Best detergent for a maintenance wash?

[Hurr1cane]

My BFs washing machine is very smelly, I asked him when he last did a maintenance wash and he looked at me like this

I remember reading a thread recently where someone used a detergent when theirs was very smelly and it killed the smell instantly, anyone remember what it was called?

[Fluffycloudland77]

Soda crystals?

[rabbit123]

any bio powder is fine. The bleaching agents will kill any bacteria.
Get him to switch to powder permanently too, this will stop the washer getting slimey and mouldy.

[Hurr1cane]

Thanks I've told him about powder so he's going to start using that as soon as he's finished his liquid bottle

[PigletJohn]

the advantage of washing soda crystals is that they help dissolve the sludge of old soap and fabsoft, and you need less of each. You can use them in a hot hot hot cycle with no powder, and some white cotton towels if you have them. Probably the water will foam up and go grey as the old soap deposits start to dissolve. It make take repeated cycles to clean it all out.

Liquids contain no bleach and are often used at low temperatures, which is conducive to sludge and bacteria build-up. Towels and flannels benefit from a hot cotton wash.

The door and drawer should be left open when not in use to help the insides air and dry out.

Look in the pump filter for eaten socks and money.

[Hurr1cane]

I've checked his filter and that's fine, he does use hot washes for towels but uses powder.

[PigletJohn]

p.s.

If he is feeling frugal and wants to use up the liquid, suggest he saves it for his socks, woolens and delicates (if any) and switches to powder straight away for shirts, whites and cottons.

[thesurreyyouth]

What quantity of soda crystals would you need for a maintenance wash please?

[PigletJohn]

cross posted

that sounds good. Buy him a bag of washing soda crystals as a present, perhaps he will enjoy the science of watching the towels foam up and come clean with no powder added.

[PigletJohn]

About a cupful. The cost is insignificant.

You can add a spoonful in every wash and deduct that much from the powder. Some people say it is very good for whites. Instructions s/be on the bag.

[Fluffycloudland77]

I usually use a cup full.

[BettyRooster]

Do you put the crystals in the drum or the drawer?

[PigletJohn]

either will do.

If you put them in the drawer, they have the chance to clean the drawer and pipe, but they are washed away too fast to have much effect

[ClaireFraser]

So you could split a a cup-full then, half in drawer and half in drum, would that do the trick?

Does it need to be a certain length/temp cycle? Ie should I go for the 3hr 90deg cycle or is the 1hr 60deg cycle sufficient?

[PigletJohn]

doesn't much matter where you put the soda. If you put it all in the drawer it will end up in the drum.

Use the hottest cycle you have got. Heat is important for killing bacteria and dissolving sludge.

And, for that temperature, the longest it will go.

[ClaireFraser]

Ok, brilliant, thanks for that

I shall try it out tomorrow and hopefully will sort my machine, DH is a farmer so it's gets some pretty hard use!