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

[GodRestTEEMerryGenTEEmen]

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.

I was actually agreeing with you that cheap detergent is fine,

However I will disagree about using less than it says as its a ineffective cost saving exorcise using less (this only applies to powder not liquid liquid is a huge mistake full stop ) means it does not help out our machine as much this can lead to the machine getting poorly and needing replacement

Vinegar descales kettles

+misses point of thread entirely+

But, say, if one hated the smell of lavender what essential oil would you use instead? If tea tree, would it make the clothes tingly?

+boggles+

Vinegar descales kettles?????????

I have missed that post Talla.

What do I do? Vinegar and water and boil the kettle?

I feel compelled to confess that I use Bold 2 in 1 liquid.

I don't knooooow.

I thought lime scale was just something you put up with in the bottom of your tea. Unless you were posh and used leaves, and a teapot and one of those tiny little colander type affairs.

I have been grievously mislead.

I never had to descale my kettle when we lived in Scotland and the scaly English water has deflowered my gorgeous kettle (I really love my kettle).

I shall pop some vinegar in and boil it tomorrow morning and see if it works!

My maintenance wash worked a treat by the way, lovely clean machine.

Talla, some lovely links for yucky kettles:

How to descale a kettle, with pictures!

Very old MN thread about descaling with vinegar

Washing powder packaging says you need FAR more than you actually need. It's so you run out and have to buy more!

I am a bit boggled that people never realised you can descale with vinegar! You could also use lemon juice. Smells a bit nicer!

Talla use whatever essential oil you like! Cheapest place to get them are the DIY beauty/hippy sellers on ebay. Maybe a citrus oil, or lemongrass? Geranium is nice if you like floral scents. You can also use more than one, lemon and lavender or orange and geranium are nice combos.

What's wrong with liquid?

LittleBabyPig.

They don't but its understandable why lots of people think that.

The liquid thing is because its not currently possible for a liquid detergent to contain the bleaching agents and additives that keep your machine clean and working so long term they contribute towards mold and machine deposits and stuff that means your machine does not work effectively.

I was told that liquid was better than powder as powder is what causes all the gunk so since getting a new machine I've been using liquid [good price at costco] but now I am not so sure!?
Also, I did a maintenance wash on my dear old machine and think I killed it, the stink afterwards was like a dead animal and there was water over the floor not so much a domestic goddess as I thought
And soap nuts, who'd have thunk it eh?

You'd think that liquid would get washed through the machine when it rinses, wouldn't you?

Most of it does but the bacteria and dirt and mold will not completely unless you have the agents that are included in biological powder so it sticks to parts of the machine this is much worse if the bit that surrounds your drum is plastic (so most modern machines).

Because these agents are not in any liquid on the market (apparently customers don't like to vigorously shake every time they use and that's why there not) that's why liquid can cause problems unless you add a product containing enzymes and bleaching agents so it makes it a bit of a waste using it,unless you alternate between liquid and powder.

Having a domestic goddess day, so going to try this maintenance wash thing! If I don't have any vinegar or anything, should I just wash it empty on its hottest wash?