maintenance hot wash for your washing machine

[nuttybananas]

have read about making sure you do your highest setting wash every so often to maintain the washing machine.

I've got a couple of quick questions:

1. Is the idea that the machine is empty or can you bung some actual laundry in with it e.g. some towels - if yes full load/half load/doesn't matter?
   

1. Should it be a wash without detergent?
   

thanks

[PersonalClown]

Completely empty with a good slug of white vinegar or soda crystals to give it a good clean out.

[jellycake]

I turn my up to top whack 90 degrees, longest number 1 wash, no laundry and turn off the spin cycle.

[jellycake]

No detergent, you'll be amazed at how many bubbles it produces without it!

[DragonsCanHop]

I've just put my machine on 90% empty and without spin.

It's the most excitement I've had all weekend.

[Missingsleepandthecat]

90 deg without anything (no soda crystals) and let it do its magic, but then, our water here is quite soft and we always use the hot cycles on our machine anyway so it very very rarely needs a clean

[Missingsleepandthecat]

Grr, sent without me finishing it, I meant to say that it very rarely needs a clean with machine cleaners or crystals,etc

[OhOneOhTwoOhThree]

Be prepared to have to do it several times - mine smelt worse after the first maintenance wash than it had before. I think it took three goes to get rid of all the gunk.

[Mintyy]

My washing machine never smells because I do at least a couple of hot washes every week for sheets and towels (albeit at 60 not 90) and I use old fashioned washing powder instead of liquid or gel capsules.

[Gunpowder]

Mintyy do you dry out the rubber seal between washes?

Have just got a new washing machine and don't want it to get manky. Seems a hassle to dry it every time if doing a couple of loads every day though.

[Mintyy]

Before I go to bed I open the washing machine door completely and pull the powder drawer out as far as it will go. They dry out completely = less mould. The machine is right below the cupboard where I get my glass for bedtime water, so I just don't forget.

[LBOCS]

Ooh, is this another maintenance wash thread? We're probably due one (a thread and a wash to be honest).

[Gunpowder]

Thanks. Will try that. I already do the powder and several hot washes a week.

Hopefully opening the door/drawer and not living in a damp basement flat anymore will save the new washing machine!

[Gunpowder]

LBOCS I secretly love the housekeeping topic. Hopefully will not get sucked into watching scary Americans fold towels on YouTube again.

[nuttybananas]

thankyou all - will do one in next couple of days!

[CMOTDibbler]

I do a 'no laundry, couple of dishwasher tabs' wash once a month ish, and a '90' wash with no detergent but with white towels' wash once a week.
Keeps the machine really clean. And gels/liquid detergent def seems worse for the machine than powder

[Archer26]

Wait, what? You have to do maintenance washes??!

I'm off to the utility room then....

[Pipbin]

Hopefully will not get sucked into watching scary Americans fold towels on YouTube again.
Tell me more about towel folding.......

I'm just about to do a maintenance wash here. DH has developed a washing powder allergy so I need to clean it out.

[LBOCS]

I secretly love it too, which is bizarre as although I'm quite good at the more arcane housekeeping arts (folding fitted sheets, maintenance washes, cleaning microwaves, etc), my general routine is quite lacking and my house is barely hygienic most of the time.

Tell me more about towel folding Americans...?

[rabbit123]

I never have to do a so called "maintenance wash". Think about it - 20 years ago nobody ever had to do this. It's only become an issue with cooler wash temps and liquid detergents.

I always use powder detergents, not liquid.
I use various temperatures for different washes and do regular 60 and 90 degree washes for bedding, towels and whites.
I always keep the door open in between washes.

In almost 7 years, I've never had to do a maintenance wash and there isn't a spec of mold, slime or any bad smells in my machine.

[Gunpowder]

I can't find the woman that I got obsessed with last time. I found her via MN! Will search youtube later. She showed you how to make your linen cupboard look amazing.
Tbh if you know how to fold fitted sheets you probably don't need her ...

[LBOCS]

Possibly. My folded fitted sheets are a thing of beauty. Unfortunately they usually go washing machine - tumble dryer - screwed up ball on a chair in the kitchen for an indeterminate amount of time - back on the bed.

But this is partly because my linen cupboard developed a leak and so now needs repainting and new shelves built into it. It's on The List.

[nowttodowithme]

Why do people use powder, are the liquid/gels bad for the washer?

[e1y1]

LBOCS - are you talking about Melissa Maker who does clean my space. Love her to pieces.

Nowt - liquid/gel detergents do not contain bleach, whereas powders do (except colour/Eco versions)

[e1y1]

Sorry, I meant Gunpowder not LBOCS

[LumpySpacedPrincess]

Thanks for reminding me, just whacked mine on with a bottle of vinegar.