How do clean a decidedly gross washing machine drawer?

[AngeloMysterioso]

I’ve gone on a bit of a cleaning spree in the last few days, and have put two cleaning treatments through the washing machine. However, even though the drum of the machine is now sparkling, the drawer (and the gap it goes into) are still pretty manky. I ended up scooping loads of congealed detergent gunge out of the gap 🤢 and just wiped as much as I could, as far back as I could, but the drawer has loads of nooks and crannies that no sponge or brush is going to get into.

Any suggestions for how I can get it properly clean?

[Ivegotthree]

Put it in the dishwasher

[7salmonswimming]

Take it out and put it though the dishwasher

[sleepwhenidie]

Dishwasher, on its own, on hot setting?

Disclaimer: never tried it, don’t blame me if it melts!

[IncognitaIgnorama]

Pull it all the way out until you can jiggle it so that you can remove it completely. Then wash in the sink/dishwasher.

[sleepwhenidie]

Great minds

[greenelephantscarf]

dishwasher if you have one.
bucket of water, bio powder & bottle brush if you don't.
for the drawer compartment bath/kitchen cleaning spray and bottle brush.

[MitziK]

Stick it in the dishwasher. Or the hottest, soapy water you can bear (with rubber gloves on).

Then, after getting the gunge out (and make a note to reduce the amount of powder you use/thin out the liquid with warm water), you need an old toothbrush, cocktail sticks and pipecleaners to get in the ridiculous nooks and crannies for the softener section.

[DontTouchMyCurls]

I have the same problem but I don't have a dishwasher and also my drawer doesn't just come out, it has little hidden screws that no normal screwdriver can get to and I don't have a bendy one. Why make it so difficult to clean

[GlamGiraffe]

There's a tab on mine you depress to get The drawer right out.i then use a wooden skewer and old toothbrush to poke and scrape every little book i can and vigorously scrub with washing up liquid. I thendo the inside of the compartmentwithca brush and again poke the skewer in the littlecwater holes that are blocked to loosen them. Such fun

[SpoonBlender]

As above, dishwasher. Then put powder or liquid into the drum (unless you actually do prewash things) rather than in the drawer.

[dementedpixie]

I don't put it in the dishwasher I just wash it in the sink. Toothbrushes and sponges are good for cleaning it. Also clean out the aperture it fits into as that gets manky too

[FiremanKing]

Learnt the hard way many years ago never to put detergent in the drawer to prevent this happening!

Only ever place in the back of the drum now.

I think I managed to clean my old one with a toothbrush and a pink cleaning paste followed by copious spraying of bleach as the drawer wouldn’t come out.

That was about thirty years ago though!

[AngeloMysterioso]

Problem with the dishwasher suggestion is that for any water to get in the tricky bits I’d have to put it in upright, and it won’t fit.

I’ll try the soak/pipe cleaner suggestion- I don’t actually have a pipe cleaner but I’ve got this thing that came with my metal straws that should probably do the trick.

[AngeloMysterioso]

We only use liquid detergents and they’re not especially thick (once in a blue moon I might use vanish powder) so I don’t understand how so much of it got stuck!

I know how to get the drawer out and I’ve cleaned the space as much as I can (you wouldn’t believe how much detergent goop was stuck in there) although I can’t reach where the detergent goes down at the back.

[toomuchfaster]

I put mine in the dishwasher last week and it didn't really make any difference. Will give it another go with toothbrush in a deep bowl of water.

[AlyssasBackRolls]

Just get inventive and use some elbow grease. They are fiddly and I don't have a dishwasher but I think last time I did it it was soapy bowl of water and toothbrush, Jey cloth twisted up etc.

[dementedpixie]

Liquids aren't the best at keeping things clean. Powders contain bleaches and keep the machine itself cleaner

[BallyHockeySticks]

Gunge builds up more with liquid, I find.

How big is it if it won't fit in the dishwasher?? Can you do it twice, once each side? You know you can often take the top rack off?

I just attack ours with a washing up brush and toothbrush, them soak in Milton.

[thenightsky]

My drawer goes through the dishwasher and comes out lovely and clean, whichever way up I put it in. The cavity it lives in in the machine gets the jet attachment of the steam cleaner.

[QuitMoaning]

I mix laundry powder with soda crystals (about 50/50) and it is definitely better for the drawer

And pretty much everything else.

[7salmonswimming]

Liquids are the worst for this. Powder is the drawer is better. Liquid tab in the drum is better still. Powder in a top loader is best.

Always leave the door and drawer slightly open between washes.

[firstimemamma]

Soak the drawer bits on hot bleachy water then rinse and if need be wash / scrub clean.

Alternatively I think there is a good washing machine clean on Mrs hinch's insta stories. I'm not sure if it's still there.

[Shadow1234]

I just use hot water and fairy liquid on mine and it comes up lovely and clean. For the inside of the drawer where there are lots of nooks and crannies, i use a wet toothbrush with some washing powder on it
(because its grittier and does a good job)) - always comes up lovely and clean.

[PicsInRed]

Washing machine cleaner fluid on long hot cycle?

[Jarstastic]

Bottle brushes!