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

Standard Insight T&Cs apply

I run a cleaner through it once a month

its always in constant use but I do try to pop a cleaning tablet on a hot wash every now and then, oh and de-gunk the dreaded drawer!

Keeping it clean on the inside is the major problem, after each wash i put a short rinse cycle in with vinegar to clean the insides. But it does stink

Wipe it over the outside, put descaler in once a month, leave door open for a few hours.

I do not overload the washer keep the door open after wash to let it air dry wipe the drum and rubber seal clean and hot wash every few weeks to keep washer fresh

I do a hot wash with soda and vinegar when I remember! Need to get better at cleaning the drawer and seals though

Get someone else to do it :-)

I leave the door open to air it in the day. Also use non bio

Don't overload it and open the door between washes.

run a 90 degrees wash every week, to make sure it is clean :)

I run a maintenance wash every month. Nothing in it, no powder or cleaners, just the hottest wash.
I regularly take the detergent drawer out and wipe behind it, especially the jets above where water comes out during a wash.
Also I leave the detergent drawer and the door open to dry out, they are open all the time unless the machine is in operation.
Never have smells or black mould or powder build up doing this.
My biggest tip would be if you use fabric softener which I don't, is wipe out the drawer each time you have used it because it can leave deposits that turn slimy and sludgy and make the machine smell.

always leave the door open after use to let it dry out

My new washer/dryer has an Eco Drum Clean setting which I use once a month so keep it in tip top condition but with my old one I had it professionally cleaned along with all my other domestic appliances once a year

As I wash a lot at low temperatures, I run a wash with machine cleaner every few months. Like others, I leave the door open. I also, depending on what is being washed put a capful of everyday disinfectant in the wash and regularly run a sheet of kitchen roll round the "fold" of the door seal to pick up any debris trapped there.

I only started thinking about it when my machine started smelling bad (even though I leave it open whenever i'ts not in use). Constant low temperature washes seem to be the culprit, so now about once a week I run it at top temperature with a dose of soda crystals. No smell now :-)

I fell foul of a bad smell from the waste hose pipe when using my machine, so I now regularly put the hottest wash through with a cleaner! I always leave the door open too so that it dries out/airs!

Cleaning the dispenser drawer regularly (not that I do!)

Leaving the door open and draw out for it to air out and every so often giving the machine a spin on its own to clean it up a bit.

I use a water softener with every wash. I give it a deep clean, inside and out, once a month.

I keep a few items on top so regularly move them and clean underneath, I am always amazed how dirty the outside gets so that gets a regular wipe over. I take a tissue and clean any hairs away after each wash and once or twice a year make a solution of warm soda crystals and run a short empty wash. I know one is supposed to do more but I've had my machine for years and despite my neglect it is going strong.

We (well, I) always wipe down after use and leave the door open to let it dry out. I also take out the tray once a week and give it a good wash as powder and fabric conditioner seem to build up in it.

I use Dr Beekman ( I think it's called?) to keep it fresh

I always leave the door slightly open when the machine is empty. Wipe around the rubber seal and clean the detergent drawer every so often. Run a really hot 90 degree wash every couple of months.

always use a limescale tablet with each wash, hard water area so needed. always thoroughly dry the rubber seal, use a liquid in a ball to save the drawers getting all yucky and once a month do a maintenance wash with white vinegar at a high temp to clean.

Every now and then do an empty wash with white vinegar to keep the limescale at bay :)