Ewww my washing machine STINKS :(

Gilla_2

My OH does a hot wash with a nice smelling concentrated disinfectant every month. That seems to sort the washing machine out. We also use Calgon (or a cheaper equivalent - Lidle do a good one that's almost half the price) for almost every wash as we're in a hard water area.

rodrigo_2

vivw wrote: »

My machine is getting smelly and even with the Hi, Best to deal with the cause and this is usually the problem of using Bio powders at low tempreture as this fails to 'kill' the enzymes in the powder which leads to a build up in the machine. So saving energy and going 'GREEN' etc!!dreaded fabric softener the clothes are coming out smelly. I know this has been discussed before but I cn'e find the threads ...can anyone help

Hi, Smelly washing machines are often the result of using Bio powders at low tempreture as this fails to 'kill' the enzymes in the powder and leads to a build up in the machine. You may notice some slime around the door gasket etc. Very hot washes and non-bio powder may resolve this but in my experience it takes a little while. So turning the thermostat down to save energy does not appear to have been thought through!!

AHAR

I'd suggest leaving the door ajar when it's not in use. This will stop bacteria which grow in damp, stale air from taking hold.

pursekeeper

The best way i find to avoid messy powder drawers is by using liquid detergent in a dosing ball placed inside the drum itself, that way no powder to clog up the pipes either.

xpcomputers

I had a really bad problem with smelly washing machine a couple of year ago and did many hours of searching google for combined wisdom of the masses. I read lots (many many many long pages), and this condensed what seems to be the best of what I learned! I have used these tips on two different machines now, and they really work!

Everything I have read up on the subject suggests that smelly washing machines are mainly caused by our current use of only low temp washes.

Other factors that contribute to the effect can be use of only "coloured" washing liquid or powder, as this has no bleach in (whereas the older "whites" liquids & powders do have bleach!). Also leaving the door closed between washes, sets up a warm, damp environment that bad stuff can grow in!!!

The solution is easy. You buy some distilled vinegar (the regular brown stuff will work, but I think it is a bit "stickier", so distilled is best).

If your machine is already smelling badly, you ideally clean and unblock the filter at the bottom first (often a little screw-cap door on the bottom front), as it will be the worst bit and will likely cause a re-smelling if not dealt with. Beware the smell is often really really bad in there! You'll get smelly water out of there, so be ready with a bowl/oven tray to catch it all. An old toothbrush can help in cleaning up the filter and getting rid of the lint and smelly slime (I did warn you it was bad!)

Next you slosh some vinegar down each drawer channel, and put some in the conditioner slot (if you think it is really bad, you can slosh some into the drum directly too!). Run the hottest wash you have. This will clean the machine, de-scale the elements, kill the smell and leave you machine fresh and nice again. (Done this on two separate machines now, and it worked a treat!)

To keep your machine fresh in the future, you need to run an occasional hot vinegar wash as a "maintenance wash" (with no clothes in there). You will need less vinegar for the maintenance washes (about 1 cup or ½ mug).

If you can, then leave your washing machine door slightly ajar between washes, as this allows fresh air to circulate. Don't do this if you have young children or curious pets though (instead you can maybe leave the door open for an hour or two directly after a wash, to let it cool down before you shut the door).

You will also need to remove and rinse the filter regularly (as described above). If you do it regularly, it shouldn't be as smelly or bad in future, so stay on top of it! It is designed to catch all the fabric strands (and bigger stuff like coins and bra wires) before the pump. It is amazing how quickly this stuff can collect up. If you look in the washing machine instruction manual, they might suggest how often to clean the filter.

For those looking for a bargain, I got a big 5 litre canister of sarsons(!) distilled vinegar from a "macro" type place (I forget which one) for about £1.80, and I'm sure it is dirt cheap if you can find a big canister not made by sarsons! Anyone know where you get this?

Once you have your distilled vinegar, you will want to use it for other washing jobs too! I have been told that fabric conditioners are bad for towels, as they reduce their absorbency. The solution is to fill the conditioner compartment with distilled vinegar instead of fabric softener, on a towel wash. It will help rinse all the soap out (better than water on it's own) and it leaves the towels soft, absorbent and smelling fresh! It also helps your washing machine stay fresh and de-scaled.

You can find whole websites devoted to the amazing properties and benefits of vinegar for washing clothes, cleaning windows, in cooking, for health etc etc
This is one website I just found now - it isn't very well laid out, and implies there is a book to buy, but it is just all on the website... see links on the left - there's a whole section on laundry! etc). There are better websites out there, but you can look around google and see what you can find!

Using these tips means I that I haven't had smells or problems since, even though I still only ever use "colour" liquid as my washing product.

Hope this helps some people.

Mike

kitaj

My Miele washing machine (free 10 year guarantee from John Lewis and worth every penny I paid for it) came with instructions to run it through on a regular basis (every few weeks) with the hottest wash - empty or not - and soap POWDER, in order to keep it fresh.

We had a cesspit at our old house and the main thing that blocked it up was the fat (yes, fat:eek: ) from washing powder. Lakeland do wahing balls that mean that you don't have to use any detergent. They also do balls that you put in your dryer that fluff up the fibres in your wash meaning you don't need fabric softener in your wash or or in your dryer.

Pirans

You'll find a small flap at the front of your washing machine - open that (with tray underneath to catch any water) and remove the filter. Give that a clean and replace it !
Turn the water off first though. Hope that helps

Princess_H_2

WOW - so many tips on smelly washing machines! Mine has been dodgy for ages (and I leave the door open alllll the time!) Distilled Vinegar will certainly be on my shopping list this week and I'll give it a go. Thanks everyone :-)

fred_flower

Also make sure you leave the soap dispenser drawer open after the load has finished. In my experience this is normally where mould can build up if you're not careful. Remove the drawer from time to time and leave soaking in a solution of Milton fluid. Result: fresh and clean

minimoneyme

Hope this helps, you can find very cheap distilled vinegar 5ltr in some Asian/Indian grocery stores.

kitaj wrote: »

Lakeland do wahing balls that mean that you don't have to use any detergent. They also do balls that you put in your dryer that fluff up the fibres in your wash meaning you don't need fabric softener in your wash or or in your dryer.

re: the dryer balls these do work, they are great. I bought mine at the start of the year from Woolies 2 for £9.99, however the next week I saw a thread somewhere on MSE that they were in Poundland for, yes you've guessed it, £1.
Did not have the heart to go and check it out:(