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Original poster

My washing machine has gone mouldy.

27 replies

Pixel · 03/12/2006 23:52

Surely that's not supposed to happen? It has gone all mouldy around the rubber seal and I've cleaned it off once and it came straight back. It's still under warranty so should I expect be able to get something done about it? Trouble is, I know that if I ring up and they say it's not covered for that I'll just say "oh all right then, sorry"

Has this ever happened to anyone else and is it a fault on the machine? TIA

OP posts:
JanH · 04/12/2006 00:02

Do you always leave the door open when it's empty, pixel? Also do you occasionally do a hot wash with bio detergent and nothing in the machine?

Original poster
Pixel · 04/12/2006 12:03

I leave the door open when I can but it's a bit too close to the dishwasher so gets pushed shut quite often. Must admit I haven't done a really hot wash for ages so maybe that's worth a try. Thanks .

OP posts:
MulledRubyRiojaWine · 04/12/2006 12:05

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Gingerbear · 04/12/2006 12:06

Kim and Aggie suggest a 95 degree wash, using biological powder, then another empty wash with vinegar.
Also - check the powder drawer for gunk and scrub it clean.

2nervesnapartridgeinapeartree · 04/12/2006 12:09

Read about this in the Ask Aggie coloumn in the Times. She says it is because you are not doing a 60 degree wash very often and anything less does not break down sweat and other nonlovely things which then collects and goes moldy on the rubber.
Answer is as others have said hot wash nothing in and to do a regular hot wash particularly for bedding. 60 degree is fine.

CountTo10LordsaLeaping · 04/12/2006 12:20

You can get a good washing machine cleaner that you can find in the washing powder aisle of most supermarkets. You soack your dispenser draw in it for a while, use some neat to clean your seal etc and then put the rest in it on a min 60 degree wash and that really gives it a good clean, freshens it up. Totally can't remember what its called though!!!

Original poster
Pixel · 04/12/2006 19:11

I do use it on 60 degs often but I've just done 95 degs and it doesn't look any better. My powder draw is very clean , what are you suggesting?!

Thanks for advice. Will try the vinegar (how much please and where do I put it?) and will add cleaner to my shopping list. This must be a common problem if Kim and Aggie are on the case but I've never had it happen before.

OP posts:
SHHHHsantaiscoming · 04/12/2006 21:46

pixel, don't get upset about the washer drawer comment. Perfectly good suggestion imo. I am a very clean and tidy person and never stop cleaning things iykwim BUT I had so many problems with our old washer. We found that each wash the clothes were stinking as though they had sat there for weeks when it was more like 30 mins or so....Only noticed once I tumbled them and by them they stank and it frustrated me soooo much.
An engineer looked at it and said the pump was on the way out. We also had huge problems with the soap drawer being covered in a black substance BUT it was cleaned on a regular basis...Even a hotter wash didn't work.

We bought a new washer and problem solved. We still suffer with the issue in the drawer BUT I ensure I clean it every 2 weeks. The reason the drawer gets like this is due to a build up of soap and we live in a hard water area so that adds to it iykwim...

I now do a hotter wash now and then...All these companies say "oh our detergent allows you to wash at 30 degrees to allow you to save energy"..get taken in by that but don't realise a hotter wash is needed now and then..

Will look out for the stuff CountTo10LordsaLeaping suggests.

BTW I would call the company as ask for advice etc BUT it does seem that you need to keep ontop of cleaning it...I have resigned myself to this fact sadly.

Original poster
Pixel · 04/12/2006 22:00

Sorry, I was joking about the drawer but thanks anyway. You are right about the being able to wash at lower temperatures thing because I always think that the clothes will last longer if they aren't washed at a higher temp than necessary to get them clean, or they will keep their colour better or something. I'll do more hot washes in future, I promise .

OP posts:
pollypeachum · 04/12/2006 22:13

I haven't had the problen with mould around the seal but, pixel, its worth ringing up and asking if you have a warranty claim. if they say its not covered, ask them what is causing the problem, act on their advice and then if it doesn't work or if they don't make a sensible suggestion, make a fuss and say its disgusting and unacceptable (even if you don't really feel that way). in my experience its the people who kick off and make a fuss who get results. either that or the waiter spits in their soup, but its got to be worth a try
i do however have a problem with black mould/slime in the dispenser drawer. its not just in the drawer but all over the inside of the machine where the drawer goes. i don't clean it often enough but i regularly do 60 or boil washes (vests and babygrows with poo on them). i wonder if its something to do with not using powder in the drawer, which perhaps would clean the drawer as it got washed out into the machine, but using liquid in a ball in the machine instead.

by the by, having just watched the ariel advert telling us all to wash at 30 degrees, how does that get poo stains and more importantly poo germs out of clothes, the washing machine etc?!
this is a subject close to my heart. thank you pixel for this thread!!

JackieNoHoHo · 04/12/2006 22:16

pollypeachum - I have this problem, with the bit the drawer fits into being black and slimy - I've started putting my washing powder tablets in the drawer as opposed to straight into the drum, and it has helped. But you will find you get a load of black bits coming through into the washing machine (and onto the clothes) if you don't run a few washes through with out clothes in. I did also take the drawer out and scrape as much of the gunk out as I could. Biological washing powder seems to keep it 'cleaner' than non-bio, too.

Snowstorm · 04/12/2006 22:20

I used to get the black slimey detergent drawer which smelt absolutely awful and was a complete b*stard to clean. I ended up giving it a final good clean and then switching from putting my detergent in the drawer to putting it in one of those plastic ball things in the actual drum with the clothes. That's stopped it, thank goodness.

BTW, don't ever try a cup full of bleach and a 90c wash. Not quite sure where I got that gem of a tip from but it was like a scene from the sorcerers's apprentice but with foam

JackieNoHoHo · 04/12/2006 22:22

The complete opposite to me, then, Snowstorm. How strange. Are you using non-bio or biological detergent?

pollypeachum · 04/12/2006 22:22

thanks jackie. i have been dithering about whether to buy powder/tablets and try them in the drawer but now i will - on a hot hot hot (to paraphrase DS's favourite TV character big cook i think sorry its been a long day...) wash!

pollypeachum · 04/12/2006 22:25

oh yes re bleach - except i did it to my dishwasher. it was like a B-movie horror, with foam moving inexorably across my kitchen floor.

JackieNoHoHo · 04/12/2006 22:25

HOpe it works for you, pollypeachum. I suspect how hot the wash is will have no bearing on how well the drawer is cleaned though - depends on your washing machine, but mine's only cold fill, and all the heating up happens in the drum. The water going in's the same temperature (ie, cold) whatever temp wash I'm doing.

Snowstorm · 04/12/2006 22:25

Posted and then saw yours JackieNoHoHo - !!! WE use non-bio. Guess maybe the solution is to clean the gunk, use a hotter wash and then try the other detergent method to the one you've been using perhaps?

JackieNoHoHo · 04/12/2006 22:26

(can you tell I've given this far too much thought?)

JackieNoHoHo · 04/12/2006 22:27

Snowstorm, I used to use non-bio in a ball in the drum, but the drawer still got gunked up - presumably from the fabric conditioner! I've also cut the amound of fabric conditioner I use in half, to try to minimise build-up.

Snowstorm · 04/12/2006 22:30

Was actually very impressed that anyone was thinking at all at this time of night and was trying to work out how the hell you know what temperature your machine is where and when!!!!

JackieNoHoHo · 04/12/2006 22:30

Good link here too.

Snowstorm · 04/12/2006 22:30

A-ha .... I don't use fabric conditioner .... could that be the difference perhaps?

JackieNoHoHo · 04/12/2006 22:31

That would definitely make sense, snowstorm. Nothing but water going through means nothing to cause gunk.

Original poster
Pixel · 04/12/2006 23:54

I used to get a gunked-up drawer when I used fabric conditioner but since I got this machine I've been using cheapo Tesco 2 in 1 powder. The drawer is always spotless but I'm wondering now if I should try a different powder to see if I still get mould .

Anyway, I've found my warranty details (organised or what?!) so I'll ring up for some advice tomorrow. Hope I don't get put in a queue for ages.

OP posts:
IdrisTheRedNosedReindeer · 05/12/2006 00:02

This is making me realise I need to clean out the powder drawer .

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