How to clean a washing machine.

[EmbarrassingMama]

Mumsnetters, help! What’s the best way to clean and descale a washing machine?

I’ve take the detergent drawer out and cleaned that, then popped it in the washing machine. Tick!

But my washing is coming out smelly as though I’ve left it in the drum overnight. Best magic cures please?

I usually do a 90 wash with an empty machine once a month but have never descaled it in 4 years.

The rubber trims need cleaning too.

Do you use product? Vinegar? Bicarbonate? Elbow grease??

Id like to know also!

I use the washing machine cleaner stuff you buy in the supermarket for a couple of quid. Something like the picture (no doubt other brands are available)

How often do you use that?

I use white vinegar in the drawer then run a 90 degree wash

Thanks Riot. Does that tackle limescale and general muck?

Shocked that when I run a 90 wash with no detergent I still get suds!

I use the washing machine cleaner from Aldi it's so much cheaper than the one from Sainsburys and works really well! we inherited our washing machine with the house and it had black mould in but this stuff keeps it pretty fresh I think its £1 per bottle and that's does 1 clean (20% hand clean and 80% ran through the machine.

Not sure about limescale but definitely gets rid of the smell/grime

How often do you use that?

about once every two years When three machine gets smelly.

Haha! Glad I’m not the only one!

I use soda crystals. Pour a load into the detergent drawer and a load into the drum. Set the washing machine on a 90 degree wash

White vinegar on a 90 degree wash. Cheapest option. The vinegar should her rid of any limescale too.

I occasionally use the Dettol washing machine cleaner. It ensures you clean the drawers, drum and seals and leaves it very fresh. I used to do this once a month but since I changed to using washing powder I don't need to do it as much, I also leave the drawer open when the machine is not in use.

Leave the door and the drawer open between washes.

This prevents the machine getting mould and the build up of bacteria.

Clean the filter too. Mine is behind a wee flap at the front. The previous machine had a kick plate you removed to access it

Once a week I do an empty wash with bio powder then once a month (or if it starts smelling) I chuck a load of soda crystals in and do an empty wash.

My machine was really pongy and this seems to have stopped it