cleaning washing machine drawer

[Deleted User]

Hi , I am trying to clean the gunky old soap from my soap dispenser in my washing machine I managed to remove the drawer, but my dainty little paws can't get much further .Has anyone any ideas how I can clean the grotty bits that I can't get to without calling in a washing machine repair man as I am trying to keep my bills down. When I went to put the machine on this morning the bit that has the conditioner in was full of water ugh it was disgusting. I usually use liquid detergent in my drum so I can only think that it is a build up of conditioner.
I removed the drawer o.k. and cleaned that .It is amazing how much grot accumulates in there.My machine is only two years old, and as I am on my own only gets used maybe once or twice a week.
I am sure one of you lovely people have had the same problem and will be able to help me out
Cheers peeps.

MrsB_2

Try an old toothbrush??

I stopped using conditioner after reading on here about a hm alternative and my machine has never looked better.

It's a mixture of white vinegar, bicarb of soda and water. I usually use an old 2 litre water bottle and put one bottle of vinegar, about 2/3rds of a tub of bicarb and 2 of the vinegar bottles worth of cold water. Shake well and use as you would fabric softner.

You can also add a few drops of essential oil if you like to make it smell of something particular, but i never bother. Washing just seems to smell 'clean' somehow, and my dh / mum / anyone else that stays havent noticed any difference in softness.

Ticklemouse

Vinegar - there are lots of threads around the place about cleaning washing machines

If you can get your drawer out to clean it, then do so then put vinegar in your conditioner section. It will clean your machine, disinfect and condition your clothes and you'll never have to buy conditioner again. (you can add essential oils if you like the smell)

I think most people's problems come from the fact that they use fabric conditioner and it eventually gunges everything up inside. I have never had any problems with gunge, whiffy machines or build up of stuff since I stopped using fabric conditioner about 6-7 years ago. I now use vinegar and it's brill.

Magentasue

Could you borrow a steam cleaner? I reckon that would do it.

Lillibet_2

Try running the machine empty on a hot wash with vinegar & bicarb for a couple of cycles, this is what my cleaning companies used to do in serviced & managed properties when I was in property management;)

HTH;)

[Deleted User]

Thank you everyone for all of your helpful replies.I like the sound of vinegar, but can't abide the smell of it.Doesn't it make you clothes smell like a bag of chips?
I have never liked vinegar for that reason. even in sauces I only have to smell it and I feel like I will hurl
Cheers Peeps

MrsB_2

Promise you wont smell it on your clean clothes if you use it like I suggested. There's more info about it on the cleaning thread, and there's probably other people's suggestions for quantities / ratios.

Give it a try - there's lots to save and not much to lose!!

black-saturn

I thought my clothes were going to stink of vinegar when I used it but you can't smell it at all.

jobbingmusician

White vinegar, not malt vinegar..........

frankie1star

My dispenser drawer gets blocked up with fabric conditioner and also lots of black scum. Its mainly the water jets spraying into the drawer, which block up

I clean the drawer itself but have real diffuclty cleaning the acutal internal part, where the water jets into the dispenser. Any suggestions for making the task much easier would be great, as currently its a question of getting lower than the drawer and looking up into the roof of the drawer. Almost laying on the floor to get the necessary angle. It would be great if there was soemthing that could be sprayed upwards to disolve the stuff blocking the holes

ariba10

You should be able to take the draw out of the machine.