Washing machine detergent drawer.

[maldivemoment]

Hi all.
Should I just make peace with the fact that the detergent drawer gets black with mould?

I’m attempting to clean it with bleach & an old toothbrush but it’s a bit of a losing battle.

Anyone got any top tips?

Thank you.

Take it out and soak overnight in bleach. Replace and run machine empty on hottest wash with a dose of washing machine cleaner. Google it.

Leave it open when you aren't using the machine

Clean it regularly not just every few months as people tend to. Once a week a good clean.

there is a button on the drawer that you press down and the whole drawer slides out.

Start putting your detergent in the drum too.

2 different engineers told me to do that else the pipes get as manky as the drawers.

Thank you. I’ve done all of the above but it’s the ‘fixed’ part of the drawer section, the top part with the little water dispensers that look like a shower head. It’s this part that’s the worst. I can’t soak this part in bleach.

Surely I’m not the only one.

Never fully close the washing machine, then it won't get mouldy in the first place. Leave the door ajar between washes.

To soak something against gravity, soak a sheet of kitchen roll and then squish it into the place you want to put the bleach in contact with.

Yes we get this. It's horrible. White vinegar kills mould, it's better than bleach. I try to keep on top of it but it's a nightmare.

Cillit Bang black mould spray (purple bottle)

Works a bloody charm, just give the machine a rinse after

Once cleaned, leave door and drawer open after every wash to dry out

I sprayed Flash with bleach spray on mine and it worked.

Stick it in the dishwasher?

After battling with your problem for 30 years, i have, for the last ten, put all liquid/powder directly in the drum.

Never had to clean the drawer since.

Just being lazy and following this as I have the same issue.

Don’t use the drawer. Use liquitabs straight into the drum. And wash the drawer in the dishwasher every couple of months.

As per PP, don't use the drawer except for limescale tablets. Don't use fabric softener at all. Use powder not liquid to wash with.

Do a very hot wash once a week and leave the drawer and door open when the machine isn't in use.

Put detergent straight Into the drum, avoid the drawer

I have a machine that using an automatic dosing system, big plastic drums in the bottom . I have never used the drawer, it is still manky.

I also regularly clean it (the machine reminds me 🙄) so it just seems to be one of life's annoyances

@photodiva we have one of those too. Stupid bougie washing machine! I stopped using the dosing system as I wasn’t convinced it used enough detergent. Went back to using the detergent drawer but it’s bloody manky! 🤢

Im going to stop using the drawers & put powder straight in the drum. Will still have to attack the drawer & above with an old toothbrush & some bleach tho. 🙄

Thanks all.

I have recently replaced a 19 year old washing machine which didn't ever have the problems you are describing! I always use powder, in the drawer (no fabric softener), and less than the recommended amount because the machine has sensors so it only uses the amount of water and detergent needed for each load. (If you use too much it tells you and you need to run an extra rinse cycle to clear it.) Once a month I run the hottest cycle using bio powder with an empty drum to clean the machine. I was told by an engineer never to use the pods (gel like) as they don't always dissolve properly at low temperatures- his advice is powder or liquid in the drawer and run the hottest wash once a month (or, like my new machine, when it tells you to).

Use powder, put it on the drum.

Job done.

Don't look at it!

I’ve never had (or even heard of) this problem before. I wonder why some people’s washing machines are affected and others not?

Use powder for all washes except delicates.

Put the powder in the bottom of the drum before you start loading up the clothes.

Open the dosing drawer and the main door fully every night before you go to bed.

My old machine had a solid dispenser ( ir you could life the lid but nothing to lift out ) this one I can take it out to clean.
I do my detergent in the drum too , but we have hard water so a constant battle .

Have you had a look at yours?