Clean my washing machine?

[iamdivergent]

It has a bit of a damp smell and is a bit mildewy around the door seal/rubber - is there some amazing concoction that I could whip up?

TYIA

[PigeonPie]

I just use soda crystals in the detergent drawer, a slug of white vinegar in the softener compartment and a 90 wash with no spin.

[rabbit123]

are you using liquid detergents and washing on low temperatures all the time?

Try switching to a powder and doing regular washes at 60 or above (towels and bedsheets should be washed on 60 anyway) and the problem will go away. Remember also to leave the door open between washes to let the drum dry out.

[FinallyFreeFromItAll]

If you've not regularly cleaned it before:

1. Put two cups of soda crystals in drum and a bit in the detergent compartment.
   
2. Then do a full boil wash cycle.
   
3. Then put two cups of distilled/ clear malt vinegar straight in drum and some in softener compartment.
   
4. Boil wash again.
   
   That will get rid of all powder/liquid residue, mold and general grime. If you've got any old towels that are a bit 'past it' throw them in for the above boil washes, it revives them by stripping them of residues too.
   
   The ways I prevented it ever happening again:
   

• Do a monthly boil wash without detergents.
  
• Stop using fabric softener and use distilled/clear malt vinegar instead. I promise it won't make your clothes smell of vinegar. They will just smell clean and fresh. It neutralises any remaining detergent and reduces static, just like fabric softener, yet unlike softner it doesn't coat the fibres or machine in a film of it. Clothes are just as soft too, towels end up softer after a while with vinegar, rather than softener.
  
• I found conflicting information about whether powder or liquid was best for the machine. One advantage of powder is that it contains bleach, which obviously kills mould spores. However the bleach in powder also means clothes colours dont stay as bright/deep. Both liquid and powder can lead to a build up of residues in the machine, which can lead to mould spores, smell and lower cleaning efficiency. I have had success with using powder for my whites and liquid for my colours and darks - there is definitely no build up of residue in my machine, my coloured clothes are bright/deep/dark as they were when new and my whites are positively dazzling.

[FinallyFreeFromItAll]

Oh and doing the above, my machine has stayed lovely and clean despite not being able to leave door open, to air machine, after use (baby who trys to put stuff in, including herself, if I leave the door even slightly open).

[ouryve]

I compromise on the powder/liquid thing, too. I use Ariel liquid/gel for colours, which are the majority of washes. I use Sainsburys own brand concentrated powder for whites. You need very little, so you don't get the clogging up problem some powders cause, but it contains bleach, which does a useful job. It also doesn't smell too strong.

Another thing, OP, is to take the drawer out and give it a good scrub. You might also notice the area around the drawer is a bit manky. Go at it with a toothbrush and soda, before doing your boil wash, if that's the case. I find the powdered bicarb better than soda crystals for this sort of job as you can work it into all the nooks and crannies.

[iamdivergent]

This is great - thanks for the tips. I'll get some soda crystals and clear vinegar today and give it a go.

[millysmith]

I use Dr.Beckmann Service it Deep Clean Washing Machine Cleaner. The damp smell you mention and mildew is the result of doing countless washes and dirt building up over a period of time. This cleaner will definitely get rid of all mildew and damp smells.

[SomedayMyPrinceWillCome]

After every wash I take out the drawer & let it dry properly & I also shove a tea towel in the gap between the rubber sealants in the door frame to dry it.
Once a month I run a hot (90 degree) wash
Door open as much as possible between washes.
The above has worked for me

[FinallyFreeFromItAll]

Eighty my machine was in an appalling state before I did the above. It was adding dirty marks to washing, stank, was mouldy, you could visably see the thick gunk around seals, etc, as ex had been using double the fabric conditioner. After the above method using soda crystals, boil wash, then vinegar, boil wash it was like new again.

[iamdivergent]

It's just in process of soda crystal boil wash, vinegar boil wash next

I'm bad in the sense that I don't separate my loads, I just whack everything in I use non bio due to dd1 skin allergies plus baby due soon. I do use softner but I will give the vinegar a go.

Thanks all.

[FinallyFreeFromItAll]

On the bio/non-bio front - if you ever want to try bio, try Daz. Both DD and one of my brothers can only use Daz or Ecover, despite Daz being a bio. Anything else brings them out in rashes.

[iamdivergent]

Thanks bit I can't use Daz lol were some family for allergies

[FinallyFreeFromItAll]

I just thought it worth mentioning because its not an obvious choice to try if you're thinking allergies. I wouldn't have tried it with DD, if my brother hadn't already found it to be OK for him.

[iamdivergent]

No definately - anything is worth a try.

Machine smells of nothing, it looks so much cleaner too!

[FinallyFreeFromItAll]

Machine smells of nothing, it looks so much cleaner too!

Brilliant , glad it worked. I became a soda crystal and vinegar cleaning convert after my washing machine transformation. Use it for all sorts now.

[LemonRedwood]

Don't mind me, just bookmarking for another fun-filled weekend

[iamdivergent]

Stuck a wash on, used my liquid with vinegar instead of softener. It's amazing the stuff you find exciting as an adult

[LemonRedwood]

Thank you for the vinegar as softener tip, Finally. Waited til my bottle of softener was finished before trying it because I can't stand to waste anything, but used distilled vinegar with the towels and bath mat today. Lovely job, will save a fortune!

[FinallyFreeFromItAll]

Im pleased your a vinegar convert lemon .