Just put dog's bedding in washing machine-what's the best way to clean machine after?

[2GIRLS]

Just that really, I've put the dog's stuff on a 90 degree wash, as was v smelly, but want to clean machine after. What's the best way to do it, I don't want to run a cycle with bleach in it, this is what my friend suggested.
Any other suggestions?

you could put bicarb in and put it on a rinse cycle or white vinegar

If you don't want to put bleach in, I think the next best thing would be a 90 degree wash using biological detergent, with the machine empty. (Apparently it's a good idea to do that from time to time anyway, to clear out any gunk in the pipes.)

All I do is wipe it round with a dry cloth afterwards to get as many hairs as poss and then put it on a short wash with a normal detergent in - does the trick, I can't see what the difference is between dog bedding and dirty rugby footie kit tbh

Should it be biological? I use non bio so maybe I'll go get some.
What about putting dettol in it? Or is this really obviously stupid?!!!!!!

I just run a hot cycle with normal detergent

I just use whatever I'm using - at the moment Bold but I wouldn't see any problem with non-bio.

What is the issue with it?

I'm probably being a bit OTT about the germs, even though there probably wouldn't be any if it was on a 90 wash, but I just don't like like the idea of putting dc's clothes in straight after, especially the baby's clothes.

Any thoughts on the dettol?.....

I always wash the dog stuff in non-bio as one of my dogs had a skin complaint, so his washing was treated same as the kids! I always just put it on a short hot wash after, mabye with a washing tablet in, maybe not. Don't add detol or anything like that it will make everything smell afterwards. You are washing at 90 degrees. Nothing is going to survive that so no need to disinfect or anything.

your clothes will smell of dettol I would think for a couple of washes

This article - which is about smelly washing machines - actually says specifically to use Ariel, tabs or powder, because they both have bleach in (implication is that others don't)

Or you can use a dishwasher cleaner - or bicarb, as peanutbear suggested

(That is a useful website!)

Which germs are you worried about - presumably your dogs are around other parts of the house and get petted by everyone anyway?

I think this obsession we have with germs these days in general is way OTT!!

The only worry about putting things in after is that it may get hairs on it. I only run a wash to get rid or hairs. Germs.... there won't be any at 90 degrees. I always remember when my friend had her PFB. She sterilised the bottles, got them all out very carefully then broke down completely as there was a dog hair in the water so did it all again. To find another dog hair. She was then hysterical, but as the very lovely midwife who arrived whilst all this was going on pointed out 'don't worry dear, its been sterilised, just leave it in the water and make up the bottles'

I did think that wbout the 90 wash, that nothing would survive. I've become a bit mad I think, I've had the dog for years and washed her bedding without a second thought before.

I'll just run it on a hot wash with some powder in after.

Thanks for your tips

Its nice to be mad and it makes for funny stories when the madness passes. Having said that mine are almost 5 and 3.... the madness persists

Actually I have to ask..... did the dog bed survive? I normally only dare 60 degrees.

Blimey at that site and plugging Ariel. Funnily enough the chap who wrote it works at Proctor and Gamble..... any connection do you think?

If you need to clean out your machine bicarb or soda crystals do the job just as well and remove limescale too, unlike most soap powders.

I've never done a 90° wash, I've always been scared of my washing melting. 60° is as far as I've dared to go. Did the bedding survive?

A good site Wendy, thanks, I'm going to do maintenance on the machine and sort out the drawer bit!

The dog has got a big plastic hard bed and we put a single duvet with a duvet cover on it folded up in the bed, the idea is that it's easy to wash and can wipe out the plastic bed (this is the IDEA reality is a little different).

I'm not sure if the actual duvet will survive a 90 wash or the fleece blankets I also chucked in, but I don't care they were so smelly (this bed is in the garage as she's in there when we go out or she opens the doors and lies on our beds).

I only wash my dogs' bedding on a normal 40 degree wash - I am not remotely concerned about germs though......which germs? where? and why are they just on the bedding?

On the odd occasion I do the 90 degree wash to scour the machine out, I put the teatowels in (my mother used to boil hers in a saucepan, so 90 must be OK ) and also my microfibre cloths. They all encounter lots of filth in their lives so I think I owe it to them.

I would usually do the dog bed on 60 (really bad so did it on 90 'just to make sure' ) like our bed sheets, because I read somewhere that it needs a 50 or 60 wash to kill germs or dust mites that are in the bed sheets. Si I just do the dog's stuuf the same.

Try putting it on a normal cycle empty with a big slug of vinegar (any type works) instead of detergent. vinegar deodorises and disinfects. and you could also add a few drops of teatree oil into the softner part (in fac tyou could do both of these while washing the bedding itself also). Again, disinfects and both are very mild.