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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to be incredibly disappointed and think you all lied to me?

139 replies

GodRestTEEMerryGenTEEmen · 07/12/2013 14:16

I did a maintenance wash on my washing machine yesterday.

There were not mountains of bubbles. There were no bubbles.

I blame all of you for my disappointment.

OP posts:
valiumredhead · 07/12/2013 14:36

Give it a while and it'll start stinking as all the gunk got dislodgedGrin

AnnieLobeseder · 07/12/2013 14:37

How does one do a maintenance wash?

Original poster
GodRestTEEMerryGenTEEmen · 07/12/2013 14:39

I ran it empty on 95, Annie.

How long awhile? I've already done more laundry in it since I ran the maintenance one!

OP posts:
NorbertDentressangle · 07/12/2013 14:39

I did one on my dishwasher once.

Added some bleach to an empty machine, switched it on and believe me there were bubbles Shock.

AnnieLobeseder · 07/12/2013 14:57

95? Mine won't go hotter than 60.

Oh, yes, apparently it does, but it has never come up as the start temp on any of the cycles I use.

I suspect I don't need a maintenance wash anyway cos we use soap nuts and vinegar, so there's nothing to do the gunking. In fact, I rather rely on the vinegar to keep the innards of my machine sparkly clean.

soaccidentprone · 07/12/2013 15:00

Annie, I use soap nuts and vinegar too, but usually add a couple of drops of lavender oil or similar too so that the house smells nice when they are drying Smile

Original poster
GodRestTEEMerryGenTEEmen · 07/12/2013 15:00

Probably not, Annie, as the point is to get the gunky soapy stuff out.

But we do use a water softener thing, so maybe that also prevents gunking.

I am still very disappointed, however.

OP posts:
Heartbrokenmum73 · 07/12/2013 15:04

Well, I feel lied to by Calgon!

They have a long list of brand names on their box, who apparently recommend them.

We got a new washing machine, a Bosch, and it specifically said in the booklet that there was no need for anything that removes limescale.

So who is lying - Calgon or Bosch???

Original poster
GodRestTEEMerryGenTEEmen · 07/12/2013 15:17

Calgon.

I flipped a coin. Not really.

OP posts:
DurhamDurham · 07/12/2013 15:21

Maintenance wash? I have never done this, I'm 43 and had 3 washing machines since I moved out of my parents at 18.

Should I start now to prevent imminent destruction of my washing machine? Grin

BoohPear · 07/12/2013 15:25

My washing machine instruction booklet advises you to do a maintenance wash every 40 washes. There's a special combination of buttons you have to press to set it going.

Original poster
GodRestTEEMerryGenTEEmen · 07/12/2013 15:27

Yes, Durham. Do it forthwidth!

Booh do you keep a diary. "Today is wash 32."?

My machine might have a combination that does it but I'll never know as it's some weird brand my cheap landlord installed.

I should be grateful it washes clothes.

OP posts:
DurhamDurham · 07/12/2013 15:29

Well now I know I'm supposed to do it I am panicking about the fact that I have never done. ( neither has dh, as far as I know)

Will do it now, to think if I had done it all along I might still be using washing machine number 2.....

BoohPear · 07/12/2013 15:30

Nah, my plan is to do it once a month... But I think we've had it nearly two now and I've not done one yet. Blush

lljkk · 07/12/2013 15:39

DH got knickers in a twist about must-have a maintenance wash recently; no impact whatsoever on anything but our Lekki bill (in theory)! We use soda crystals, so shouldn't have much gunk.

SugarHut · 07/12/2013 16:42

What the hell? I'm supposed to run an empty wash on the hottest cycle about once a month? Is this common knowledge? Never heard of this....

Lj8893 · 07/12/2013 17:30

I didn't know this either!!!

So I need to run it on empty on the hottest cycle?

YoniMatopoeia · 07/12/2013 17:34

I do one once every 3 months or so (slattern)

YoniMatopoeia · 07/12/2013 17:34

Though I did pull the drawer out today and scrub it

fluffyraggies · 07/12/2013 17:35

Is this empty of clothes and detergent?

BMW6 · 07/12/2013 17:38

I use soda crystals in every wash as live in v hard water area. Never use Calgon.

DejaVuAllOverAgain · 07/12/2013 17:41

Soap, nuts and vinegar? Confused

I've never done a maintenance wash on my washing machine and I've had it at least 8/9 years.

Karbea · 07/12/2013 17:55

Apart from running it at 90 do you add anything apart from nuts and bolts?

Jux · 07/12/2013 18:00

The man who fixed our old washing machine 6 years ago said that limescale removing tablets did more harm than good. We've not used them since. The machine was nearly 20 years old when he came and it was still working when my brother bought us a new one a month ago.

lilyaldrin · 07/12/2013 18:01

I got told to do this by a washing machine engineer - apparently it is not just soap gunk but fatty deposits that have leeched out of your skin that gunk up the pipes Shock