How do clean a decidedly gross washing machine drawer?

[AngeloMysterioso]

I’ve gone on a bit of a cleaning spree in the last few days, and have put two cleaning treatments through the washing machine. However, even though the drum of the machine is now sparkling, the drawer (and the gap it goes into) are still pretty manky. I ended up scooping loads of congealed detergent gunge out of the gap 🤢 and just wiped as much as I could, as far back as I could, but the drawer has loads of nooks and crannies that no sponge or brush is going to get into.

Any suggestions for how I can get it properly clean?

You are not meant to put liquid detergent in the drawer it is meant to be put in the drum in the measuring cup.

I've used mould & mildew remover with good results. Take the drawer out and spray and spray the cavity too. Leave it 10 minutes and scrub with a toothbrush and it should all come away. Run it on an empty cycle at 90 degrees after.

We moved to an area with soft water, and brought the washing machine indoors. We use Fairy non-bio liquid in half recommended amounts, and a little Oxy. Clean as a whistle.

I simply pulled out the drawer and washed with vinegar and hot water. Twas sparkling!

I put mine in a sink full of bleach and water

Have just recently done ours and mould remover seemed to work really well. For those saying put the powder in the machine, what do you do about fabric softener?

Drawer in floor mop bucket.
Take it outside.
Blast with hosepipe.

Go back inside and change out of soaking wet clothes.

Take it out, wash thoroughly with hot water/washing up liquid and a narrow brush (e.g.for babies' bottles) to get all the gunk out of the nooks and crannies. My previous WM drawer had so many nooks and crannies, it was the only way.

Take it out, spray drawer and inside area with a well known mould remover (D.tt.l) and then rinse. Get some interdental brushes and use to clean jets on top of area just to make sure the mould has managed to clear them. Good luck.

Sorry, forgot to add, make sure you run the machine through empty to clear the mould remover.

a washing machine repairman once told me NEVER to use liquid detergent at all. He said it causes 90% of his callouts because it doesn't dissolve properly and it gunks up the machine.

Imagine what the inside of the other bits are like in your machine OP if the drawer is that gunked up.

Trouble is, this is just the tip of the iceberg. I know from personal experience. Luckily my washer made the decision for me and packed in. I never use liquid in the new one. Never conditioner.

I put mine in the dishwasher once and it came out all yellowed.

I've no idea why when everyone on this thread seems to manage it perfectly well and I have form for putting EVERYTHING in the dishwasher

I spray mine with dettol mould remover and leave in the sink. It’s like a miracle all the gunk then rinse off under a hot tap!

We only use liquid detergents and they’re not especially thick (once in a blue moon I might use vanish powder) so I don’t understand how so much of it got stuck!

Hard water (the scale blocks the water spray outlets) and mould. You'll need to squirt the spray outlets above the drawer with some sort of descaling treatment. I've used Viakal - probably not advised, so hope you're out of guarantee. In future, add Calgon or washing soda to your whites and the machine won't get so bad.

@BendyLikeBeckham

I was told this too. This was when I had the technician out to investigate the disgusting smell coming from the machine. He explained that the liquid is renowned for gunking up the pipes etc and that it then begins to smell. He cleaned it out for me - took him over an hour - and I've since gone back to using powder. No more smells and the washing machine stays much cleaner.

I soaked it in hot water & bleach in the sink and then had a good go with a scrubbing brush/toothbrush/pipe cleaner type thingy. Seemed to do the trick, and I seemed to get the drawer slot pretty clean as far back as I could reach.

We’re moving house soon and the white goods are part of the sale of our flat so it’s about to become the next owner’s problem