Washing machine leaving black stuff over everything - help!

[IHeartKingThistle]

There's nothing in the machine itself, no pens or anything, and it isn't mould from the seal. It's actually coming out of the drum. A couple of things are smeared with black and all my white towels have black polka-dots from the holes in the drum. Machine is about 10 years old.

Anyone had this? Is it dead? Can I fix it?

Have a read of this eeeeeew

I had exactly the same problem with my machine. Tried everything that was suggested on the internet but I think I'd probably left it too long as it didn't really work and I still kept getting the black stuff on clothes. In the end I bought a new washer and I've got into the habit of running the 'drum clean' program every week. Had the new washer about 6 months now and it still looks like new inside so seems to be working!

have you tried cleaning all around (under as well) the seals and all rubber parts.I have to clean mine every few days or else stuff gets trapped in there and comes out all over the clothes.

Is it running noisily? This has just happened to me, for the second time. The last time the bearings had gone, but it was still under guarantee so they were replaced. I knew from the noise it was happening again, and it has. Just bought a new machine.

It is running very noisily. Oh no, it definitely isn't still under guarantee!

And the hoover broke today too...

We had this, it was oil leaking from the drum.

Fixable Jacks?

I had this and turned out the pump was broken and if I had left it it would have ruined the electrics so maybe get it looked at sooner rather than later.

It was fixable but ours was still under warranty, not sure what the cost would be and I should have rung the "not in UK" bell at the top of my post... I really hope it can be fixed!!!

well do the drawer-clean and maintenance wash for a start.

I prefer to do a hot hot hot wash with old cotton towels and no powder, if it foams up, you'll know that is the old soap sludge dissolving, do it again until it no longer foams.

Have you done a couple of booing washes with soda crystals?

booing?

BOILING!! Fecking stupid auto correct!

Did a boil wash, was OK for a couple of washes after that. Now leaving thick black smears on the items that touch the walls iyswim. Grr.

Do more boil washes? Did you use road crystals?

at your autocorrect. No I didn't. What do they do?

They clear the pipes and nooks and crannies. You need half a bag in the drum on the hottest wash. Do it 3 or 4 times and see if it helps than do it once a week then once a month. SCs are cheap about 90p in Tescos.

OK, will try. Thanks!

is road crystals autocorrect for soda crystals?

Oh ffs, I HATE this computer and can't seem to turn off auto correct. YES soda crystals - by the laundry stuff in Tescos :)

Do you use liquid detergent, that killed my old machine, it's dreadful stuff, especially in hard water areas.
Also as others have said a regular 60 or 90 degree wash helps. To be honest not much stuff gets a 40 degree wash in our house, I don't think it cleans that well.

I agree about liquid detergent and also fabric softener, I have recently started using Ariel liquid and now have to be very careful about using soda crystals to get rid of the smell in the machine. Washing at low temperatures is terrible for the machine too - they need regular hot washes.

Two things you might want to try. Stop using fabric softener and switch the detergent Bach to a simple powder. It makes a big difference. It takes a few weeks for the washer to clean up.