To run washing machine with no clothes in it?

[Backoff85]

Clothes are coming out clean but kind of fusty smelling. Should i try "washing" my washing machine by running a cycle with soap but no clothes in???

[plominoagain]

I did it yesterday . Sadly what I actually meant to do was run it full . Pity I forgot to load the fucker before I switched it on .

[skankingpiglet]

I do a 90 degree empty wash with no detergent each month, and I never shut the door between washes (just leave it pushed to a bit) so air can circulate. Since I started doing this I've never had musty smells from the machine I used to have really bad smells from the machine until I started using cloth nappies and learned more about washing stuff than I thought possible! I also use loose powder now too.

[Firstaidnovice]

Definitely use powder. Cheaper too!
Anyway, another brilliant tip that I'm almost sure I read on MN was to stick the dispenser drawer in the dishwasher to clean it. Came up brilliantly clean

[Haffiana]

Yes, liquids are crap. Crap at cleaning and crap for causing stinky machines (this is why they are so highly scented. It is to cover the musty scent). Used at 30 degrees they can also cause drain blockages.

[ForeverLivingMyArse]

Liquid really does make machines stink.

[elevenclips]

For your future reference before putting the empty on, I'd have done as much wiping of the interior as possible, particularly the rubber seal - stick a gloved hand into the seal with a wipe (baby wipe/antibacterial wipe) and its likely you'll get loads of black cruddy mouldy type stuff out.

[Haffiana]

Hottest wash (90) with either soda crystals or washing powder.

Then afterwards throw your laundry liquid away and use powder, or at the very least, use powder for every other wash. Try to do a hot (60 degree) as often as possible - bath towels are good for this!

The problem with laundry liquid is that it does not contain bleach. Therefore bacteria and mold accumulate in the sump especially if you consistently are only doing 30 degree washes (blood temp is 39 degrees. 30 degrees will not kill bacteria). Powders contain a small mount of bleach and will keep these at bay.

[Motherbear26]

Put it on a hot wash empty. Clean the filter.

[Somersetter]

Another one with a demanding Samsung - tells me to do a "drum clean" cycle which is 70c and I think every 40 washes?

[tamepanda]

I use the detol washing machine cleaner.

[thelastredwinegum]

Matilda
Have you checked inside the seal for mildew?


This, I was having the same problem, tried special cleaners, bleach, zoflora etc... still smelt funny.
Had to properly scrub around the seal and it solved it.

[troodiedoo]

@QuitMoaning I have a demanding Samsung too 😂

[ForalltheSaints]

Yes do it.

[Fluffyunicorns]

I just wash my cleaning cloths every week at 90 - kill 2 birds with one stone

[dustarr73]

Take the drawer out as well for a good wash.The amount of scu. Does be unbelievable.

[RB68]

vinegar doesn't leave a smell longer than it takes to evaporate

[MatildaTheCat]

Have you checked inside the seal for mildew? It builds up in there and is horrid. If it is there, use neat bleach to scrub out. Then run a very hot wash on empty. Then run a hot wash with a cup full of white vinegar on empty. I did this last weekend and it was almost miraculous.

[IWouldLikeToKnow]

I’ve never done this....but now I just want to go run an empty cycle!!!

[DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen]

Hot wash with a dishwasher tablet in the drum. Works much better than anything else I've tried.

[dramallamakarma]

2 capfuls of zoflora in the drawer & 60c wash. No clothes.

Can you also take the drawer out & scrub it first, sometimes it goes a bit black & mouldy. Mine comes out completely, not sure if all makes do.

[Backoff85]

Thanks for your help! Currently on 90C empty with bicarb

[FlandersRocks]

I've got sachets of machine cleaner that I bought from the manufacturer, for use on the wm and dishwasher. It was about £20 but there are 25 sachets and you do it once a month...definitely worth doing IMO, I wouldn't want to faff with vinegar etc in case it left a smell or something.

[PurplePillowCase]

just wash towels or bedding at 60 or hotter every now and then.

[Struckbylightning]

Don’t put bleach in a washing machine, it will make the rubber seal degrade!

[QuitMoaning]

My machine (Samsung) demands a drum wash every so often. I think it is 90 washes. A little symbol comes up on display.

I go all frosty with it as not sure I like being told what to do by a washing machine.

Anyhow it shouldn’t have any detergent in it when I do mine but that does seem weird.