Using vinegar to clean my washing machine

[Biscuitsandtea]

Hi,

It has been recommended to me to use distilled malt vinegar (white vinegar) one a boil wash to get it all nice and clean.

Now, I was told to put the vinegar in the dispenser drawer too to get that all clean.

BUT (and here comes my question), when I pour vinegar into the 3 compartments in the dispenser drawer, it just runs out the back of the drawer....

How much shoul I put in? Should it run straight out? How can it clean the drawer if it doesn't stay in there?

Help.......

Are you supposed to take the drawer out to clean it? That's what I usually do, although not with vinegar - I've just bought a spray thing of vinegar, but have so far only used it to clean the taps

Well I can't work out how to get the drawer itself out, but I wanted to make sure it cleaned the hoses and pipes going from the drawer to he rest of the washing machine

Everything says you should be able to get the drawer out but I can't work out how to do it

Wouldn't have thought it makes much difference. The water rushes up to the drawer when the wash starts - to bring the detergent down into the drum. It will end up diluted and swooshing around the whole machine no matter where you put it.

Ah great. I feel my education re washing machines must have been sadly lacking

Any tips on getting the darn drawer out then?

You have to pull ours out with a bit of force. Some have a catch and some you have to pull up before out. Do you have the manual or could you Google for it?

You can also use soda crystals in a hot wash to clean the machine

I buy a lovely sachet of natural citric acid appliance cleaner from my local diy store for washing machine cleaning. It is a powder which you empty into the drum. I am a green and eco-friendly person but I do have my limits when it comes to cleaning things with vinegar - don't want my house to smell like a blardy chip shop, thanks.

I looked all round for a nice Eco cleaner thing and couldn't find anything - any idea what that one is called?

I have to jiggle my drawer around and use brute force to get it out. Then ages with the toothbrush to get all the manky bits out.

Someone told me on another thread you could use vinegar instead of fabric conditioner, I've only done one test wash with it, but it didn't make the clothes smell of vinegar!

Might get DH to apply some brute force jiggling to the drawer. Maybe then he'll clean it too while he's at it??

Hmmm... If I got my DH to get the drawer out it would end with me phoning the repair man to replace the broken drawer!

bessie that might well be the case! Or maybe a new washer