Cleaning a washing machine

julietiff

Not hard water and automatic washing machine. No
maid unless you count hubby and he is in working order lol.

decogecko

I use soda crystals on a 90 degree wash (on the short cycle) to clean the washing machine.

I used to use HG service engineer from l*akeland but the soda crystals work just as well as it and for a fraction of the price.

HTH

DundeeDoll

How often do you do this? We do a couple of washes a week at 40 with non-bio (due to allergies) powder and no conditioner. Water pretty soft.

julietiff

Thanks all. Am going to go with soda crystals how much should i use?

Pink.

This thread should help:

Cleaning a washing machine

I'll add this thread to that one later to keep the suggestions together.

Pink

Honey_Bear

Ah. Automatic clothes washing machine - very straightforward (and slightly dull, but never mind).

Clean the soap/detergent/fabric conditioner dispenser drawer. If any of it is black, part of the problem is the drawer. It's nowhere near as difficult as you first think it's going to be if you haven't done it before. If you've lost the instructions, g00gle your make and model on the manufacturer's website - they're full of help because most people seem to think that Instructions are for stupid people and chuck them in the bin before they pay someone to unpack appliances.

Then run the machine on the hottest possible wash without anything in it - no clothes, no detergent, no fabric conditioner, nothing.

When it finishes (which could be over two and a half hours depending on the make and model) open the door and let the drum air for 24 hours to dry out. While that's happening, find the filter and clear it. It might be gunged up with stinky stuff, dog hair, your hair, husband's hair (and/or maid's hair). Use the manufacturer's website to find where the filter is and how to clear it if you're still trying to find the Instructions that came with the machine.

If it's still a problem, follow the Lovely Bossy Moo's excellent advice on what to put in the drawer/drum to clear out the rest of the lingering gunge that is living and breeding in you machine, and trust me, that is exactly what it's doing. It's the living, breathing, breeding bacteria that causes the smells.

decogecko

I normally do it once a month (when I remember!!) there is just me though so my washing machine is not constantly on the go. I do live a very hard water area so use a small amount of soda crystals in each wash too (cheaper than c*lgon) to prevent hard scale build up.

The 90 degree wash is recommended by 'experts' to kill the germs etc that may lurk in the machine as many people are now washing at low temperatures.

But at the end of the day it's personal preference

urstrinath

i need best Quality With less Price washing machines can any body guide me..?

mbb123

doesn't the acid in the vinegar damage the washing machine ?

BitterAndTwisted

No, not in the dilute quantity used. As detergent is highly alkaline the acetic acid neutralises it.