Washing machine blockage?

hollydays

I noticed a few weeks ago that when i took items out of the machine (i mostly use the quick wash which is30 mins to 40 mins (cant quite remember),the washing sounded "crackly" like it still had soap suds in it,and thee were soap suds round the base of the door. I just thought this was maybe because the quick wash wasnt rinsing sufficiently.
Las two days thee has been a nasty smell in the kitchen that I can only say reminds me of the smell of stale washing water. Could this be linked?
Just off to put some soda down my sinks.
I also have a dishwasher in the kitchen,but I can't work out exactly where the smell is coming from.Any suggestions?

ormus

check the outside drains, they may be partially blocked.
use less soap in the washing machine and do a plain water wash every so often to clean the machine out. (a week or a month).

kwatt

Hi hollydays,

Your first mistake is mostly using quick wash, that's a recipe for disaster. Despite what they tell you in brochures about it being super duper fast there is a huge cost to achieve it, quick wash is designed to refresh clothes that are not soiled or to wash clothing that is "lightly soiled", i.e., it has not been worn next to skin.

There's a more comprehensive explanation in this article I wrote a while back on the subject which I hope explains it.

However, quick wash will almost invariably reduce the number of rinses and will leave residues as well as excess foam if you do not massively reduce the dose.

Also the temperature is reduced and you will have a bacteria build up inside the machine that you'll need to clean, that's what's causing the smell you have. Run a maintenance wash or clean it with the likes of Affresh to get rid of that. Maintenance wash instructions are here

I'm sorry and I know it's a big problem but, especially on a lot of low cost appliances, you have to live with the two hour wash times if you want it done properly and don't want these problems. But you do save electricity believe it or not.

HTH

K.

hollydays

Ok thanks- Iwill bear that in mind.You just reminded me i was going to put it on a hot wash this morning,so I will go and read your notes.It is a miele machine btw,and i have been using costco soap powder,maybe a bit too much,but its not great quality powder.

hollydays

Thanks-you were correct-a few hot washes and smell gone.