Washing Machine problems.

ripplyuk

Yesterday my washing machine broke. I bought it second hand 15 years ago and I was expecting it to go anytime. I’m getting a new kitchen in the next few months and was planning to get a new machine then. But that didn’t work out. I decided to buy another cheap second hand one because the builders will be hauling it in and out of the kitchen each day and I didn’t want to spend a lot of money on a brand new machine, only for it to end up damaged.

It was delivered yesterday and the guy said it has a six month warranty. It’s from a shop that sells used appliances. It works, but it stinks of mould. In fact, the whole kitchen now smells. The rubber seals are covered in mildew as well. I’ve ran a few 90 degree washes with soda crystals, vinegar, bleach etc but it still stinks. Also, a lot of steam comes out the top of it (I thought it was smoke to begin with!). Clothes come out of it with bits of brown dirt all over them and smelling horrible. Will the smell stop eventually? Or, is this grounds to return it?

I’m not sure what to do. I’m starting to wish I’d just went ahead and bought a new machine.

LameWolf

I can't obviously pass judgement without actually seeing it,but the question I would ask you is this:

Is it "fit for purpose"? If not, I'd have thought you'd have grounds for returning it and getting a refund.

Clothes coming out with bits on and smelling bad suggests it is not.

Pollycat

I think the Consumer Rights board is a more appropriate place for this.

How come you didn't notice the smell before you bought it?

ripplyuk

I didn’t open the door. The place was really cramped with machines stacked up everywhere so it was hard to get a close look. It’s only when I went to use it that I noticed the smell.

If I could find a way to clean it properly and keep it, I would, and I’d just try to save up for a new one after the kitchen installation. But I don’t know what else to try. I expected a second hand machine might be a bit musty but this is really bad.

Wizzbang

This happened to me (to a lesser degree - no brown bits on clothes) a few years ago. Bought a second hand washing machine from a local reclaim charity because it was all we could afford at the time. I thought I was never going to get rid of the smell. It was a regrettable purchase because it only lasted a year before it went bust and we had to move house with it at one point. I was horrified when the removal men pointed out that the top lifted off and it had no screws. IMHO - it really shouldn't have been sold and they obviously hadn't checked it thoroughly. Still at a cost of £8 per month, it was a darn sight cheaper than the local laundrette which charged £6 per load at the time!

Anyway, ours had a door on it on the bottom left hand side containing the pump filter. I found some instructions online (it was a Miele) and drained the water from the pump. That seemed to fix the bad smell for me. Like this video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QQafd4rir_8

I'd also recommend getting an old toothbrush or similar and really cleaning in the door seals. Take out the powder dispenser tray and clean everything, inside and out (chances are it's mouldy in there).

HTH. But if none of that works - I'd definitely say you have grounds to return, it's not fit for purpose if your clothes are coming out dirtier and smellier than when they went in!

Wizzbang

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z8V_xs5ozF8

Great video from Dri-pak on how to clean your washing machine

http://www.dri-pak.co.uk/how-to-clean-your-washing-machine/