Cleaning a washing machine

YouFixit

To my opinion, one issue is not getting perfectly clear in this thread.

It is the issue of where to put the vinegar.
I'm afraid there's more to it than can be put in a few words.
If you read further, you'll discover that you'll need another substance once in a while to complete the job.

A. If the vinegar gets into the machine at the same time as the soap, the two chemical substances (acid and alkali) neutralize each other, as BitterAndTwisted so rightfully puts it. This means that none of these do what they are supposed to do.

B. Vinegar (use the cheaper version that's not suitable for consumption, namely Householdvinegar), does three things:

• It keeps the lime scale that comes with the water, dissolved in the water and solves any residues from earlier cycles,
• It neutralizes any remains of soap left from earlier cycles,
• It brightens up colors.

C. For best results, fill the softener compartment up to the marking with vinegar. The vinegar is washed in with the last rinse cycle, so that it is able to do it's job at precisely the right moment.

D. The dilution of the vinegar is too weak to kill the specific bacteria that grow in the interior of your machine when you only wash at low temperatures. These bacteria cause the nasty smell and sometimes stains in your clothing.

Completing the job:

E. To deal with these bacteria, use washing soda or soda ash(Na2CO3). Fill the washing powderc ompartment with two tablespoons washing soda and run a 95° washing cycle every month.
Washing soda is an alkali and is an impotant ingedient of many dish washer detergents. It solves fat, soap and many other substances.

A note about some newer machines (a.o Miele Soft Care or Miele Softronic). These machines contain aluminum parts that are embedded in washing water.
Aluminum erodes in time in strong acid and alkali environments. Aluminum parts however do suffer much more from the acid excrements from the bacteria that grow on the soap residues behind the drum!
If in doubt, use instead the cleaner solution that is advised by the manufacturer of your machine.

CookieH

Washing machines and dishwashers

Both vinegar and lemon juice will do a great job of removing any limescale deposits and freshening up your machines' innards at the same time. In a washing machine, use a large cup of either liquid in place of your usual detergent and run a normal washing cycle (without clothes). In a dishwasher, pour the liquid into the base of the machine rather than the detergent dispenser.

This is from the Guardian Newspaper

Bostin2

Thanks to everyone for the tips. I now have a fresh and clean washer once again. All that vinegar and nowhere to put the chips!:eek:

Fredula

CookieH wrote: »

Washing machines and dishwashers

Both vinegar and lemon juice will do a great job of removing any limescale deposits and freshening up your machines' innards at the same time. In a washing machine, use a large cup of either liquid in place of your usual detergent and run a normal washing cycle (without clothes). In a dishwasher, pour the liquid into the base of the machine rather than the detergent dispenser.

This is from the Guardian Newspaper

Haha, I've got visions of a washing machine full of water with a lemon bobbing up and down in it :rotfl:

Owl

Ok, I hope this helps someone, I used lots of advice from here (plus a few other googles!) and my machine is now sparkling, smelling nice, washing well and seems more efficient!
1- soda crystals in drum, vinegar in drawer, ninety degree wash
2 -clean filter (£1.10 up!)
3- bleach water scrub of drawer and drawer slot
4- empty ninety degree wash
5- dishwasher tablet in drawer and one in drum, this was vile, it loosens the grease and residues...
6- wipe down all bits (especially glass door- this is wear the residues stuck on mine) yuk!!
But worked a treat! Now, I hadn't cleaned m machine for AGES,so suspect I won't have t do all these steps again, but will dip in and out of them, I think, every school holiday (teacher...)

Fredula

^ Is that step by step? If so, what do you mean by clean filter?

If it's not step by step, is number 4 putting it on another 90degree wash and then letting it empty? I'm confused about step 3. *thicko over here*

uggsxx

Talithia I live in a soft water area too so no lime scale issues. I just put a scoop of soda crystals in my washer on a cotton wash temperature at 90 or 65 and set it running. Always leave the washer door slightly ajar when not in use to help the air circulate this prevents bad smells. I do the above was and clean the filters and soap dispenser draw every 6 to 8 weeks. My soap draw removes and I just wash this in the sink with fairy liquid and a tooth brush. My washer is 6 years old now and never needed an engineer. Hope this helps

[Deleted User]

Other than buying one of the made for it products are there any OS things that are just as effective? I use citric acid to descale the kettle and steamer but am not sure how much to use, if at all to use on the washing machine. Or even the dishwasher? Is it worth bothering with?

good_advice

Hello, I occasionly clean my washing machine with White vinegar in the draw and put on the hottest wash wile the drum is empty.

S-Iam

I use
Dri Pak Fine Soda Crystals 1kg £1
In my washing machine. I put a scoop in the dispenser/drawer and then put the machine through its hottest wash. I do this once a month. This does several things it stops lime scale buildup (I live in a very hard water area), it kills the bacteria that the low temperature washes don't kill, and it stops washing powder build up. All of which mean my machine works more effectively. So, to me, this is cost effective. I have tried white vinegar in the machine, but I was never sure how much to use, so I feel more confident with using soda crystals, even though I still guesstimate the amount. I do however use white vinegar to descale the kettle.

Hth