My washing machine stinks! Any ideas on how to stop it?

[Calmthefeckdown]

I've tried:

~Several boil washes with no detergent
~wash with white vinegar
~wash with bicarbonate of soda in it
~pulled out dispenser drawer and cleaned (mostly I just put tablets in the machine anyway though)

The bicarb/vinegar seemed to help but it is back to stinking

What next?

We have this issue. Yuk.

I stick tea tree oil in every week or so. And also bought this stuff from supermarket that clears out the pipes.

Is it a musty smell?

Yes, musty. Smells like dirty dishcloths - blargh!

Find the filter and give that a pull out and clean. (There might be a hatch covering, behind that a tube which can be unscrewed and removed to be washed. Put a tray underneath first as foul smelling water can gush out.) Even a tiny obstruction caught in the filter can cause this.

What is the pipe stuff? Can you put it direct in the machine?

Will that at be at the front or back Ye Gods?

You can get a washing machine cleaner...

Bleach in the drawer, then hot empty wash?

Here is the filter hatch on my machine, and the filter behind it.

Has always been on the front of machines I've had.

Leave it open for a few days and dry it right out?

Right, just put washing machine cleaner in my online shopping basket, going to go downstairs and investigate filter. I am suspecting I may find approx 2000 loombands, 57 hairband and some money. Fingers crossed on the money.

Ps yegods - thanks for the pics

Keep us posted

Yes. Here it used to be buttons and fluff jammed in the filter and now paperclips or hair clips are more usual.

Ok, found drawer. After some cursing and wrestling got the door off. Stinking drain water came out, some lumps of limescale, a hairband with loads of fluff and hair wrapped round it (yak) and 1p, one stinking p! Really I was only going to be happy with at least 20p or more. Have cleaned out filter and put machine on for a normal wash (dc PE kits). Onwards and upwards.

Do you leave the door open when it's not in use? Do you use powder or liquid (less residue with powder)

Apologies just re read op and you use tablets. Maybe switch type and see if that changes anything?

Smaths - yes I've started leaving the door open. Slight problem is I have three stupid cats and I live in fear of one (or more, they are that stupid) getting stuck in there.

If you read the manual (I know) it says to clean out the filter every couple of months or so.

X post! That sounds so similar to my first filter clean!

Gives a whole new meaning to spending a penny, eh?

I was getting this problem and still do a little.
I use powder and liquid and fabric softner and did a monthly maintenance wash. I still had the smelly problem.
It was only when I was having a new kitchen fitted and had to pull the machine out that I was that the drain hose was thickly coated inside with a slimy mixture of the powder/liquid/softner.
I used a long drain cleaning rod with a brush on the end and got rid of it all and since then the problem has all but gone.
I only get a very slight smell now if I haven't left the door open for a while after using the machine.

All the money I spent on special cleaners for the machine were a complete waste.