Hi Frances
From what you explain the soap powder is not going in to the machine. Although the fabric conditioner is.
Initial feed to the appliance comprises of a balance between hot water and cold. Hot water is used in the detergent comartment, the powder and cold for rinses and final fabric conditioner.
At this point I would cosider your hot water valve has been turned off, or there is a restriction in flow maybe a kink in the pipe behind the machine, perhaps you live in a flat or bungalow where the hot water header tank does not provide enough pressure to the washing machine valve or worst case senario the hot water valve on your washing machine has failed you, in which case you need to get an approved local engineer by someone whom recommends them.
Regards
Julian
Julian, May 2008
