I used to be heavy handed on the fabric softener and never cleaned my washing machine, until one day I started to get some brown flaky bits on my clothes and someone told me it was the build up of the softener coming away from the inside of the drum. I used vinegar on a hot water cycle and got rid of it after a couple of go's. I am now using epsom salts in my rinse cycle, I'm scared of fabric softener now.