how to clean outside drainpipes?

[ClueLessFirstTime]

have just moved to a victorian terrace. the washing mashine is only draining very slowly. I can't get the filter open (getting a repair person next week to look at it)
the previous owners have said that the cleaned the outside drain regularly.
but how do I do that? do I need tools for that? and what?

[oreocrumbs]

Do you mean the drain on the floor or the drainpipe? I've never cleaned a drainpipe so I imagine you are talking about the outside drains.

You just need to don a pair of rubber gloves and put your hands down and pull out all of the leaves, mud and silt that washes down there.

If you keep on top of it you should be fine. You can use a spoon or something if you prefer but hands are fine!

WRT the washing machine once you have the filter cleaned out do a service wash. That is to run the machine on the hottest wash setting while empty. If it foams up do it again - the foam is all the washing powder and gunk that is sitting sludge like in the machine.

That should keep your pipes running clear!

[ClueLessFirstTime]

the outside drain (the hole in the ground where the pipes end) doesn't look too bad, water is vanishing in there fine.

I suspect the filter is full of stuff, the house was empty for 2 months and the mashine with the door closed. there was a lot of mould and algea growing inside
just have to figure a way of opening the filter, so far it wouldn't budge.

[oreocrumbs]

Do you have the instruction book? If not you can google the make and model and that should tell you what you should be doing. It will then probably be a case of controlled brute force! But you need to know which way you need to force it.

I would also take the drain feed pipe off the back and give that a clean out, if the machine was full of mould you can bet that is too.

Actually I would get some caustic soda (you can get it in places like wilkinsons) and put it down all of the plugs in your house to flush out the pipes. That won't improve your washing machine but if the house has been empty all kinds of grot will be lurking down there.

[PigletJohn]

I think you mean the yard gulley.

If it was blocked then water would be spilling out over the ground.

You say the machine is emptying slowly so I don't think it's that.

If you fill the sink to the brim, does it drain away quickly? Does the washer waste hose attach to the same wastepipe as the sink?

BTW if anybody ever pours cooking fat, or washes greasy pans in the sink, the waste pipes and gully will develop a filthy and disgusting layer of fatty filth. So don't.

[PigletJohn]

yard gulley
in an old house it will be made of glazed brown earthenware and the grill will be cast iron.

[ClueLessFirstTime]

didn't have access to the internet over the weekend.
the outside bit seems fine, water drains quickly into the outside gully.
washing mashine, dishwasher (both connect to the same pipe), shower sink (basically all water exept for the toilets) go in there.
I tried to jiggle the filter a bit more, it doesn't budge so I have a repairman coming tomorrow. about time, I have hardly any clean clothes left

[ClueLessFirstTime]

it was the filter.
stuff the shape size and colour of a rat was in there. and the smell was quite something.
was able to wash and dry 3 loads yesterday after the maintainance wash.

[PigletJohn]

We love a happy ending!