Getting rid of smell in washing machine?

[EvilTwins]

Any recommendations? The machine smells a bit musty and clothes aren't smelling fresh when they come out.

TIA

[thenightsky]

Take out the soap drawer. Now bend down and have a look in the hole. I found the 'ceiling' was all black mould (shudder) . It was a right ares to clean but doable with toothbrush and bleach.

[EvilTwins]

DH has already done that (hooray - didn't fancy it myself) but that was a month or so ago and the smell is still there, so I suspect it's further down.

[Seona1973]

run an empty hot wash (90 degrees) with bio powder or soda crystals or white vinegar and clean the rubber seals inside the machine. You will need to do the drawer regularly too. Try to leave the door open a little between washes too

[amistillsexy]

I had this and couldn't get rid of it no matter how many hot washes or cleaning sessions I did.

The only thing that has worked for me is to change to a 40 degree wash for colours and 60 for whites, and to stop using environmentally friendly washing liquid-I now use Fairy non-bio powder.

My washing machine man told me low temp washes don't dissolve the washing powder or liquid and it just becomes a slushy mess in the bottom of the machine that never gets rinsed away as it's too soupy! YUCK!

[itsybitsy08]

I just run mine on a 90 degree wash with some domestos. Though the first time i did it, i was slightly panicked by the amount of foam in the drum and it was frothing out of the drawer it did all spin away! Just dont put too much in.

[AmaraDresden]

Another boil wash after one with vinegar will clear the debris away as well.

[AmaraDresden]

Another boil wash after one with vinegar will clear the debris away as well.

[Alibabaandthe80nappies]

We did ours today. Hottest wash - 95 degrees with white vinegar and cleaned the drawer and seals. All lovely now and nice fresh-smelling laundry again.

[bilblio]

I do Seona's method. Hot wash (I usually stick some towels in though) and white vinegar. I had black mould around the door which wouldn't shift, but teh vinegar got rid of it.
Now I generally put a slosh of vinegar in every so often when I'm doing a 60 white wash.

[Ponders]

after you've scrubbed out the drawer area as well as you can, give it a good squirt with mould & mildew remover (which is chlorine bleach, so be careful with it) & then do an empty 90 degree wash with some bio detergent in the drum

& leave both the drawer & the door ajar when you're not washing

[RoseC]

We're having smelly machine problems. So far have tried: 90 degree wash with a) vinegar, b) soda crystals, c) detergent but only Dr Beckmann washing machine cleaner seems to have worked. There's still a slight smell but nowhere near as bad as before.

[Ponders]

Aldi have Dr Beckmann cleaner this week - £2.49 (I happened to buy one! haven't tried it yet though - too busy doing actual washing during the lull in the rain)

[thenightsky]

I take the drawer right out if not using machine so the whole area can dry properly. I also put the drawer through the dishwasher occasionally.

[Ponders]

oh that's a good idea, nightsky! I do soak & scrub mine but there are nooks & crannies I can't get into

[AwesomePan]

I have this problem with mine. Clothes comming out a bit 'stale' smelling.
How much is 'some' vinegar or bleach? Appreciate amounts direction - otherwise full bottles get thrown down the chute....

[AwesomePan]

if anyone still ahs this thread, I poured half a cup of white wine vinegar down the chute on a 95 degree wash ( with a couple of white towels). Stale smell gone, and the towels worryingly whiter...

[Lindax]

never had this problem with washing machines until I had ds and used non-bio liquid regularily.

new machine (old one broke) and back to bio powder and no problems with machine.

cleaning out the drawer and 2-3 runs on hottest wash with 1/2 a packet of soda crystals then again with bio powder normally cured it for a while, but as the mould is deep in places I could never get to it kept coming back so needed done every month or so.

[Nonicknamesleft]

Also taken all the steps outlined bu RoseC inc Beckmann's product and ours still smells repulsive.

[EvilTwins]

I did the Beckmann's thing yesterday and it seems to have done the trick. Thanks RoseC (and everyone else)

[CalamityKate]

I did the hot wash with bleach thing and was amazed at how much foam was generated. I could have held an Ibiza-style foam party in my kitchen.

Did the trick though.

[Sheamy]

I'm having the same problem.I have tried bleach+soda crystals but to no avail..Will try vinegar nxt,How much do I use+do I put it straight into the drum or in the pwder drawer????

[rabbit123]

If you use bleach, you only need a TINY drop in the detergent drawer as it's very strong. It foams up and can cause the rubber seal to rot and leak if you use too much.

Smelly, mouldy washers are caused by using liquids, low temperatures or both combined. In 6 years of owning my washer, I've never once had to do this. But I always use powder and regularly wash at 60 and 90 degrees.

[JulieElmes65]

I've just been browsing through this section and wanted to share the idea of having your oven cleaned regularly by a local professional, it saves me so much time and I can now actually see my food as it cooks its brilliant! Well worth the money!

[5YearsTime]

Don't use vinegar. I did this and it took about 15 cycles for the smell to go. Our clothes smelled rank.

[goingtotown]

Repairman recommended Dishwasher Powder with a cup of soda crystals on a hot wash.