Cleaning my washing machine drawer

[ImWearingPantaloons]

My last washing machine drawer required replacement as there was powder build up on the detergent part of the drawer.

It just kind of built up over time, was rough to the touch and rock solid - nothing budged it. I tried descaler, vinegar, lemon juice and scraping it gently with a knife to no avail, hence the replacement.

I’ve just noticed however it’s started in my new one and whilst I can remove some with a rubber glove, I can’t shift all of it.

Any ideas for removal and ongoing maintenance?

Take the drawer out and wash it in the sink with soapy water and a scourer. Clean the roof bit of the space it fits into. Use less powder to stop it building up

Remove the drawer and clean it with a stiff brush. Do you live in a hard water area?

Washing powder build up should dissolve in hot water, for timescale treatment with some dissolver (harpic loo tablet?) overnight?

I take the drawer on mine out and take it apart every few months because we live in a hard water area. It never all comes off but fine maintenance I’ve never needed to replace them. I use a battery scrubbing brush with a small head, limescale remover and a good soak in hot water to get as much off as possible.

Can you remove the drawer entirely and leave it to soak?

@ImWearingPantaloons there's a clip on the drawer to allow it's complete removal, easy then to clean.

gives an idea (just google your own brand of machine.

The drawer comes out easily enough, it’s having a soak in warm water right now.

Will try an overnight soak in limescale remover

And yes, we’re in a really hard water area

You don't need to use the drawer, you can put washing powder directly into the drum using one of those little things (I call them astronaut hats but I think it has a boring name like a dosing ball) - you can usually order them for free from the washing powder company, go on their website and look. They used to put them free in the boxes but of course you'd end up with hundreds of them, so to save plastic they now have the system that you order one when you need one.

That will prevent your drawer getting gummed up in the first place.

However it does mean you can't hold back detergent if you run a pre-wash, which you can do by using the drawer.

PigletJohn on here advised me many years ago to always put a scoop of soda crystals into the drawer (or drum) to help combat hard water and extend the life of the machine. It seemed to work as my last machine lasted 9 years and I think it only died because I washed a double duvet in it which unbalanced the drum.

Agree with BertieBotts. I never use powder, use liquid (not gel) directly into the drum. Fabric condition in drawer though.
I clean my draw once a month or so, as having a private water supply gained from a chalk aquifer makes even the unused compartment scaly. Hot water and a scrub with a green pad makes then like new.

Oh - and an empty hot wash with Calgon around once a month as well. I’m too mean to use them all the time.

I was told by a plumber not to use liquid as it gunks up all the hoses 🤷‍♀️.

Soda crystals is a good shout

i use my electric toothbrush when the head needs changing and before I bin it. Works great especially for the roof of the drawer

Pull the drawer out and leave to soak as you are doing. Then scrub it and it should come clean.

Use a dosing ball for detergent in the drum in future, so the drawer won't be used and will no longer clog up.

Well that’s marked as a maybe then. But what you absolutely know for 100% is that your current powder in the drawer is causing issue. So you need to try the alternative. Which is liquid in drum.

Same, I always use powder for this reason too. I have the same issue with powder residue hardening on to the drawer and turning into rock, I've never yet found a reliable solution.

Though tbf I've also never found that the powder buildup on the drawer has caused a problem, the machine is 10 years old and still works fine. The limescale build-up on the filter is a much more significant problem, but more easily solved!

The drawer can often go in the dishwasher on the top rack.

I use liquid detergent for towels but powder detergent for everything else. I measure it out and chuck in the tub on top of the load. Then it bypasses the drawer.

Same. I do mine once a month. I also run a clean and descale product through the machine once a month.

Can u remove the drawer and put it in a dishwasher?

I don’t have a dishwasher!!

Will soak it in Calgon tonight, hopefully that’ll do the trick. Failing that I’ll get some proper descaler.