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Original poster

smelly washing machine

21 replies

Oakmaiden · 25/01/2004 12:34

My washing machine is really quite pongy - and if I don't take clean clothes out of it almost at once, then they start to smell too. Also things like flannels start to smell horrid pretty much as soon as they get wet. Anyone got any ideas how to make my machine smell sweeter?

OP posts:
charliecat · 25/01/2004 12:43

I ran mine with just one towel in it with bleach in it at a hot temperature. Seemed to have worked for me. I also once, cleaned out a pipe that lead from the washing machine, that was disgusting, but it wasnt making the washing smell, only the kitchen.

twiglett · 25/01/2004 13:19

message withdrawn

Original poster
Oakmaiden · 25/01/2004 13:23

I'll try that then. Thanks.

I expect this means I won't be able to make a bid for a new macine. Shame

OP posts:
nutcracker · 25/01/2004 13:25

My mom swears by Soda Crystals. Just put them in the machine on a normal cycle and hey presto

Demented · 26/01/2004 00:29

If these tricks don't work you could always try Kim and Aggie's suggestion of a cup of white vinigar in an empty wash. They don't really elaborate in the book I have but I assume it goes in the drawer and you use a hot wash. If nothing works there may be something wrong with your machine, this happened to us once and the machine was too expensive to repair (can't remember exactly what was wrong with it).

handlemecarefully · 26/01/2004 08:14

I wouldn't try the bleach approach - I had to get mine repaired after using bleach on it

bobsmum · 26/01/2004 09:30

Do you have a "fluff filter" that needs to be cleared? Try the bottom corner on the front of your machine. I get a horrible amount of soggy gunk from there and better washing ability once I've cleared it. Soda crystals or a descaling treatment might work too. Wishing sweeter smells in your direction

Original poster
Oakmaiden · 26/01/2004 10:16

There isn't a fluff filter - it is quite an old machine (I bought it before I got married, and have been married 9 years this year!). I really want a new one - something more environmentally friendly - but can't justify it unless this one breaks. I keep overloading it in the hope that one day it will stop working, but so far it copes with everythoing I throw at it, revenging oitself by being smelly. I will try the other suggestions today, though.

OP posts:
WSM · 26/01/2004 10:18

If it is that elderly then I would just bin it TBH. You probably could sort of the smell if you tried but the fact that it is old and you want a new one would suggest to me that you should use this as your cue to demand a replacement asap !

WSM · 26/01/2004 10:19

Of course I mean, 'sort OUT the smell' !

Carla · 26/01/2004 10:57

Try using Oust dishwasher and washing machine cleaner. It's made by dylon - www.dylon.co.uk

pollingfold · 26/01/2004 11:06

The smell is due to a built up of washing powder and dirt from your washes, as a few poeple have said, run it empty on the hotest cycle(90degree). The vingear option acts to help break down the build up.

They say that you should do this once a month if you usually only run it at 40-60 degrees.

prettycandles · 26/01/2004 16:03

I did the empty 90deg hot wash with vinegar and it worked a treat! Also, do you keep the door of the machine closed? If I do that it pongs, and so does the clean wash, so I close the drum but keep the water-tight door open (I have a top-loader). If your flannels smell, give them an overnight soak in Miltons every so often.

prettycandles · 26/01/2004 16:04

Oh, and it may well have a fluff-filter...my previous machine was at least 10yo, and it had one.

Janstar · 26/01/2004 16:08

Like Nutcraker's mum, I do a 95 degree wash with soda crystals and that freshens the machine really well. It also helps to keep the machine in good condition.

Soda crystals are very cheap. A friend of mine also adds a few to her wash, she says it makes the detergent go further.

lydialemon · 26/01/2004 16:25

Oakmaiden, mine did this and I got a new one.

But, I hire mine just so I can do that

emmatmg · 26/01/2004 17:04

We had this too and our problem was that the overflow pipe was to high so the last of the water wasn't making it over the top, so to speak, and going wiffy. I moved the overflow and it stopped.
I'm going to get some soda crystal though and give the poor thing so TLC

DPDOM · 27/11/2007 18:50

Hi
The smells are caused by poor detergent performance and low temperature washes or both.
Dirt from the load will not get dissolved throughout the water and will stick to the outer drum, hoses, and door gasket.
Tiny spots of the bacteria will then breed and form a black or brown sludge.
To stop this from happening I recommend using a good quality big box powder and dose as per the instructions on the side of the box.
Once a month run a wash at 90-95 degrees with half the recommended amount of detergent.
People often only use 2 tablets because they are in packs of 2 but for normally soiled clothes in a hard water area 3 tablets are recommended.
Liquid detergent has the worst cleaning performance of all due to not having bleaching agents like powder.(1 liquid tab is not enough )
Any detergent good for the environment will not be good for your machine as it is not as strong and will cause the sludge to build up quickly resulting in nasty smells and blocked chambers in your machine and then will damage the environment more when calling an engineer or replacing the machine.
Be very careful when using bleach in you machine as it could result if lots of suds and the a broken machine.
Hope this helps.
D
www.davidpeirce.com

WendyWeber · 27/11/2007 18:54

This thread is nearly 4 years old, DPDOM - oakmaiden probably has a new machine by now

WendyWeber · 27/11/2007 18:56

(btw if you want to advertise a service you should pay £30 to put it here)

Walnutshell · 27/11/2007 18:58

wow to thread revival... lol ww

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