Washing machine -deep clean!

[glitterkitty]

Ok, its really grotty, and I only ever do 40 degree washes. So I know it needs a proper clean.

I am going to take the power door off and clean it, plus inside that bit, and try and find my lint drawer (at bottom I think?) and do that too.

Then I want to do a really hot wash (100 degrees?) with... what?

We are hard water area so I imagine its full of limescale. Any suggestions as to what to put in drum?

Go on. Someone must know. I have googled and found 1)bicarb 2)lemons 3) vinegar but how much? And where?

Handful of washing soda

in drum?

whats washing soda- is it bicarb or do i need to go to supermarket?

Washing soda comes in a bag about the size of a bag of sugar. It"ll be in with the cleaning stuff but may be quite tucked away.It"s good and cheap and has other uses too. Not the same as bicarb.

Ok, I'll have a look for that! Thanks!

presumably will disolve limescale? I bet my machine is FULL of it...

Be warned, I did this after seeing a thread on mn and my washing machine broke. It went into one at the sudden shock of being asked to do a hot wash and then in my frustration I ripped the door handle off. Should you need it I can recommend a company that do next day delivery of washing machines and will deliver on a Sunday.

You can get limescale removers that can be used in your washing machine too.But need to check the packaging.There are also specialist washing machine cleaners but I forget the names.Obviously don"t use at the same time as washing soda!

I recently did mine and found something on the BBC website I think which suggested doing a hot wash with 4 or 5 diswasher tablets. Worked a treat!

Still had to scrub out the vile tray bit with a toothbrush though.

I usually just do a 60 deg wash to clean the machine.Don"t know if a hotter wash is necessary.

I did this last week - there must be nothing good on telly at the moment or something?!

My wash was

1. a boil wash with half a bag of soda crystals (green bag from Waitrose cleaning aisle)
2. Scrubbed out gunky drawer with toothbrush and a bit of fairy liquid, plus boiling water from kettle
3. Wiped around the rubber seal with a cloth then more digging with a toothbrush, really gross and pulled out old hairpins and lots of black grot, so followed with
4. A 60 wash with vinegar in the drawer
5. Wiped out the inside and the door with a wet cloth to get any remaining bits of black gunk from door before using it for a normal wash.

I also tried to open up the bottom of the machine but it was all screwed too tight. My above plan got rid of the 'fusty' smell that had developed while we had been away on holiday anyway.

Use a biological washing powder on a 90 degree wash every month or so to keep a machine clean. Still need the drawer clean tho!