Save my washing machine!!!

ema_o

Hello
Sorry if I'm posting in the wrong place, the muddy clothes link in the index doesn't seem to work!
My OH plays rugby and is constantly coming home with muddy kit:eek:. He has just been chucking it in the washing machine, but I am getting worried that the mud will start to damage the machine, there is often some mud left in between the drum and the door. However it does get the kit really clean (we have a sports programme which is meant to be for this)

What is the best way to deal with really muddy kit? I have a feeling we should soak it first but am not sure what in, or for how long? He did once chuck it in a bowl with water but it just ended up sitting there for a couple of days

Thanks
Em x

Gingernutmeg

My stepbrother used to play a lot of rugby and when his kit was really bad, we tended to rinse it first to get the worst mud off before we washed it. This time of year is terrible isn't it?

HockeyDuo8083

Yup rinse with hose outside if possible or maybe dip in a bucket or large bowl before chucking machine.

HTH and good luck!

Sunnyday

Hi we have lots of muddy dog towels to wash but i just wipe the inside of the door seal with a damp cloth afterwards.

When we had 2 huge long haired german shepherds a while a go the amout of mud on the towels was horrendous.

We had a big wine makers fermenting tub with an airtight lid which you can get from lots of places (they are £7.99 in wilkinsons) and we used to soak them in this with water and stardrops. When we had a full load we used to wring them out and put them straight in the washer, it worked well as we had that particular machine for over 18 years without anything going wrong with it.
HTH

SD

mandy_moo_1

i have my 16 year old son's rugby kit to wash twice a week.....yep, you're right...it's a nightmare!!

i find if you soak them in hot water and washing up liquid for half an hour or so, swishing them about, to get most of the mud out,and then wash them in the washer, then it's loads easier on the machine

Pyewacket338

mandy_moo_1 wrote: »

i find if you soak them in hot water and washing up liquid for half an hour or so,

Carefull with the washing up liquid, it will create a lot of suds which washing machines don't like, Automatic machine washing powders have anti-foam additives........ can you still get the old fashioned twin tub wash powder? ...... crikey... that's showing my age!!!! :eek:

ema_o

HockeyDuo8083 wrote: »

Yup rinse with hose outside if possible or maybe dip in a bucket or large bowl before chucking machine.

HTH and good luck!

Ha ha, can I hose with him still in it?!?

Thanks for suggestions, I am def going to make him start rinsing it first!

abaxas

Why not.

Do a quick wash but do a 'rinse hold'.
Then restart on your normal setting?

greenbee

Make sure you clean out the filter regularly...

craftlady

Why do they make rugby shirts with white collars:mad: .
I can't get get them clean maybe I'm washing it wrong or using the wrong powder. Sunday I washed the kit twice and it still looks dirty. Glad I only have one boy - was rugby kit 4 times a week :eek: . May be I will try soaking first.

Gingernutmeg

They were the bane of my life too craftlady! I found that oxyaction stuff helped a bit, or for really disgustingly dirty ones a rub with old-fashioned laundry soap made a difference. I've lost count of the times we made stepbro stand outside while his dad hosed him down lol