellow or brown rust stains: Iron or manganese in water supply, pipes, or water heater. Solution: Use rust remover safe for fabric (do not use chlorine bleach). Prevention: Use nonprecipitating water softener, run hot water to clear lines, drain water heater, install iron filter.
The manual is made in USA and has a P/N 137123700A (0812).
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