Tips on cleaning the washing machine please

[MarthasHarbour]

I know this has been done before but i cant find the threads on how to so a service type clean your washing machine. We have had ours for six years and have never done this clothes are starting to smell a bit now when washed (thank goodness we can line dry them).

TIA

Run the machine empty, on its highest temperature setting, with a full load of detergent.
That should help.
You can also clean out the detergent drawer and wipe around the rubber door seal.

Or I say, HOT HOT HOT wash with no powder or fabsoft, if the water goes foamy or grey, you know that is caused by the old soap sludge washing out. Do it again until the water stays clean.

You can put some old cotton towels in if you have them.

Definitely NO detergent.

I add detergent because my washing machine manual tells me to, but others obviously disagree.

No worries ruth i will try both methods. Maybe do the detergent one first followed by lots of pure water washes.

Good stuff, thanks everyone

I imagine the thinking behind no detergent is that you are trying to rid the machine of old detergent don't want to add to the problem. If you add soda crystals to drum and drawer then that will help cut through the sludge.