How do I get the horrible musty/mouldy smell out of my washing machine??

[ladytophamhatt]

I've treid bleach but it came back, I've cleaned the seel of gunk, but that didn't make any difference.
I#'m just trying bicarb but I'm not holding ot much hope and everything else has failed so far.

have you tried running it through a cycle with double the dose of washing powder but no washing. That's what my mum did and it worked for her.

Do the full monty - 90 degree wash, with detergent but no clothes.

is your dh a builder? or some such like...

there are washing machine cleaning solutions you can buy in supermarkets. I've used one and it worked - for a while anyway, I need to do it again. Not sure if they are any better than very hot wash with no clothes in though, will try this!

Just did teh bicarb wash on a 90, with one wash tablet.

BOT, Dh is a train driver

Id run it as hot as it will go (prob 90 degrees) and put a drop, AND I MEAN A DROP, of washing up liquid in the drawer where the water goes into. Washing u liquid bubbles a lot in a washer, and should remove any crap when it goes. Also, if you dont think the water is hot enough, boil your kettle and pour it into the powder drawer, and it will run straight into the drum.

does he come home covered in grease and dust etc? coz that might be it... apparently.

If the bicarb doesn't work, put half a cup of vinegar in the washing powder slot - it seemed to do the trick with mine last week

A boil wash with no washing in a lots of washing powder

the bicarb did work, but then went I pened the door a few hrs later to put some more washing in it was smelly gain.

I think I need to call them out, the seel look manky TBH even though I've cleaned it all out.

Do you normally wash with the recommended dose of conventional detergents?

I find that a hot wash with vinegar clears up smells and limescale beautifully. It sounds as you you might have something going manky in your filter which is why the smell keeps coming back. Is it possible to check filter in your machine, or is it sealed away?

I normally used 1 tablet, or 2 if its really drty washing.

Maybe thats why...??

Going to bed now I'll try the vinegar trick in amo and see how it is in the morning.

Do you leave the door open whenever the machine is not in use? very important IMO, if annoying

sorry if everyone but me knows this already it's just that you mentioned opening the door to put more in [slides away]

and maybe if you reg wash quite heavily dirty clothes (like those of a tradesman dh) you might have a build up in the pipes meaning it doesnt drain as well... might be it.

Also check the soap tray. Pull out completeley and check this space in the machine. I do this regularly but had forgotten for a while and last time i checked it was revolting ...full of black mold. Needed a really thorough scrub.

Give your drains and such a thorough flush too.