washing machine HELL!

[Rainbow_Mumma]

Typically the day xmas what happens my washing machine starts playing up, I have guests tomorrow, a full laundry and a full nappy bucket.
Its just NOT washing, clothes are coming out covered in washing powder and just not what Id call washed .... how am i going to wash my nappies?!
What could be wrong with it?
We have a spare washing machine but it needs a new water pump but its a bigger washing machine (which really we need) can my old water pump go on it or because its bigger is it not going to work?

why oh why! i cant afford to go buy a new one either this time of year

[Amity]

Laundromats can be 24hrs.... just sayin'

Hope your DH can fix it.

[Rainbow_Mumma]

the laundromat is a 35km drive away

[~me~]

I can't help with what is wrong, do you have neighbours you are friendly with? Perhaps they wouldn't mind if you used their machine.

Otherwise, handwash the essentials and use the spin cycle of the washing machine to ring them out

[helle]

Is the bowl rotating?

[Rainbow_Mumma]

yes it is helle

[Floweryfields]

I find if I cram too much in at once I get clothes coming out with powder on them. Could it be that?

[Rainbow_Mumma]

i dont think so ausgirl as this load was only DD1s school uniform (2 dresses, a jumper, a polo shirt and some trackpants).
i clean out the filter regularly but is it possible for it to get "clogged up" somewhere else ... argh annoying

[leckert]

Could you try this?
Pour two cups of vinegar or lemon juice into the tub, and run the washing machine through a complete cycle on the hottest setting to remove odors, stains and detergent build up.

Every now and then I was running through a vinegar wash on my previous washing machine. My current one has a self clean cycle - basically a hot wash/soak (with a couple of scoops of detergent) cycle so I haven't done the vinegar wash in this machine.