Washing Machine Slime Help Needed

smileypigface

We are trying to be a bit more eco-friendly this year (as well as wanting to be more economical!) so I've bought a box of ecover washing powder and a bag of washing soda and intend on mixing half and half to use in the washing machine.

We had started using those soft tablet things which you put directly on top of the clothes as the powder drawer on our washer keeps developing a horrible black slimey substance. We have to remove the drawer every now and then to scrub off the black slime. We also scrub it off the inside of the machine as far as we can reach into the space where the powder draw fits. It doesn't smell horrible, doesn't affect the clothes we put in the machine and there's no sign of the black stuff on the drum - just the powder drawer area. That's why we started not using the drawer - just putting the tabs inside the drum - using powder in the drawer did not stop the black slime forming.

So ... two questions:

1. I was thinking of trying a stardrops and washing soda combination in the drawer to try and flush out the black slime beyond where I can reach - good idea? or is stardrops too bubbly?

2. If we want to continue to avoid using the powder drawer and use the evover/washing soda mixture directly into the drum - where on earth do we get a washing powder "ball" to put the powder in? I thought about buying one of those liquid detergents that come with the ball and then using the ball - but I'm not keen to spend that much just to get the ball - and I'm not keen on using the less eco-friendly liquid. Any ideas what I can use as a "ball" or where I can buy one individually?

Many thanks

heatherw_01

I get this too. I still wipe it off where I can see, but I use soda crystals in the drawer and put it on a boil wash on empty.

kazzagrezza

You can order a free "in the machine" ball from aeriel.

Just go to their website and follow the instructions.

smileypigface

Excellent - thank you for that - I'll order a freebie one up!

Many thanks.

dannahaz

smileypigface wrote:

the powder drawer on our washer keeps developing a horrible black slimey substance. We have to remove the drawer every now and then to scrub off the black slime

I think the slime is caused by fabric conditioner rather than the powder. That's the case in my machine, anyway. When I used Bold 2 in 1 I didn't have the slime problem anymore. We then developed a sensitivity so now use Surcare, and are back to using separate soap and fabric conditioner, and the slime is back.

I've tried using vinegar instead of fab con, drawer problem solved, but didn't get my clothes soft enough, so I'm back to fab con and scrubbing drawer every so often.

V.Lucky

Mine was disgusting last week. Put the powder drawer in the dishwasher, then sprayed Mould and Mildew remover into the hole where the drawer goes and kept at it. Took all day but is now sparkling clean - but never seems to last long.

I know Mould and Mildew remover is not very OS but I have not found anything else that works as well, not even neat bleach.