My washer DIDN'T smell...but now it does!

ka7e

Having read several previous threads about the use of vinegar instead of fabric conditioner, I thought I'd go the whole hog and thoroughly de-gunk my washing machine.
For several weeks I used the vinegar as recommended and realised it was helping to break down the horrible black gunk in the pipes, but it also broke down stuff around the drum which ended up on the washing!
So, I did 2 60 degree empty wash cycles. The stuff that came out of the overflow was horrendous - both the quantity and general yuckiness.
Next I did an empty 95 degree wash, with some washing soda crystals for good measure. The water came out brown (on an empty wash!!) with more gunk and chunks of grey limescale. But the worst thing is the smell. Prior to this, my machine never smelt of anything except clean washing...now it reeks .
I did a rinse and spin cycle with bleach but suspended the spin cycle for an hour, no change.
I've continued to use my washer using biological powder + Calgon and the overflow is now clear and smells OK.
The filter is clean and I've drained the machine thoroughly (little hose at the bottom), but the smell inside the machine remains. Washing left in there for half an hour after the cycle ends also niffs. I've run out of ideas. Suggestions?

Tightwadways

I'm not able to help you on this one - in fact I'm in the same boat We've got the engineer coming out Tuesday (!) to see if he can fix it...our machine's not even a year old, first one I've ever had from new and it's been the problem one!! Done the same as you, empty high degree washes, cleaned filter and washing powder drawer, and it still stinks and has sludge in it. In fact our last 'white' clothes washing has come out worse than what it went in as...they're covered in flaky grey residue that's hard to remove, so til engineer comes I can't re-wash easily Will let you know what he says....(must admit I've never used Calgon though!)

sans_2

Sorry I haven't any ideas, I'm having a problem trying to dry clothes indoors but end up with a damp smell on the dried clothes? Any ideas without having to use the not so environmentally friendly tumble drier which I use for sheets etc when weather is bad outside?

Bossyboots

I am going to add here that I am in the same boat and it is only since I started using vinegar in my machine. We have had our kitchen apart twice to clear the gunk from the pipes, we have had a flood from the water backing up because it couldn't get down the pipes and the smell was horrendous. I must say though that none of it has got onto the washing.

I have done everything you folks here have and I am still left with a smell in the machine after a short time. I wondered whether it is actually coming in from the outside into which out piping runs, now there is no blockage in the pipes to stop the airflow.

Ticklemouse

Can't help with the smell - I use vinegar and mainly non-bio washing liquid and I have no smell whatsoever, but I do have a good exit flow from my machine, so maybe that's it.

With regards to smelly washing when drying, that's just happening because they aren't drying fast enough. If you can't get any airflow through them, then maybe you ought to consider partially drying them in the drier. Try both ways round ie partially drying from wet then air drying then air drying and finishing in the drier, you may find one way is better than the other.

moggins

Well I'm still using fabric conditioner as I had a huge supply of it and I have this horrendous stink in my machine, luckily it isn't coming out on the clothes but the smell when I open the door it smells like garlic. I've even resorted to one of those Oust cleaning sachets which made the machine lovely and sparkly inside but didn't get rid of the smell

ka7e

At least it's not just me, then!
The smell is not so much garlicky... more like something small and furry has crawled in there and died (done a quick head count of cats.. all present and correct).
Perhaps if I can gunk up the insides again it might mask the smell!

Str4berr3

Have to say me too - Since I had started to use the vinegar, the pipes under my sink was blocked, W/M was'nt spinning properly so clothes was still soaking wet, and in the end the wastage water from W/M and sink was leaking out of my stand pipe.

Had to pour some of that sink de-bloker stuff down the standpipe and sink before I plunged it with plunger which did the trick.

angela110660

I use vinegar to rinse and occasionally I add washing soda and less powder to the drawer. However, every so often I change from powder to tablets and then to liquid so that the machine has a change and sometimes I am adding the stuff straight into the drum. Haven't had any problems with this method. By the way I always use Sainsburys own brand Colour version.
To stop smelly washing - unload as soon as you can and get it on the line if possible. Only use the tumbler so that you can put it away or so it's ready for ironing.

I get grey, chalky bitz around the door seal sometimes but I figure that is because we are in a hard water area. You have to adjust the amount of powder/liquid you use accordingly.

curly76

I had this same problem, I used a Dettol washing machine cleaner in my machine, and it actually made my washing machine smell awful. I tried to bleach my washing machine out on a 90 degrees wash within a day it started to smell again no joy ... but what I have found is to work I put in half a tub of baking powder in the drawer with a normal wash of whites are detergent softener and my clothes no longer smell all the wash machine,, so hope this helps some try baking powder. I use a 30 degrees wash