Stinky smelly washer-dryer

[onebadmother]

Just can't get rid of truly horrible pong in our washer-dryer.

First everything was smelling yuck - kind of like smelly people smell - unwashed bodies mixed with old chip fat..)

I put washing soda in the drum and washed at high temp - that helped a bit.
Then white wine vinegar, same deal.
Also have tried proprietary washing machine cleaner - useless.

Now the washing coming straight out smells ok (but not perfect)but the stuff that I put straight onto tumble dry is yeeuch.
\
Please help, I don't want people to call my poor smelly children names...!

Kim and Aggie recommend white vinegar, which I know you've tried, but you need to use a whole bottle! and a very hot wash. Is this what you did? Asda have it for about 40p.

Have you tried running an empty load with a cup-full of bleach?

Either should do it, jajas

Onebadmother, someone posted a good link on smelly washer diagnosis and treatment the other day. I'll try to find it in a minute, but what I chiefly remember is that it is frequently caused by a build up of detergent and an empty wash at high temperature is the best way of dealing with it. Also leaving door open when not in use.

Use thin bleach as the thick makes too much foam - it escapes!

i was going to post about my washer
the rubber seal bit near the door is going all black and mildew-y.....

This should help

www.ukwhitegoods.co.uk/modules.php?name=Content&pa=showpage&pid=43

I found switching from those little capsules of liquid to proper washing powder solved the nasty niffs.

Washing powder is more abrasive, so cleans washer as well, whereas those little sacs just disolve and produce horrid slimey residue

tracukw1 - brilliant link, will try all these tips starting with the hot wash and ariel..

perpetualworrier - I used white wine vinegar.. how very posh. is this the same as white vinegar, do you think? And definitely didn't use enough so will try again, and try the bleach as well.

Will let you all know how it goes and thanks!

white wine vinegar and white vinegar aren't the same - you want to use white distilled vinegar for things like this (my mother bought me a book all about vinegar for christmas last year

Agree with fizzbuzz. I think it is the liquid capsules that cause it. We never got any smells from our washing machine until we used the liquid capsules on a regular basis. We've now stopped using them have no nasty smells. The soda and vinegar cleared up the smells as other MNs have suggested. (It took a few attempts).

okay - good to know a few attempts necessary, did a couple of high temp washes with washing powder, and then soda crystals today.

Never used liquid or capsules, only tablets/powder.

Drum smells fine but the test is the washing that comes out of the drying cycle - that's the stuff that really stinks like a mink!

Coby - pmsl at a book about vinegar! How is that possible? And what else does it tell you?

Also surely all vinegar is distilled - isn't that the nature of vinegar? Or am I speaking of things which I know not of (not having the book and all?) In which case - where can I get the book on vinegar?! Tell me, Tell me..

A World Of Vinegar?

Vinegar and YOu?

How I Learned to Love Vinegar?

Vinegar: It's Uses.

Right then! Thats it....if your going to be nasty about my vinegar book....

In fact it is called 'Vinegar - 1001 Practical uses'......in fact, I do believe there are more than 1001 applications detailed

Apparently it is not always distilled.

Did you know (and I quote here) 'vinegar was also used as a cheap yet somewhat unreliable contraceptive by the prostitutes of victorian times' ...I dread ti think how

So, do you want the isbn then??

Vinegar on a Budget.

Argh
I hae come backto this thread. I posted earlier as the seal was going black and mildewy and now it smells really foisty. Have tried whole bottle of distilled white vinegar. No difference. DOne 3 empty boil washes. Still nothing.

Anymore suggestions?