Strange burnt rubber smell after using washing machine!

[CatAndHisKit]

What could it be? I'm very worried that if anything wrong, this could cause short curcuit of the house electrics (I'm by myself atm and don't fancy going into cellar where switches are to fix that).

And secondly, worried that the machine is breaking down. It's oldish but been working absolutely fine so far, I use it twice average max, am away sometimes so it's not overused.

I also thought could it come from extractor fan in the utility room. Once the washing stopped it was quite strong for a bit then gone completely.

How to check safely if machine can be used again!?

Can you unplug it overnight, just to be safe?

Has something been rubbing on the rubber door seal?

Check with the manufacturer for possible missed recalls and get someone out to check it over.

Washing machines can go on fire. Don't use it again till you know it's safe.

Feeling - I haven't thought of that, do you mean fabric got trapped in the door? how to know if it was that - that would be the best scenario!

InArrears, sorry if silly question but was is 'recalls'?

Fanthorpe, this happened yesterday, haven't unplugged overnight but thankfully nothing happened.

Sometimes white goods are recalled back to the factory due to a known fault. Hotpoint were recalling washing machines last year as there was a fire risk with certain models. They replace them with a safe model.

It might be a big rubber band (like a fanbelt) transmitting the drive from the motor to the drum wheel. Maybe it's worn or slipping.

Probably needs a mender

InArrears, it's not new! It worked very well for 9-10yrs.

Piglet, is it just breaking down to its age? how long normally a Bosch machine would last? I've had a look online and saw this about the belt, as you suggest.
I got my hopes up that it's going to be easy (belts not expensive, can be replaced) and then phoned the mender - he said it s not likely to be hte belt as 'they are very reliable' (hmm, surely a shelf life!), and that it may be the drum which is not a repair job.
Oh dear, just what I'd need, can't afford to buy a new one this month. He's coming to have a look but only on Monday - thank God I did my essential clothes wash this last time.

Yes, we've had it before where something gets trapped in the seal, in our case it actually wore some of the seal away. Have you checked the seal for any marks?

Check the capacity weight if its overloaded the belt can slip causing burning smell also if the washing still wet when finished its not pumping it away which can cause it spin with a higher weight load that will cause more strain on the machine

Feelling I can't see any marks, but could it be that a piece of fabric got trapped though didn't cause marks? Do you think when the specialist comes he would see that easily? It's hard to get the machine out so I hope he can tell from seeing the drum etc.
Henry it's definitely not overloaded, the opposite!