How do I clean my washing machine?

[Liviam]

Hi everyone,
I was wondering if someone could tell me how to clean my washing machine please. My washing machine is a mess and making my clothes dirty. It's driving me insane!!!

My clothes are coming out covering in washing powder too. God knows what Im doing wrong. Any tips?? Does using liquid washing over powder stuff help?

TIA,
Dan.

[Danni]

Hello gorgeous.

I found a good way to clean my machine is:

Fill it up with hot water, open the lid, pour in vinegar, and bicarb. It will then fizz up, then let it run a cycle. Make sure you use hot water though. This should help get rid of grime, build up etc.

Do you dissolve your powder before putting it in? If not, this will definitely help your clothes to not come out with powder on there. Just put your desired amount of powder in a small bowl (i use an old jar) and mix with a bit of water, and chuck it in. It really only takes an extra second.

Liquid does stop this from happening, BUT liquid can also leave water marks (stains) on your clothes. And some of my clothes (particularly white ones) have been ruined.

[The[cookie]Doctor]

I do a hot wash with Bi-carb and vinegar once a fortnight. I would do it more frequently but i forget.

[amberj]

How much vinegar and bi-carb?

Will this get rid of the wierd little black flecks that my washing machine likes to cover my clothes in? Does anyone know what these are? And the water that comes out from rinsing smells like something has crawled up the washing machine's butt and died. Its so feral. But my clothes don't smell.

Urgh, lost in the land of washing machine mysteries....

[ShootingStar]

Our washing machine says to use epson salt and hot water. To fill the machine with the hot water.. tip in some Epson Salt, agertate it and let it sit over night.. then run drain it. You may need to run another cycle. Works well for us.

And.. make sure you clean out the lint filter! Jessica.. sounds like your lint filter needs cleaning out too. The black stuff is build up grime and fabric softener.

[Arimeh]

Dan - does your washing machine have its own wash cycle? Just cos mine does - and then it just washes itself.

[diva det]

I asked the washing machine repairman last time he came about cleaning our the washing machine. He said the best things to clean out the machine is with either letric soda or believe it or not- caustic soda!!! in really hot water!!

He said not to use vinegar as it will make the plastic parts in the machine smell of the vinegar!

havent tried it yet as my machine stays pretty clean- dunno how- as its used and abused!

BTW i use biozet powder and he actually thought that i used a liquid as there was no powder residue on the inside when he repaired it and it was very clean!
go figure- its 12 years old too!

HTH
odette

[Pandora]

i was going to say i did a vinegar wash in ours and now everything still smells of vinegar 2 weeks later Im glad we're getting a new one soon

[Danni]

Did you use hot water Ray?

Ive never had a vinegar smell afterwards.... weird!

Those little black flecks could also be slimy bits of mould. You know like in the kids bath toys?

[SugarDust]

we were told to put a cup of powder dishwash in the machine with SUPER hot water aggitate a bit and let sit over night then rinse it out!

[Liviam]

Thanks so much ladies. I'll give it a go tonight and see how I get on.

[DoubleK]

gee, ive never 'cleaned' my machine... i think ill start doing it!

[Danni]

How did it go Dan?

[Liviam]

Can you believe I'm still getting to it (hangs head in shame). It's on my huge huge huge list of cleaning jobs to do over the next four days. Will let you know.

[tk1999]

You have all inspired me to do mine tomorrow as my DPs mother believes (and has instilled in us) that no one can do cleaning on New Years Day...

I can't wait to have a nice clean washing machine!