Do You Put a Dishwasher Tablet in the Washing Machine to Clean it?

RelievedSheff

Apodemus said:

RelievedSheff said:

We are having issues with our washer dryer not drying properly so as a last resort have cleaned it today with this:

https://www.dr-beckmann.co.uk/product/service-it-deep-clean/

I was absolutely disgusted at the amount of debris, gunk and general filth that the product has cleared from the machine. It had to be seen to be believed as it was swilling around in the drum. Not had chance to check if it is working properly after it's clean yet but if it is it will be lesson learned and we will use this stuff every few months to keep the machine clean and fresh.

Since that product is mainly activated charcoal, I think I would expect the water to look pretty filthy as it swilled around the drum!  For comparison, you could try crushing up a barbecue briquette and see if it looks any different!

The froth was pretty white, it was the bits of gunk and grime floating around in it that were disgusting. 


If this deep clean has sorted it out and the dryer works properly now then we will certainly use this product on a more regular basis.

Apodemus

RelievedSheff said:

The froth was pretty white, it was the bits of gunk and grime floating around in it that were disgusting. 

Yes, the product is a weak acid and the charcoal. The acid does the cleaning and the foaming, the charcoal is ostensibly there to absorb odours, but it has the wonderful side effect of clumping along with the soapy residue and making people say "look at all that disgusting gunk!". Its not, of itself, the grime from your washing machine.

RelievedSheff said:

If this deep clean has sorted it out and the dryer works properly now then we will certainly use this product on a more regular basis.

In all probability you would achieve the same outcome with vinegar (another weak acid) but everyone is free to spend their money as they see fit and I wouldn't want to stop you!

RelievedSheff

Apodemus said:

RelievedSheff said:

The froth was pretty white, it was the bits of gunk and grime floating around in it that were disgusting. 

Yes, the product is a weak acid and the charcoal. The acid does the cleaning and the foaming, the charcoal is ostensibly there to absorb odours, but it has the wonderful side effect of clumping along with the soapy residue and making people say "look at all that disgusting gunk!". Its not, of itself, the grime from your washing machine.

RelievedSheff said:

If this deep clean has sorted it out and the dryer works properly now then we will certainly use this product on a more regular basis.

In all probability you would achieve the same outcome with vinegar (another weak acid) but everyone is free to spend their money as they see fit and I wouldn't want to stop you!

tried vinegar and it didn't work.

You can't see from the picture but some of the bits floating around are plastic which is presumably from the washing capsules, a lot of it was fluff which a hot wash with vinegar did not remove and there was other assorted dirt and grime in there as well. It was certainly not all clumps of charcoal!!

stragglebod

Dishwasher tablets are for grease and fat and protein. The dirt a washing machine is designed to shift is very different.

Of course vinegar won't remove fluff. You put it in the washing machine as an antibacterial agent to get rid of sweat smells.

The added charcoal in that product is what's causing all that black gunk. It's like having a carpet shampoo machine that sprays dirt onto the carpet before washing it, just to make the waste water look dirtier and give the impression of it being more effective.

Btw if you use vinegar then malt vinegar is fine, it's cheaper and the odour won't survive the wash.

neilmcl

stragglebod said:

Dishwasher tablets are for grease and fat and protein. The dirt a washing machine is designed to shift is very different.

Of course vinegar won't remove fluff. You put it in the washing machine as an antibacterial agent to get rid of sweat smells.

The added charcoal in that product is what's causing all that black gunk. It's like having a carpet shampoo machine that sprays dirt onto the carpet before washing it, just to make the waste water look dirtier and give the impression of it being more effective.

Btw if you use vinegar then malt vinegar is fine, it's cheaper and the odour won't survive the wash.

But it isn't as acidic as distilled white vinegar and therefore won't clean as well, it will also have the potential to stain.

binao

Be careful with any strong calcium devouring chemicals.

 It once resulted in water getting into the drum bearing.  

anotheruser

To bring this to a bit of a close:
I asked LG, the maker of my washing machine who said you can use dishwasher tablets but don't use ones that have built in salt or rinse aid - just supermarket basic ones as these will clean without using any other chemicals.

Wanderingpomm

EssexExile said:

Why does anyone think that dishwasher tabs would clean a washing machine? Dishwashers get gunky inside too and they get a tablet regularly.

Because they are designed to dissolve fat and grease which laundry detergent is not. 

Apodemus

Wanderingpomm said:

EssexExile said:

Why does anyone think that dishwasher tabs would clean a washing machine? Dishwashers get gunky inside too and they get a tablet regularly.

Because they are designed to dissolve fat and grease which laundry detergent is not. 

Eh?  Surely the purpose of any detergent is to allow fat and grease to emulsify with water?

David28

Put on a 90 deg wash on an empty machine once a month