How do you clean your washing machine?

[IAmGrootGrootGroot]

I usually run the auto clean setting or occasionally use the dettol washing machine cleaner.

Neither of these seem to be doing the trick. My clothes don't seem to be fresh... so please, give me your pearls of wisdom!

[dementedpixie]

Clean out the filter and the dispenser drawer and the bit it fits into

[GruffaloStick]

I clean mine every 6/8 weeks.

I pull out and clean the drawer and clean around the lip inside. Then I stick a third of a bag of soda crystals in the drum and a third of a bottle of white vinegar in the drawer and run a 90 degree wash, when finished leave the door open for a few hours to air.

[BabloHoney]

Chuck a dishwasher tablet in and do a tub clean cycle! Works a treat

[ileclerc]

White vinegar and a lemon cut in half on a hot wash. Clean funk out of seals.

[ileclerc]

Gunk!

[BelladonnaKebab]

Baby sterilising tablets! I put 2 in the drum and 2 in the drawer. Put it on a hot wash and tadaaa!

[Aridane]

I don’t

[Aridane]

(never knew you were supposed to clean a washing machine!)

[mollycoddle77]

Clean the filters?

[Redbrook]

I put soda crystals in mine and then run it on a 90 wash. I’ve also recently stopped using washing liquid and gone back to powder - that’s definitely stopped the gunk build up in the drawer so I presume it’s improved it’s innards as well.

[GruffaloStick]

Aridane They get gunked up and leave a residue in pipes especially if you use gel or capsules. The bit under the drawer can be particularly grim.

[Laska3Meryl]

HG Service Engineer for washing machines and dishwashers is the absolute DB stuff , you'll find it on Amazon and other places

[TheClitterati]

I use soda crystals in every wash and method concentrate which involves 5 tiny pumps so no gunk.

Every now and then I do a hot wash with soda crystals and vinegar.

I don't have a "clean cycle"

[DisgraceToTheYChromosome]

White vinegar and salt, 90° wash. Before that, I drain it from the filter and make sure the pump rotor is free. Then I drain it again, in case of Big Gunk.

[newcupcake]

I've owned my washing machine for almost 12 years and never cleaned it 🤷🏼‍♀️

[Aridane]

newcup - I raise you to 20 years. Washing machine only replaced when getting new kitchen and getting a built in one

[Butternutsqoosh]

Ooh dear! I clean mine by putting clothes in it and washing them

[mineofuselessinformation]

Just running the hot wash on its own (empty) will be a revelation as to the gunk lurking!

[PearlandRubies194]

I take the dispenser drawer out and give it a good clean with an old toothbrush, then clean inside where the drawer goes. Replace and pour some bleak in then put a wash on for 90 degrees. I have to do this every couple of months because I wash the pets’ blankets and toys often.

[redsummershoes]

I clean the filter every couple of months.
other than that - nothing
the occassional hot wash, powder directly into drum

[PearlandRubies194]

*bleach

[DeerHearts]

I never knew cleaning your washing machine was a thing! It's amazing what you learn on mumsnet

[Sitranced]

Scrub out the drawer, pull out the filter and run a hot wash. Only once or twice a year.

[Maryann1975]

I very occasionally run it on a boil wash with some white vinegar in the drawer. (By occasionally I mean I haven’t done this in 2018). I don’t take any of it apart as knowing my luck it wouldn’t go back together again. I sometimes wonder if it’s the gunk holding a lot of my kitchen appliances together tbh.

[WhoTookTheCookie]

My washing machine doesn't have a 90 degree cycle.
It's relatively new (roughly 2 years) but on the LCD panel it just has 40 and 60 degree washes.

Am I missing something?