STINKY washing machine cycle !!!

[ChrisMissWooWoo]

can anyone explain why there is a terible stench from my washing machine every time I use the short wash cycle? The washing machine itself doesn't smell and neither does the washing when it comes out thankfully. It's a very unpleasant odour - my dad would say like a gutted chicken, I'd say more like a dirty nappy. Other (longer) cycles seem to be fine.

Why is this happening and what can I do about it?

[CapnJadetheKnife]

I'd wash it through with something like vinegar and bicarb. PUt it in the drawer and put on short wash to rinse all the way through.

[ChrisMissWooWoo]

would that be white vinegar? how much of each do you think?

[CapnJadetheKnife]

white vinegar probably best.

As regards quantities - um some? Possibly a couple of caps of vinegar and a few teaspoons of bicarb.

Though the 2 together will probably fizz - should be good for cleaning out pipes.

[ReneRusso]

Although we should all use 30 degree cycle, occasionally I think you need to use 60 degrees to kill the bacteria and get rid of nasty smells.

[ChrisMissWooWoo]

ok capn I will give that a go after my next supermarket trip - presuming I can buy white vinegar there

[ChrisMissWooWoo]

right. white vinegar, bicarb, 60 degree.

got it. thanks

[BigusBumus]

Do you use liquid or tablets? Liquid in the drawer has a tendency to turn into a nasty clear jelly slime which at low temperatures can smell really bad.

Remove the drawer, and with a rubber glove remove all the slime behind the drawer and down the tube. Put the drawer through the dishwasher or wash it up in hot soapy water.

Then run some white sheets or whatever through your washing machine on a really hot wash, lke a 90 degrees one.

Et voila! No smells.

[ChrisMissWooWoo]

hey BigusBumus I use liquid but it goes in the drum. I've had the machine for a couple of years and did use non bio tablets a couple of times a week in the drawer when I first got it for about a year I guess for dd's clothes. rarely put anything in the drawer now though.

I've got it on a 40 degree cotton cycle at the moment, it's about half way through and no smells - it's only when I use the short (40-50) min cycle that it smells like a broken toilet.

very odd how it only smells on the short cycle.

[ChrisMissWooWoo]

I lie .... just been into the kitchen and it does smell a bit stinky

so, clean out the drawer and any gunk behind it, vinegar and bicarb it up on a 90 degree wash. got it.