Cleaning a washing machine

bizzylizzy

I need to clean the washing machine and I am going to put it on the hottest wash but what should I put in it? I am unsure which is best to use - vinegar or soda crystals? I know there is a whole thread on this but I have looked through (skimmed it really) and still don't know. Do they do the same thing?

I also wanted to put washing in at the same time, but surely I should use a washing agent instead of/as well as the vinegar or soda?

The things I was going to wash are my dog's old pillowcases I put on her bed and which I change each day and have saved up. It wouldn't hurt them to be washed at that high temperature.

Sorry if this is a stupid question but I am confused by this (doesn't take much......)

imataloss

I usually use Soda Crystals for cleaning my machine. Just run it on a very hot wash for the shortest amount of time.
I usually leave the drum empty.

Pink.

Hi bizzylizzy,

As your thread has dropped down the Old Style board I've added it to the existing one on cleaning a washing machine so you can see what others do.

Pink

squeakyclean226

bizzylizzy wrote: »

I need to clean the washing machine and I am going to put it on the hottest wash but what should I put in it? I am unsure which is best to use - vinegar or soda crystals? I know there is a whole thread on this but I have looked through (skimmed it really) and still don't know. Do they do the same thing?

I also wanted to put washing in at the same time, but surely I should use a washing agent instead of/as well as the vinegar or soda?

QUOTE]


I found the best way to clean the washing machine is to use Soda Crystals and White Vinegar together. I used a whole bag of Soda Crystals, half in the drum and half in the drawer, and then put vinegar in the fabric softener section of the machine. Worked a treat for me when my machine had a weird smell last summer. and it also breaks down limescale build up apparently. Hope this helps!

Brooktop

I found the best way to clean the washing machine is to use Soda Crystals and White Vinegar together. I used a whole bag of Soda Crystals, half in the drum and half in the drawer, and then put vinegar in the fabric softener section of the machine. Worked a treat for me when my machine had a weird smell last summer. and it also breaks down limescale build up apparently. Hope this helps!

The soda crystals won't break down the limescale...you need an acid for that like Citric Acid or a dedicated Descaler product. Soda crystals will help clean out the gunk...and hence the smell. It will also help new limescale forming on an ongoing basis.

bizzylizzy

Perhaps I need to do two 'washes' then, one with soda crystals and one with vinegar? Both at 95 degrees?
And then a regular monthly clean with just vinegar?

Brooktop

Hi Bizzylizzy

It depends how hard the water is in your area.

If you've not been using anything historically to prevent limescale build up, then it may be worth running a descaler (a strong acid) through it.

Soda crystals soften water and well help remove gunk (and the associated smell). Softening water will help prevent limescale build up but won't do much to remove existing scale as soda crystals are alkali. It shouldn't cost you any more because you can reduce the amount of detergent you use. Use the dosage for 'soft water' on the pack. A monthly hot wash with a bag of soda crystals and nothing in the drum is a good way of keeping your machine fresh.

If you do have hard water, you may want to use white vinegar regularly. You can use this instead of softener. Your initial thought may be that it will make your clothes smell like a chippy,:eek: but they won't. Regular conditioner can actually build up on towels etc over time which makes them less fluffy.

bizzylizzy

We have very hard water here. I have done 2 washes (empty) one with soda crystals and one with vinegar. I will do a vinegar hot "wash" every month from now on.

I use liquid bio detergent, can I add soda crystals to that to make the water softer in the machine?

DSmiffy

How does everybody get the muck out of the dispenser drawer section but the part at the top where the water comes through?
My dispenser drawer is black and slimy where the water comes through the holes... the holes are blocked up and not enough water comes through to wash the detergent into the drum. How can clean it without taking it apart? and why do they make them with all those little holes? Any ideas?I suually end up scrubbing it with a scrubging brush but it just pushes the slime back inside the machine.

nuttybabe

Hi

I was wondering if someone could help me. I currently use neat white vinegar as fabric conditioner when cleaning towels but my friend has just told me that putting neat white vinegar in will disolve the rubber and that if you have bad limescale problem calgon and similar are not strong enough. She has been told to spend £11 on a product from hotpoint to get rid of the limescale. It was the man from hotpoint that said all of this!

Does this sound right as now i am a bit worried about using vinegear neat also i thought the vinegear got rid of the limescale so you wouldnt need to spend more on any other products????

Thanks