Help! How to get rid of chemical smell in washing machine

TomsMom

I had a senior moment yesterday when washing some old towels that are being used for various jobs during our house renovation. Now we're nearing completion, I decided to wash them thinking they'd be useful for cleaning up the windows, etc.

In with the pile of dusty/dirty towels was one which had been used with some kind of chemical - solvent or something strong smelling like that. It's left the smell in the washing machine.

I've run an empty wash with washing powder at 50 degrees - still there.

I've run another empty wash with washing powder, soda crystals and Oxiclean at 90 degrees. Smell not so strong but still there.

I'm loath to put any of our clothes in whilst I can still smell it.

Any suggestions please?

jenny-wren

Lemon juice? It's great for taking smells off your hands or out of the fridge so it might work for a washing machine.

Try putting some directly in the drum and then run the machine on a rinse cycle.

maninthestreet

How about a wash cycle with some strong-smelling fabric conditioner?

TimBuckTeeth

It will go eventually, there is just some residue left in the machine.
Put some liquid kitchen cleaner (not cream type)- Cif, Mr Muscle etc. on a cloth and wipe all around the rubber door seal (and inside the lip) to remove any dirt and oily deposits (eg. from White Spirit)
Put it on a rinse cycle to fill it with water then stop the machine and set to drain. Repeat this a few times to flush water through the machine and the drain pump.
Remove the filter from the pump and clean it.
If it still smells, put it on a 90C wash again with soda crystals then rinse and drain a few times again.

jamie30gb

white vinigar is very good for cleaning to
i know my g/f uses it in our washing machine about once every three months.
use about 1/2 bottle and put it on a 60 wash.

TomsMom

Thanks for all your suggestions.

So far, after the 50degree wash, it's had 3 x 90 degree washes today with various mixtures of washing powder + soda crystals + Oxiclean + Bicarb and white vinegar + a few drops of tea tree oil in the rinse cycle. I've also wiped out with a weak solution of bleach and run a wash with a small amount of bleach in the machine. The smell is still there but quite a bit less now.

I've run out of soda crystals so will get some more tomorrow and continue for a day or two. I've also got some liquid flash I can wipe it out with. I wont wash any clothes until it's gone.

I'll have to ask hubby to do the filter bit Tim.

I certainly wont be putting any smelly cloths in again!

Thanks again.