90 degree wash to clean machine - does it have to be empty?

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Sorry, probably a silly question: if I'm going to run a 90 degree wash to give the machine a bit of a clean and maintain, does the drum need to be empty, or can I bung a few dishcloths etc in with it? and do I put powder in too or just leave the hot water to do the trick? thanks.

I put in a tiny bit of bleach/soda crystals and chuck in dog towels, dish cloths - usually white things that need a boil.

I was told by washing machine engineer that it's best to run it empty with a bit of bleach in the drum.

watched watchdog last night. they said to do a 90 degree wash every month. oh. not good that i've never done one, in my whole life, then ?

I have an Indesit Moon and have to clean it all the time, It's really not good with 4yo and 16 month dcs as I have enough to do and it is concerning about how many germs could still be getting to them even though they've been washed on the highest setting. I wish it had a 90 degree wash on it, and it definitely does not 'self clean' regarding the dispenser. I cant wait til I can afford to get a new one which wont be for a while

I've just spotted this thread as my washing machine is now running a bleach 90* wash! Think I put too much bleach in though as it's very foamy! How many rinses will I need to do before I put washing in does anyone know?

5GoMad I usually run it on an extra rinse cycle at 95C and never had problems after.

I try and run mine every couple of months or so on a hot wash - cos it's a washer dryer it's especially important to not let it fur up! Never been organised enough to remember every month though!

Agree with jojo. why would you wash in such a machine. why would you keep a mouldy machine that makes your clothes come out dirtier then when they went in. defies logic and reason. Get rid. NOW. And then buy a shitty cheapy of e-bay, until you can afford/save to get another.
I can not get my head around the people on the tv, who would keep washing in a mouldy machine. I would rather wash by hand, than keep such a machine for a minute.

Even an Ebay cheapy isnt that cheap.

I have never ever done this. Am now too scared to go home and look at washing machine.

It was the watchdog programme last night that made me remember that I ought to do it. But I agree with previous posts..WHY would anyone wash clothes at all in that machine, and have to pick mould off. URGH.
Right, better go and do mine...

Empty.

I do towels on a 90 degree wash 3/4 times a month. My clothes no longer get smelly when they are on the airer these days, I think the bacteria in the machine was still in the clothes.

Never ran an empty hot wash though.

Juicylips machines often crop up on freecycle. would recommend you have a look, and you never know, you could find a great one and replace sooner.

This is one of the few times on a Good Housekeeping thread when I can actually feel proud.

I do a 90degC wash every month with a cup of white vinegar in the drum (I use one of those liquid dispensing balls). We live in a hard water area, so I worry about limescale build-up.

Otherwise, I am a rubbish housekeeper.

thanks for the tip sdces will have a look later.

Yay MrsTittlemouse! It's great when one can actually gloat a little!
Do you think then that the vinegar is a better bet than bleach?

Ok, I'm smothering who feels slightly embarrassed at never having done this!! If I wanted to use white vinegar rather than bleach, and don't have a liquid dispensing ball (usually use tablets in the drawer) what exactly do I do?!

Smothering?!! Bloody iPhone!! 'another one'!!

Also, to ask a stupid question, will not everything smell of vinegar afterwards?!!

I'd stick the white vinegar in the drawer on the normal wash. I 90 degree wash my white bedding every couple of weeks and use powder. I don't wash under 40 degrees cos it manks up your machine otherwise.

I've got the Indesit Moon machine featured on last nights show and I now feel very sick!

Tbh, I'm also really fucked off. Everything the couple featured said about their machine has happened to ours. Do you think its worth trying to get a refund?

I've got a young baby and another on the way and I now dont want to use the machine. The highest temp wash I can do is 60 degrees.

No, it doesn't make everything smell of vinegar; the machine does a rinse cycle as part of the 90deg wash. I also use vinegar to do everyday cleaning - diluted a bit with water - it smells at the time, but the smell disappears very quickly afterwards.

I just emailed them with my complaints, and then they phoned back and have arranged an engineer to come and see it for free, who will replace the door seal and give it an industrial strength clean, its not a new machine obv, but its better than nothing. And very fast customer service as it was within half an hour from emailing them that they phoned. (hoping it will help a little bit)

I just bung a bit of BioD in mine when doing the 90deg wash thing.