Horrible grey sludge round seals in washing machine

[Figgyroll]

I've had my machine for a couple of years and noticed yesterday's wash was covered in little grey specks. When I looked closer they were like slurry. I rinsed everything another two times and they came out clean. But, when I looked closely at the the rubber seal around the washing machine and ran a cloth inside, it came out covered in grey sludge. I've done a boil wash and it was still there.

I've wiped out as much as I can but does anyone have any tips on how to get rid for good?

I would do a really hot wash with white vinegar in machine. Try and leave the door open after a wash to allow the rubber to dry.

sponge it away. It is probably a sludge of old soap, old fabsoft, old clothing fibres, old dirt, and old grease.

A hot hot hot wash cycle with no powder, no fabsoft, and a cup of washing soda will start washing it out from the machine, but the folds and wrinkles in the door seal need to be scrubbed out. If the water goes grey and foams up, that's the old sludge dissolving. Do it again until it stays clean.

You also need to clean the filter and the soap drawer's slot.

This happened to ours...the bearings had gone! it ruined many a washing load before I figured it out,too. not worth getting it fixed, you might as well get replacement (ours was an expensive washer dryer, went for wm after that!)

btw if you get black grease or shiny metallic specks on your clothes, that is probably the drum bearings worn out and breaking up. You might find the spin gets noiser and vibrates too. In which case it needs a more expensive repair which may be uneconomical.

Do you regularly do a hot wash? I now do a 60 wash at least twice a week. My wm is much cleaner now.

I will do a hot wash with vinegar and try to get most of the grey stuff off the seals. I think I definitely need to do a few more hot washes. I usually do mine at 40 degrees.

Thank you so much for your tips. Much appreciated.