My washing machine smells like wee!

[BertieBotts]

Ds is potty training at the moment but when he has an accident tends to stand there looking shocked rather than stopping mid-flow so washing a lot of wee soaked clothes, and cloths also used to soak up any wee which has gone on the floor.

Should it really make my washing machine smell of wee? People use cloth nappies so this can't be normal, can it?! The entire load is coming out smelling of a horrible washing powder mixed with ammonia smell. Last night I hung a couple of things up just to check, and when it's dry it goes away, aside from in his trousers which obviously get the most soaked. So in this morning's wash load, mainly towels/cloths, I did it at 60, added a prewash (no detergent, so like a pre-rinse really) and made sure I used biological powder. No change. Everything still smells of wee, and the inside of the WM as well, and I've made the elastic go dodgy on one of DS' trousers :(

maybe your wm has a heavy load of sludge in it, made of old soap and fabsoft. Give it a cleaning wash on the HOT HOT HOT cycle with no powder, and some white cotton towels if you have them. If it froths up that will be the old soap sludge dissolving. Do it again until it stops foaming.

Also you need to clean the pump filter from time to time to verify it is not clogged, and is pumping out fully.

What is the pump filter?

Is this the thing about pulling it out to do? If so I am unable to do that, because the landlord has managed to wedge it in so tightly that even two men pulling it at once can't shift it.

That does make sense though because it quite often makes clothes smell musty, which usually goes by the time they dry, and water collects in the fabric softener drawer. It always has, ever since I moved in 2 years ago.

the pump filter is usually right at the bottom, at the front, with a cover over it. They usually screw out. Depends on the make and model. They are usually clogged with sludge, shredded socks, coins, lego and bra wires.

Water in the fabsoft compartment is sometimes due to clogged old fabsoft sludge. Take the drawer out and scrub it in hot water. Use a toothbrush or nylon washing up brush to clean the slot the drawer slides into, expecially the pinholes in the top that water squirts out of. You may need kitchen spray with bleach to kill the black mould.

Aha! Have just had a look and yes it does look like it's at the front. Will have to unscrew the wall panel though.

if you find the make and model there will be an instruction book on the makers website.

Run a boil wash in an empty machine with a cup of bleach in the drum. That'll help.

I have done that before Celia and it didn't make any difference, so I will try this filter thing. Thanks though :)