My washing machine stinks

[EggsAreNotFromCows]

I have done a rinse with white vinegar, a 95 cotton cycle with just bio powder, poked around in the drain, scrubbed the drawer and wiped out the door seals with bleach.

It still smells musty. What am I missing?

[SweetAndFullOfGrace]

How much vinegar did you use? It's likely to be limescale that's attracted a build up of gunk. You need a lot to shift it. Soda crystals in a boil wash may help, or (a lot) more vinegar.

[EggsAreNotFromCows]

About a mug full? And only on a rinse cycle. Do I need more / in a longer wash?

And where do you buy a lot of it (I only have sarsons distiller which seems a bit of a waste)

Thanks :)

[Lunastarfish]

I put the machine on an empty loaf, hottest wash with zoflora

[EggsAreNotFromCows]

What's zoflora?

[SweetAndFullOfGrace]

I get vinegar for cleaning here.

You could also try citric acid powder which is a stronger de-limescaler?

[Lunastarfish]

Zoflora is an old school.disinfectant. you'll find it with the cleaning products in a flowry box

[DuchessFanny]

Have you cleaned the filter ? When ours gets left for ages a bit gunky it reeks !

[sleeplessbunny]

Hot wash with vinegar instead of detergent. DM had this with her washing machine, turned out to be tonnes of limescale. Took a few hot washes with descalers to get rid of it. Keep checking the filter as it filled up with rocks of limescale.

[EggsAreNotFromCows]

Right, will clean filter tomorrow and repeat the hot wash with some more vinegar!

[cakeybakeymakey]

Another alternative is to pour a can of full fat coca cola (not pepsi) into your detergent drawer and run it on a 60 degree cycle. It does work and will clean out your filter at the same time. You may have to do it twice.

I do this with my dishwasher as well, but add a scoop of Vanish Gold as well. Results were so stunning that I will never spend money on the dishwasher cleaners again!

[WeAllHaveWings]

I did 3 hottest washes with a good 3-4 cups of soda crystals each time before the smell cleared.

Also cleaned out filter, drawer, rubber nooks and crannies first.

[Muchtoomuchtodo]

Where would I find the filter on a washing machine?

[Madbengalmum]

Usually at the base of machine, you will find a hatch

[WeAllHaveWings]

Have a container/towels ready before you open filter as they can hold a fair amount of water!

There is usually a drain tube to drain most but not all out before opening fully.

[Muchtoomuchtodo]

Thanks.

I think our machine could do with a bit of TLC!