Musty smelling Washing Machine

[user1493299672]

Why? And how do I cure it? Thanks very much

We had this, and our washing machine repair man said to do a really hot wash once a week and it works. So I wash all our towels and tea towels on a 90 degree super dooper long cotton stains something wash programme. I also put in that dettol laundry cleanser liquid stuff on that wash. It smells lovely now :)

Are you only doing low temperature washes? Do you only use non bio laundry liquid?

If yes to either or both, that is your answer.

The smell is usually caused by mould (which occurs if you use non bio detergent) or build up of gunk (caused by using laundry liquid)

Remedies:

1. Run a hot service wash at least once a moth
2. Ditch the laundry liquid and switch to powder
3. Use bio powder to kill the mould

Try using Dettol washing machine cleaner - I use it once a month as I use non-bio liquid. Works wonders!

Vinegar and baking soda!

(Camera at the ready!)

I second the point about using powders instead of liquids. Makes a massive difference.

Yep, mine stopped doing this when I switched back to powder. Cheaper too,

We've stopped using detergent and now only use EcoBalls and white vinegar. The WM had an incontinent moment last weekend and DH was pleasantly surprised how it didn't smell at all when he had to pull it all out. The balls do get stuff clean (well, not grass stains or tomato, but then I put vanish on those) and it feels so soft you don't need conditioner either.

Also recommend bio powder. We had a rental washing machine that was terrible and, after trying cleaner, vinegar, etc, that was the only thing that solved the problem long-term.

The hottest wash possible, with 2 or 3 capfuls of zoflora in the drum makes the whole machine smell incredible!

Also if you can leave the washing machine door open overnight and/or after you've used it, this really helps too

I'd never had problems with a smelly washing machine until I started using the economy eggs. Within a month or two it stank! The engineer who came to look at it explained that the eggs don't prevent mould the way that powder does. He suggested a couple of hot washes with powder, followed by something like Zoflora to clean it thoroughly. He advised one powder wash a week if I wanted to continue using eggs. He suggested the same if I wanted to use liquids. I actually chose to use a small quantity of powder in every wash with my eggs. It kept the machine fresh smelling right up to when it finally died earlier this year. I'm doing the same with my new machine which is still smelling clean and fresh.

My washing machine became really stinky when I started using ecoballs, so I ditched them.

I do a 90 degree bleach wash. (Run it empty with a few cups of bleach thrown in) That will kill anything nasty and stinky in there. Just don't forget to turn the temp dial back down again.

Also to prevent it, don't close your machine door once you remove the load, you must leave it ajar after every wash so it can air.

I periodically do a boil wash with the machine empty and lots of washing soda and tea tree oil in the drum. I can't use powder, it makes me sneeze. But the machine doesn't smell.

According to a w/m guy who had to come and fix ours, Persil is evil and will make your drum stink.

Www.whitegoods.com has loads of info on care of all appliances. I've gone back to powder, not liquids, take out the soap drawer to air, and always leave door open when not in use. Smells fine all the time.

I followed advice from them as well Ivory200. It was very useful. My washer doesn't smell any more.