Unpleasant smell from washing machine

Throbbe

Hi all.

We've had our washing machine for around 5 years now, and lately I've noticed a pretty unpleasant smell, and on one occasion brown stains on our clothing.

I've run a couple of empty washes, with a splash of bleach in the drum which cleared it, but the smell returned after a couple of washes. Checked the filter and that's clean.

The smell seems to be from the drum, and doesn't seem to be particularly strong at the outflow pipe. I'm intending to pull the machine out tomorrow and remove the pipework to make sure it's not partially blocked.

We tend to use gel capsules which go straight in the load, and a liquid conditioner in the drawer. The conditioner does build up a sludge over time and I have to take the drawer out and clean it.

My current favourite theory is that if the conditioner was building up in the tray, then there is also likely to be some 'sludge' between there and the drum. Not quite sure how to move it if that's the case, but I'll try flushing it through over the weekend. I think no 1 daughter has a super soaker that could be handy!

Any other ideas?

MX5huggy

Sludge in the door seal.

http://www.washerhelp.co.uk/usage_2.html#cl_q1

Start using proper powder, it much better and you can use the correct quantity, and it's cheaper.

kent0405

There might be collected water under the rubber door seal of your washer over the years of using it. Every time you didn't drain the water eventually, it stagnates and produces a foul odor.

Throbbe

MX5huggy wrote: »

Sludge in the door seal.

http://www.washerhelp.co.uk/usage_2.html#cl_q1

Start using proper powder, it much better and you can use the correct quantity, and it's cheaper.

Cracking link, looks like the black mould on the dispenser is also down to using capsules. Many thanks.

Nice to see a recommendation for vinegar too (3rd most useful substance known to man after wd40 and gaffer tape) :rotfl:

Fed_Up_Tradesman

Another tip is to leave your w/m tray slightly ajar and the door slighty open when not in use.

This allows air to circulate and moisture to evaporate.

robatwork

As well as the above, try a 90 degree wash with just soda crystals in the drum.

johnrregan

does your washing machine waste connect to your sink trap? ive had a few calls to similar problems where the flexible washing machine waste was connected to the trap under the sink. now theres nothing at all wrong with this, except the one flaw which i keep seeing. you need to take the pipe higher than the sink waste before bringing it down to the connection. if it doesnt have this raised section, then when you empty the sink after washing up, dirty water will run back down the pipe and into the washing machine, collecting there and stinking a bit after a while. usint the machine a lot helps as it is constantly being pumped out, but eventually, you will need to reposition the pipe so that water cant run back down the waste from the sink into the machine.