Cleaning the washing machine - I've done everything I can think of!

[WellTidy]

Washing machine is smelling musty. I have tried masses of soda crystals, white vinegar, hot washes, wiped the seals thoroughly, washed the drawer thoroughly and have now put a Dr Beckmann laundry cleaner through it on a hot wash. I keep the door open when it is not in use.

It is STILL smelling musty. But clothes are smelling clean coming out.

What left to do?!

Have you cleaned the trap thing at the bottom? Also I put a tiny bit of bleach in the detergent drawer and in the drum and put it on a 90 degree wash, also spray mould and mildew remover on the inside when you've taken the drawer out.

I use half a cup of bleach on a hot wash.

I've tried all sorts of things but this is the only thing that I find works.

I leave the draw and door open every night so it dries out, wipe the draw and inside after I've used it and do a 90 degree rinse once a week.

If you do a bleach wash it must be a cold one to activate the bleach - it doesn't work in hot water.

Couple of capfuls of zoflora in drum followed by hot wash ?

Clean out the filter and clean the bit the drawer fits into, especially the roof. I use bleach spray and an old toothbrush

Hot wash with bleach or zoflora.

Would this be the same for cleaning a WM that someone has washed horse rugs in ( that's now making me itch as I'm now, apparently, allergic to horses )

We just use a washing machine cleaner every 6 months and a descaler every 6 months, alternately. It is a miele and you can buy the stuff online, but it is expensive. It works, but it is irritating that it has to be done - never had this problem before.

I've found that cleaning the filter and draining the washing machine manually, to get rid of the standing water solves the problem. I also clean the drawer and the bit above when you take the drawer out, with a mould and mildew spray and put it on a 90 wash with a WM cleaner or Bio powder.

@666onmyhead Have you looked to see if there is any horse hair visible in the drum? Maybe put washing up gloves on and run your hands around the inside of the drum to see if the hairs stick, or a dry microfibre cloth. Then I'd clean inside the rubber, clean the filter and stick it on a hot wash to make sure. I'm itching thinking about it now!

666onmyhead - maybe try Vamoosh. It’s a pet hair dissolver. You can buy at Pets at Home or on Amazon. I find it fairly good - have two hairy labradors.

@Peridot1 and @Jango thank you both ... I'm on the case.... then need to wash everything that goes close to my skin! I'm almost considering getting another WM just for me.

I have a separate washing machine for dog stuff @66onmyhead. Makes life easier!

You might have found a solution now but I put calgon anti-bacterial gel from Tesco in my washes - anti-odour so should stop that horrible musty smell. Plus you can put it in with your wash so very easy and you don't need to run an empty cycle so better for your bills and the environement xx

I was reading an article yesterday I think it was a Mrs Hinch thing and apparently putting a dishwasher tablet in the machine does the trick.