This is so dull but does everyone's washing machine stink??

[WillowtheWitchywitch]

Unless I never close the door it stinks. I have done the bicarb and vinegar thing, it works for a bit but then stinks again and the clothes have a hint of the stink too. I clean the filters, drain the little pipe thing. It's integrated and I don't really want to leave it open all the time to stop it.
Any tips or tricks??

Mine doesn't. I leave the door open when it's not in use.

When I had an integrated machine I used to open the door overnight because it would have been inconvenient to have it open during the day. I found that once dinner was finished and cleared away that I didn't need to use the kitchen much plus I would start a wash at DS's bedtime because his bedroom was across the hall from the kitchen and the white noise put him to sleep, so when I emptied that wash I just left the door open. So it had about 11 hours (from about 8pm to about 7am) and that seemed to be enough to stop it from smelling, along with a white vinegar boil wash about every six weeks.

Are you using powder or the liquid that goes in the drum? I find my gets a bit smelly if I use the liquid. Someone (possibly here) told me that powder contains bleach which keeps the machine clean.

Mine doesn't but I leave the door open/ ajar when not in use

No, mine doesn’t stink. Do you use liquid washing detergent? That is infamous for stinky sludge build up.

I use bio powder and don’t do anything special other than leave the door open a crack between uses to allow the drum to dry/air between uses. I also empty it fairly soon (within an hour) after the wash has finished, otherwise it does get that horrible musty smell. Especially if the door has been opened and closed again (the seal has been broken and air has got in).

We do most washes with powder, maybe that's another reason? Id not realised that could make a difference.

Sometimes it does. Every few weeks I run a 90degree wash on empty and this seems to clear any odours.

Ours is only smelly if we fail to do a regular maintenance clean - you know the one with washing powder at a high temperature but with nothing in it...We do it every 5 weeks and note it on the calendar...no smells.

Mine started to smell funny right before it started to make a horrid banging sound when in use. We assumed it was the drum ,the guarantee had ran out , so we just bought a new machine.

What kind of smell is it? Ours was a dirty/burnt type smell.

You are supposed to leave them open all the time. I just leave mine ajar and you can't tell its not fully closed. Maybe just for an hour or two after a wash if you really can't do it all the time?

Mine doesn't stink, but I do leave the door ajar. I had a problem with black mould in the detergent tray even when using powder ... I didn't like that despite it not stinking! A couple of months ago I scrubbed off all the mould and switched from using detergent powder to using an Eco Egg, along with a few drops of tea tree oil (naturally antifungal) in the detergent tray. This has kept everything mould free.

I use the dettol washing machine cleaner every other month and leave the door and drawer open a lot. I've just changed back to using powder and I think it stays fresher, and occasionally put zoflora in the softener drawer too. My last two machines needed none of this extra work.

Mine did, and got black mould around the seals. I now leave the door ajar and do a hot wash with washing soda every few weeks, which seems to sort it.

The manual should have details on how to keep the machine clean. When we forgot the maintenance wash a couple of times it started to smell. We always leave door open when not in use, clean doors and outside with damp cloth and light cleaning fluid like Ecover. We also soak up any residual water in the seal with j-cloths - as any standing water can become stagnant.

Check the manual before using anything else in the maintenance wash, ours specifies normal laundry detergent powder and nothing else...

No mine doesn’t - I’ve also never had the Black mould in a machine either.

Use powder, at least for some washes if you can’t do for all and at least some of your washes should be HOT (eg at least 60; preferably 90).

Cool washes (eg 30 degrees, which is actually 7 degrees below human body temp - how can that clean skin oils out of clothes effectively?) liquid detergents and short washes with not much rinising going on will cause a dirty machine and laundry.

We've never had mould of any kind in ours either. Does the manual not have instructions on how to keep it clean? If you don't have it then google the make/model most manuals available online to download these days.