Share your best tips for keeping your washing machine in tip-top shape with Fairy Non Bio - £300 voucher to be won! NOW CLOSED

[JustineBMumsnet]

Keeping your washing machine in good condition is vital step to having fresh, clean clothes...who knew?! Fairy Non Bio would like you to share all your methods and tips on how you keep your washing machine clean and in tip-top shape.

Here’s what Fairy have to say: “With the amount of washing we all do, we need to keep our faithful machines in tip top condition to keep it running for the long haul. Whether it is running a powder wash or a hot cycle every now and again, we would love to know your tips!”

Perhaps you give everything in the machine a wipe down after every wash? Do you have a schedule for how often you do an empty load? Or maybe you have some home remedies that you turn to that you think work brilliantly?

Whatever your methods are, share them on the thread below and you will be entered into a prize draw where one MNer will win a £300 voucher of their choice (from a list).

Thanks and good luck.

MNHQ

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I clean out the drawers regularly and run a hot wash with no clothes inside. I also leave the door open so that it airs

I make sure to run a empty 90 degrees cycle with a water softner every month to clean the washing machine.

So...everyday is a bit of a challenge to keep on top of the washing piles. I have two children one 4 and one 2years old. They can manage to get through a few outfits a day depending what they are getting up to. But I spent some money on a new washing machine and got very excited about it . I put most things in on a mixed wash and job done...I do put the powder straight in the drum... and I always leave the door open after each wash so it can dry out and not get damp!

We're lucky - limescale isn't a problem in our area. I do however run the machine empty on a hot wash once every six weeks or so. Have also found that leaving the door ajar between washes helps it dry out properly and stops it smelling.

I also avoid a separate fabric conditioner - all it does is bungs up the machine!

Bit of bleach in the drawer then put it on the longest, hottest wash possible

I do the hot wash thing when I remember. I tend to use powder more than anything else as I know it clogs up the machine. I have a steam setting, so sometimes I run that on empty too - figure it can’t hurt.

Regular hot washes and a descaling treatment every so often tend to keep it clean, I also mix bleach and water and spray it into the detergent tray every so often, cleaning it with an old toothbrush.

Make sure it's perfectly level. Don't overload or underload it. Leave the door open.

We don't really give it much attention to be honest - we just empty the filter bit at the bottom on a regular basis and leave the door open to air after use.

We put on a regular hot wash for towels and bedding, which I hope also helps to get rid of bacteria in the drum.

I never overfill it and do an empty wash every now and then.

I bought something called an Ecozone Magnoball about 6 months ago on Amazon and it seems to be doing the job perfectly. They claim that one ball can last up to 10 years, so I'll have to see how that goes.
I also run an empty hot wash with Zoflora (only a quid in Poundland!) once every few weeks as Zoflora is antibacterial.

I leave the door open after every wash to let it air dry, also wipe the seal now and again. I do a 90 degrees wash every month with an empty drum.

Put on an empty hot wash with vinegar every few weeks.

Regular empty hot wash, cleaning and leaving door open to dry - Nothing new I'm afraid!

Hot wash every month or so. Pull out the soap dispenser and put in dishwasher. Remember to run the fluff programme when the symbol appears (have a washer-dryer).

I have had the same washing machine for 14 years. I paid for a good make with good performance so I think that helps. But to maintain this then I always wipe the rubber seal dry in the door after each use to stop the rubber deteriorating. I also use a de-scaler especially designed for washing machines. And to stop the machine smelling, I run the machine, empty, on the hottest wash using a biological washing powder, once a month. Because I wash with non-biological powders there is a build up of scum, so the hot biological wash clears and prevents the problem.

We don’t use the drawer
Don’t overload it
And once a month or so do a boil cycle on empty

every so often I put the empty machine on a boil cycle

I feel awful reading this as I have no idea ... I did try to do a vinegar wash once after reading about it and it bleached my favourite dress as it mustn’t have rinsed properly.. i have learnt a lot from this thread.. and probably need a new machine!

I wipe the inside of the rubber seal every time I do a wash.

Other than leaving the door open between washes and making sure that the filter and outflow pipe is uninstructed that is about all. It's a basic washing machine that does the job it needs to do so...

I'm lucky because my washing machine has a function that tells me to do a "clean wash" once every 40 washes or so. I also don't close the door when the machine is empty as I find it makes it stink!

Leave the door open so that it can dry out and not get stinky!

Calgon tablet and a clean every week to keep it fresh and clean

I use liquid tablets instead of powder. Do a hot bleach wash once every few months and I scrub the top of the inside of the draw with a toothbrush regularly