What is the specific model of your machine? There were three Intuitive Eco models sold on the U.S. market -- IWL12, IWL15, and IWL16. IWL16 uses a different method to detect off-balance spin than IWL12 and IWL15. I have an IWL12. Rarely have off-balance situations. No trouble ever with sheets. Items of hugely-differing fabric weights ideally should not be washed together (large cotton bath towels with lightweight knit casuals, for example). I also don't wash towels with sheets being as sheets are typically lighter-weight fabric. I have on occasion washed a set of sheets with typical casual, oxford-type button-down shirts ... the fabric weight is similar. When loading sheets, do not wrap them around the agitator. Gather up a sheet into a loose bundle and place it in the basket. Gather up the other sheet the same way and place it on the opposite side. Fill the space between with the pillow cases or other similar-weight items (lingerie is fine). If you have two sets of sheets to run, place each one in a quadrant of the basket, with the pillow cases evenly/loosely on top.

Note that there is a designated LifeCycle for comforters. It's preset for high water level, a specific agitation profile, and runs two deep rinses, with no spin until after the 2nd rinse (the softener dispenser cannot be used). As a safety factor, the machine pauses before the spin, beeps for attention ... the display advises the user to press the item down below the medium-high water level marking on the agitator, then press Start to continue. Overstuffed/bulky items such as comforters may trap air and float/billow somewhat up out of the wash water. The pause and advisory before spin is to insure the large item is not sticking up out of the tub where it could get damaged/ripped/torn from contact with the machine or tub top.

The creasables option reduces the spin speed from 1010 RPM (high) to 300 RPM (slow) ... or 600 RPM (medium) if the option is changed accordingly in the secondary menu. It also increases the auto-sensed water level one "step" higher (but of course not higher then maximum) so the clothes float more loosely in the wash water for less wrinkling, and adds an extra rinse before the first spin.

Looking at my User Guide right now, it says A. Add detergent - Add detergent down the center of the agitator stem. There is no mention of mixing detergent with water before adding it to the machine. I've *never* done that, with either liquid or powder detergent. The instructions do say to dilute chlorine bleach with water.

I am with dadoes: I have the IWL16 (have for 6 years now) and have none of the issues you describe. The only time I ever get out of balance issues is when washing something huge and bulky, like a floor rug. Never had it with "normal" laundry.

Also, same comment on the "mix water with the laundry detergent" bit. No mention of that anywhere in any of F&P's documentation, so I am not sure where that idea came from.

I realize that others do not have these issues. That's why I'm asking for help. Please tell me what I am doing wrong.

Here's another situation. My daughter does her laundry by sorting into darks and lights. Her dark load may consist of 5 pairs of jeans, two sweatshirts, and then various lightweight shirts, tennis clothes, etc. The fact that she never has an even number of jeans could be an issue as well. Invariably this load becomes unbalanced. Should she be doing two loads instead of one? One load with jeans and sweatshirts, one load of the lightweight stuff? And if so, doesn't anyone mind that this takes twice as much time as it would have with the old style top load washing machines?

Again, I'm just asking for help. Educate me.

Going to take shot in the dark, here, because I'm not familiar with the F&P and I've not encountered the issue with TL's generally, but......

Wondering about the possible issue of the machine's suspension components...the possibility of their not being able to work properly because they're not being able to bear well on their supports. Have you checked to see if the machine's feet are bearing firming and nearly equally on the floor? Not talking about "leveling"....talking about weight/load-bearing.

I'm probably sounding like a broken record at this date but I've encountered the issue so frequently with FL's (and, upon correction, seen them perform wonderfully) I can't help but wonder.

DigginInTheDirt,

I've contacted you offboard to continue troubleshooting your problem.

Regards to your daughter's mix of jeans/sweats/casuals, that may be OK depending on how the varying numbers and types of items actually mix together during agitation. An odd number of jeans shouldn't matter, I've run loads of 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 pairs with no difficulty whatsoever. However, I *never* wash jeans with lightweight fabrics (or with anything light-colored), so yes I would run it as two loads, in *any* type of washer. Particularly in regards to drying, mixing heavy cotton jeans and sweats with lightweight synthetic or cotton/blend knits will result in the jeans coming out damp ... or more likely the lightweight items being harshly overdried. No, I'm not bothered that two loads (of course) takes more time. I would never do laundry any other way than by sorting fabric types/weights accordingly.

Try loading jeans per the technique that I mentioned for sheets ...

... in loose heaps spaced around the basket like this (visually divide the space into thirds or quarters). For six pairs, another layer of three. Five pairs, three on the bottom, then two more. Four pairs or eight, space in quarters.

Fill in other items between/atop the jeans per the size and quantity.

NOT wrapped around like this ...

Dadoes, you are wonderful. That is exactly what I need - the visuals. You took a lot of time to help me, and I appreciate it. I've been wrapping, so I think that may be problem number 1, although I thought my husband was clumping and he was still having problems. We will give this a try.