Cleaning tips please - washing machine drawer

Seanymph

Let's face it I don't do it often enough.

But even if I gouge out the loose stuff I am left with washing powder that I swear has turned into cement! You could hold houses up with this stuff.

Flash and scrubbers don't touch it, limelite hasn't made a dent - it's literally white powder that has solidified and I can't even seem to chip it off.

What am I likely to need to use to bring my powder drawer back into sping spanliness please?

Blackbeard_of_Perranporth

Don't use washing powder, BoPsie has not for years!

Rinse the draw out of the washer, and do a quick rinse wash. That should sort it!

LadyDee

Can you remove the drawer? Most w/m drawers are removable - mine lifts up then sort of unclicks and pulls free. A good soak in soda crystals and hot water should do the trick. Powder not dissolving will always be a problem with most washing nowadays being on low temperatures.

melanzana

Try putting it in dishwasher. If you have one. It’s what I do every so often.

Otherwise I’d soak in very hot water. It’s like “cement cereal bowls”

Slinky

Funnily enough I've just done exactly the same thing with the washing machine drawer our tenant didn't bother cleaning before they left. Not only was it crusted in powder, with mould at the back of the drawer and in the upper jets part of the machine, there was a huge amount of powder under the drawer in the machine. I sprayed the mould with some HG Mould Remover, gave everything a good scrub and put a 90degrees wash through the machine. There's still a layer of powder crusting at the edges which didn't shift even though I got a knife on it. I'm going to take some kettle descaler with me next time we visit and give it a good soak.


I've never had this scaling problem myself, but I use powder tablets (half the suggested amount) and they always wash out of the drawer. With loose powder it's very easy to over-dose.

-taff

I just put the powder straight into the washing machine, and don't clean at less than 40 for powder washes. I ardly ever use the drawer, in fact, I've only used it a bit lately because I bought conditioner by mistake instead of liquid cleaning stuff [ it was really really cheap on offer in the washing machine section so I didn't think to check...doh!]

Mr.Generous

I thought the machines ran the water in first then heated it so whatever temp wash you do cold water comes into the powder drawer?

When ours is bad I take it out and use boiling water from the kettle and a stiff paint brush to get it de-crusted.

coffeehound

-taff wrote: »

I just put the powder straight into the washing machine

Agreed, and just don’t use programmes that include a prewash.

Starbar1972

I've just done mine, I've tried all sorts in the past but gave in and bought some cif mould remover spray from aldi, it was on offer at £2.00. I know it's full of chemicals and not great for the environment, but I was so fed up with the mould and generally grottiness I was willing to try anything. I soaked it first and then added the spray and it looks like new, it's beautiful! If a washer drawer can look beautiful! I know this kind of product isn't for everyone, and it isn't usually for me but it worked.