Help! My washing machine is making clothes/sheets more dirty!

[PossetFeatures]

...therefore i'm guessing it needs cleaning!

I've just washed the bedsheets and instead of coming out lovely and white they have dirty streaks across them that weren't there before

I have run my finger around the rim, and there does seem to be an element of scum (have nasty feeling it's grot from DPs football kit and DSs pooed on clothes)

How do I go about cleaning my washing machine? I've heard white vinegar might be good, is this true? Any advice very much appreciated!

[GandTiceandaslice]

you need white vinegar & soda crystals.
I put white vinegar in the fabricx softener but, to the top. And soda crystals in both the drawer sections.

I then run the machine on the longest, hottest wash.

[GandTiceandaslice]

I'm sorry, I didn't preview
"fabric softener bit"

[deemented]

It sounds like you may need to do a maintenace wash. I do one at least once a month as i use cloth nappies on my youngest two and like to know that the machines clean.

I use a scoop of soda crystals in the drawer of the machine, and a scoop in the drum too. The put it on a hot 90 degree wash. Then when that's done i ut it on a rise cycle.

You might also want to check the rubber on the inside of your machine - give that a good scrub too and it'll work wonders.

[Seona1973]

do you use powder or liquid? I had more problems with dirty streaks when I used liquid and switched to powder instead. I would do the hot wash suggested above and clean the rubber seal and the dispenser drawer (it should be able to be removed to clean) - dont forget the bit the drawer fits into as it gets manky too.

[PossetFeatures]

I've been using powder lately as there was an offer on in Tesco's but normally use the liquid tabs.

Thanks for your advice Where can I buy white vinegar and soda crystals from then? I went to Waitrose today and they had nothing of the sort - I even looked in the vinegar section and just saw white wine vinegar but i'm guessing that's not what i'm looking for? I did look in the cleaning section too in case you're wondering!

[PossetFeatures]

I've just realised how many smileys i've used- not cool!

[hellymelly]

yes,a boil wash on empty every four weeks.Clean the scum out now,it gathers in the door seal and gets on the sheets as you pull them out. When its clean run a boil wash with biological powder,I would do a second to help clear gungey pipes,and then make sure you keep it up.Glad I read this as I need to do mine!

[PurveyorOfBaloney]

Soda crystals from most supermarkets, or Robert Dyas or most hardware stores. White vinegar also at supermarkets, get mine from Sainsbos or Waitrose. You can get it online too - but in big quantities.

Do you live in a hard water area? If so I'd recommend shoving in a packet of limescale remover when you do a maintenance wash.

[PossetFeatures]

Hmmm not sure if we live in a hard or soft water area - will endeavour to find out!

I emptied a packet of limescale remover in yesterday and it seems to have worked for now. The drawer that you put powder/fabric softener in is currently soaking in boiling water in the sink to get rid of scum.

Hellymelly I think you're right that the scum was on the door, as ran a paper towel over it and same scum that was on the sheets came off on that so have now properly cleaned it.

Thanks for all your advice- I will try not to be such a washing machine slattern in future!

[hellymelly]

I called the engineer about about mine,so learned the hard way how to clean it! Eco powder is great,obviously,but you need the planet trashing stuff for the monthly boil wash.

[BelfastAnnie]

I cleaned my machine last week with bicarbonate of soda and white vinegar, although it was causing no problem. First white wash since and the towels and t-shirts came out filthy and streaked with nasty black slime for the first time ever. How has the cleaning caused the problem instead of solving it (not that there was a problem in the first place). I should have left well alone it seems.

[wowfudge]

Vinegar used with bicarb - which isn't the same as soda crystals (sometimes called washing soda) will cancel each other out. One is acid and the other alkali. There's quite possibly a load of gunge somewhere in the machine was has been dislodged by the wash you did.

[rabbit123]

Our old Hotpoint did this. Even after cleaning it out, it continued to leave black streaks on things.

As it turned out, the drum bearings were failing and leaking oil into the drum on the spin cycle. Had to get a new washer as you can't replace the bearings on most washers now.

The way to check this is to turn the drum by hand. If it's tight and turns smoothly, the bearings are fine. If the drum rocks backwards and forwards a lot and the drum rubbles and feels like it's grinding as you turn it, the bearings are going and the machine will need to be replaced

[Ayosdad]

The soda crystals and 90C wash did the job. Whites came out clean!