Washing machine detergent drawer horror!

[ImFree2doasiwant]

I just took the detergent drawer out if my washing machine to give it a clean. Something I do reasonably regularly. This time, when I was replacing it, I decided to clean the front of the washer and was kneeling on the floor - happened to look into the hole where the drawer fits. Oh dear god it was disgusting!!

How and why has it got so gross?? It was black in places. Most of it has come off with a good scrub but it's so awkward to get to, and there's sone limescale (I think) left.

What's the best stuff to put in the washer to help clean itself? I feel grubby.

I’ve found if you leave the drawer open after the machine has finished it prevents the black in the first place. I leave ours permanently ajar & it really helps.

Do you ever use a washing machine cleaner? If you use a bit of that on a cloth & scrub with that, then let it sit for a while, before putting the cleaner in the machine it cleans it well.

I think it’s normal….! But yeah you can spritz it with flash with bleach spray and it gets rid of it pretty well, just make sure you run a couple of white or towel washes incase the bleach gets into the machine.

I did use flash bleach spray and an old toothbrush. Shocked at how gross it was, given that its the detergent area and no actual dirt goes through it!

It's not dirt. It's mould.

If you use liquid detergent and put it straight in the drum, you never have to look at the drawer 😁

You need to use less detergent, do a hot wash fairly regularly and running bleach or vinegar through on a cold wash every so often.

When your machine is not in use leave the drawer ajar so it dries. It's mouldy from being damp and wet all the time

Yeah i dont understand why they design it that way at all

Thanks , I will try all of these things to avoid dealing with this again!

I use bleach spray and an old toothbrush or denture brush to get crap out of the holes.

I should really do mine

Check to see if there is mould in the ‘lip’ of the door seal too… that can hold a lot of water

@ImFree2doasiwant

I did use flash bleach spray and an old toothbrush. Shocked at how gross it was, given that its the detergent area and no actual dirt goes through it!

Put it in the dishwasher. It will be as good as new

@Anordinarymum she can't put the compartment in the dishwasher! She's already washed the drawer

Run a cleaning drum wash about once a month with white vinegar will clean the washing dept and drum

[quote dementedpixie]@Anordinarymum she can't put the compartment in the dishwasher! She's already washed the drawer[/quote]
Sorry I meant the drawer ! I clean the compartment with bleach and a stiff brush and leave it for a while before wiping it with kitchen roll. Bleach is good !

I use the noisy jet attachment on my steam cleaner to get into all the corners on the 'ceiling' of the drawer space.

@Nannyamc

Run a cleaning drum wash about once a month with white vinegar will clean the washing dept and drum

Or use a dishwasher tablet. That works for me.. or bleach

I’m fussy! My nickname is Ms Domestos!

I take the drawer out and put it in the dishwasher once a month after giving it a soak and a good scrub. I do the same with sink and washbasin plugs (not the electrical type 😂).

I attack the drawer “holder” with an old tooth brush and dilute bleach. l also run a propriety washing machine cleaner through the machine every couple of months.

I don't have a dishwasher! But i will be buying all the washing machine cleaner to run through more often!

Do you mean the water inlet holes at the top ? They get really manly. Never seemed to happen when I had a hit and cold fill machine

Manky 😂

I never had this problem with mould build up until I bought my current machine around 7 years ago . My previous machine was probably 7-8 years old before it packed up.
I think something has changed about the materials used and design of machines today vs say 15-20 years ago. There just seem to be too many places water doesn’t drain properly and just sits and gets mouldy
I live on my own now and can go days between washes, if I don’t take the detergent drawer right out for the duration and leave the door ajar my utility room starts to smell from the machine - they really are quite terrible.
The manufacturers could fix this problem with some thought- but it is a good money making scheme to keep replacing the drum seal etc when it gets mouldy- the material used is almost impossible to get mould spores off entirely so they keep coming back.

Use powder detergents rather than liquid and not "colour" ones (or at least not all the time)

Run a hot wash regularly. Both some loads with clothing in and a 90 degree maintenance wash with no detergent.

Yes, they are poorly designed. I don't even use the drawer for detergent but have to take it out and clean it regularly. However when you look inside the cavity, it's all grotty as well but so difficult to clean with lots of nooks and crannies - don't see why it can't come out as well. Clearly these things are designed by people who have never had to clean one.

I just used viakal on mine and it's very nice and shiny again 😀

The seal is absolutely minging! I was think of buying that stuff from Korea to see if works