How to get ink out of the washing machine?

How do I get a washing machine to drain better when the drain is 7ft above the floor?

• Our washing machine is about 10-12 years old (handed down to us about 6 years ago) over the time that we've had it we've noticed that clothes coming out of it tend to show soap residue, particularly dark clothes. We tried changing detergent brands and amounts and adding vinegar. No luck. The machine is in our basement and drains into our main septic line, about 7 ft above the floor. I'm thinking that part of the issue may be that the machine is unable to get all of the water out of the drain line successfully due to the height. The machine itself doesn't show any problems with emptying water from the tank though. Any advice? I've heard running the drain hose from the machine to a sump pump might help, but don't want to spend money on a pup if it won't matter. Likewise, I don't want to buy a new machine if the problem is with the drainage and not the machine itself.

• Answer:

  Well, the first question would be... Do you see water standing in the tub after the clothes have been removed from a complete cycle?  If all the water is out, then your drain is not the issue.  There is a possiblility that the rise to the drain causes some of the water to drain back into the tub.  But, this is unlikely.  You are most likey having hard water issues or a machine that is not functioning properly in all it's cycles.  From your question, it seems it does fine eliminating the waste water.  hard water stains will show on darker clothes as whitish powder and on white clothes as a dingeyness.  I would suggest you have your hardness tested and watch the washer through all it's cycles.