cleaning the dishwasher and washing machine

[realitychick]

Any tips on these?

Our washing machine has recently started to leave a grey-brown dusty smear on clothes. it doesn't smell. i thought at first it was washing powder that hadn't dissolved but it's the wrong colour. Going to run an empty boil wash through it to try and clear it - but should i add anything else - like Calgon? We live in a very hard water area but i don't usually bother with softeners as the plumber told us they make little difference.

Sam with dishwasher - it's a bit stale. Is an empty wash going to help or do I need a cleaning sachet?

Thanks

add a cup of white vinegar to the drum before a hot empty wash? don't know really, we have soft water..

dishwasher - a hot and empty wash or one of those cleaning things from finish? it's often the seals that contain manky stuff though, and they are not cleaned by the dw, you have to get a cloth and some hot soapy water and try not to boak at what you discover

Thanks BBC. Was hoping you weren't going to say that. It took me two years to realise our condenser tumble drier had a third filter. Cleaning that out was bleuch enough.

the dishwasher is easy - our dishwasher repair man said those dishwasher cleaner thingys really do work. you just run it on an empty hot wash with one upturned in the cutlery thing. i did mine today. smells lovely!

washing machine - youre meant to run a boil wash on empty once a month. (but i always forget!)

Once a month? That's where I've been going wrong. Think I'll do one now. Just boiled some white (wannabe-white) school shirts.

Thanks for that tip. And I'll stick some dishwasher cleaners on the shopping list.

The stuff in the washing machine is a build up of detergent stuck in the machine pipes, drum and seals usually caused by low temperature washes. There is a washing machine cleaning product called Service-it by Dr Beckmann which is v good and leaves your machine sparkly and clean.

We are in a hard water area and swear by Calgon. I tried not using it for a while switched to supermarket own brand and you could actually see the limescale building up on the drum and door. Switched back to Calgon and the limescale has now disappeared completely.

I have some boxes of Calgon but stopped using it as I couldn't see a difference. think I'll start adding it again. Thanks MdB for the info on what that dusty stuff is, and for the Service-it tip. Brilliant. It's on my shopping list.