Powdery sand type stuff in washing machine drum

[kylesmybaby]

Can anyone help me. have a Miele washing machine and it has awful sand type bits in the drum. Bit like white washing powder/limescale. Only use washing liquid to wash. Have no idea what it can be. Or tell me the best way to give the machine a really good wash out. Although don't think this will get rid of it. Thank you for any ideas.

[Jesabel]

I seem to remember reading that washing powder is better for the machine than liquid.

[2boysnamedR]

How old is the machine? Are you in hard water area?

Try to grab some bits and put them on a plate with vinegar on. If it fizzes it's probably limescale

[wowfudge]

Liquid doesn't contain the bleaching agents powder does so you can get a build up of gunk in the machine. Try the very hottest wash with no detergent at all or maybe a handful of soda crystals. If you are in a hard water area it might be worth using a cleaner for washing machines in a hard water area, like Calgon or a supermarket own brand.

[kylesmybaby]

It's maybe 2 years old. Very hardwater area. I can literally Hoover them out. Getting on all the clothes. It's a nightmare. Will put on a really hot wash with soda crystals. Calgon does seem to be expensive to use in every wash. Do you think it would make a difference? Thank you all.

[kylesmybaby]

Thanks for vinegar tip will try that's as well.

[Lweji]

It must be limescale that's been building up.
Try putting vinegar with the washing or in place of the softener.
But first do a couple of long washes with only vinegar.

[lljkk]

in future you could try washing with soda crystals. Can buy SC in supermarkets, instructions how to use them are on the pack. SC are supposed to soften the water so that you can use less detergent (so ends up saving money) & prevents limescale buildup.

[kylesmybaby]

As in vinegar that goes on our chips? Or a different type of vinegar? Hope that dont sound as dumb as I think it does.

[Lweji]

Preferably white vinegar, but yes, any vinegar. It's the acid in it that reacts with the limescale.

[kylesmybaby]

Thank you. How much vinegar shall I put in the machine? And just the vinegar, no soda crystals with it. Thanks again

[Lweji]

I think you could easily do a whole bottle now and see how it works, because you seem to have a lot of limescale.
Then I tend to just use a bit in the softener compartment.

[irie]

Are you overfilling your machine? Something like this happened to me and it turned out it was little bits of rubber that were wearing away because I'd overfilled the drum

[Fluffycloudland77]

I'd stick a few bottles of Aldi malt vinegar in the drum and run it on a hot cycle. It keeps my taps all shiny.

Soda crystals cut through grease but not limes ale.

[denak18]

Kylesmybaby Did you resolve this problem? Having the same issues.

[Loonoon]

Agree it sounds like limescale. Run an empty, very hot wash cycle with soda crystals every couple of weeks. Don’t use the spin cycle when running an empty wash.

We had a Miele engineer out to our machine a few years ago for a similar issue. It was an experience! He was genuinely passionate about Miele. He actually said he was unhappy he was only allocated an hour a call as there was so much he needed to say about Miele and an hour want long enough!<br /> <br /> What he did say in tones of absolute disdain when he saw my giant boxes of Tesco washing powder was ‘ what are you using that stuff for?’ When I said it was cheap he replied ‘ you didn’t buy an expensive machine to ruin it with THAT’. He pretty much ordered me to go out and buy Persil Small and Mighty liquid and not sully my Miele with the powder ever again. So I did and he was right - just be careful not to over dose with the liquid or you can get a slimey build up. But even that can be fixed with the empty hot washes.