Smelly washing machine

[SparkyToo]

I'm pretty sure there was a thread about this just recently but I didn't take much notice at the time (wish I had now!)...

My washing machine is really smelly - how do you get rid of the smell?

Mine too and I remember reading about it recently too but can't remember what the advice was.
Mine had a stale water smell. I have cleaned out the rubber seal so I know it's not that. I tried a wash with vinegar (no washing, just vinegar) and that didn't work.
I'll find my Kim and Aggie book and see what their advice is...

All they suggest is to clean the filter (done), clean out the drawer (done), wipe the door seal (done) and now and again run the machine empty without any soap powder.

mines was smelly then it had a terrible burning smell last week we had to buy a new one. I`m sure i read on here that using the liquid tabs can cause smelly machine

If you don't use bio powder very often the pipes and things don't get cleaned out properly. You could try a hot wash with bio powder or liquid or get some washing machine cleaner from lakeland, it works really well.

Here www.lakeland.co.uk/hg-service-engineer/F/keyword/washing+machine+cleaner/product/20348

Can you get washine machine cleaner in the supermarket? I know you can get dishwasher cleaner.

Onlyjoined, I use the concentrated liquid now. Maybe that's why. I used to use powder and it didn't smell.

maybe worth trying powder again to see if it helps

you can get washing machine cleaner at the suppermarket, but I think the lakeland one is better so maybe wait until you need a new cake tin or something....

I always end up spending a fortune in Lakeland.

I was told you need to do one hot wash a week to fully clean your washing machine. Mine had started to smell a couple of months ago, I know do one hot ( 60) wash a week and it is smelling sweetly!

SO maybe it's because I am doing 30 degree washes, trying to be environmentally friendly.

I know, i was doing 30 for everything so sure thats how it happened. Now I just do a white load at 60 once a week, hope that doesnt undo all my good work!

Is it because you use Ecover? That apparently makes your washing machine smelly. If so you'd have to do a wash with some biological powder/liquid to strip away the smell.

I inherited a smelly washing machine on moving to our current house. I've tried everything to get rid of the smell to no avail........watching this thread with interest.

No, I don't use Ecover. I've been using the Bold 2 in 1 gel stuff. I think it's biological.

Washing liquid and liquitabs cause washing machines to smell - use powder or tablets wherever possible, and as others have mentioned, do a hot wash at 40 or 60 degrees once in a while. I also find if I take the powder drawer out once in a while and give it a really good wash it helps the machine stay smell free. HTH

Thanks everyone. I hope this helped the OP as it's helped me! I think I'll go back to powder now to be honest. I do clean the drawer every so often, but I should do it more. I did read on MN once about putting in the top drawer of the dishwasher, and I think I shall start doing that weekly now.

Good Housekeeping recommend bleach. Details here. It's worked for me.

I'd be too scared of using bleach in case it hung around in the machine and got on clothes. I guess I could do it before I wash the dog towels because then it wouldn't matter.

I was nervous too but it was fine. I just did a white towel wash after I'd bleached. It really got rid of the smell.

Thanks for such a great response. As I've tried the running through on a 60 degree cycle I have just been to the Lakeland online store ..... and spent a fortune. But primarily the washing machine cleaner, will give that a go!