Crooked Chicken Posted August 16, 2007 Share Posted August 16, 2007 Apologies that my first posting for ages on this website is about my washing machine and not my gorgeous girls, but here goes. My washing machine smells really, really bad. There's been an 'odour' for some months, but has been bearable. It's got worse, you walk in the front door and you can smell it, so I did a really hot 90 degree towel wash at the weekend - thinking a hot wash would do the trick, but unfortunately not. Another wash on last night, and now the clothes come out smelly. 2 kids under 5, and 4 loads of washing sitting in piles in the hall!!! Last night I cleaned the drain pipe, water came out, so no blockage, and also cleaned out the powder/conditioner drawer. The tube from this dispenser to the machine looks pretty black but how does one clean that!!! Should I use some sort of solution (Bleach!!), but scared that this might damage all the metal bits. H E L P !! Any help from my chicken friends would be greatly appreciated. xxxx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karen & co. Posted August 16, 2007 Share Posted August 16, 2007 Oh no that's the last thing you need with little ones You seem to tried all the logical things like pipes etc. could it be leaking a little underneath and the floor is damp underneath causing the smell? karen x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crooked Chicken Posted August 16, 2007 Author Share Posted August 16, 2007 No, there's no leak. (It's only about 3 / 4 years old - Bosch Exxcel 1400 Express, not under guarantee anymore though - never is is it!!!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Frugal Posted August 16, 2007 Share Posted August 16, 2007 Try putting a cup of vinegar or bicarbonate of soda in and running it through a normal cycle, Sue. Don't put any clothes in. It might clear the pong. Ours smells too sometimes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ali-s Posted August 16, 2007 Share Posted August 16, 2007 I've had this problem and had to call out a washing machine guy. He said the culprit was concentrated powder/liquid especially when you put the it in a little ball in the machine drum and the economy wash button. He advised me to go back to using "big box" powder or liquid and use the dispenser and use the longer wash option. Using a concentrated product means there is not enough detergent to wash the clothes and keep the machine clean as well so bacteria builds up and causes the smell. His advise worked and no more smelly machine. I still mostly use the econmy setting and concentrated detergent, but now and again go back to the other option. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BeckyBoo Posted August 16, 2007 Share Posted August 16, 2007 I'll second that Ali-s, use big box washing powder and also try the bicarb option - I did it and it cleared the smell. I did it on a hot wash tho I think.Good luck, smelly Mrs B Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crooked Chicken Posted August 16, 2007 Author Share Posted August 16, 2007 Thanks guys. Kate - what quantities - 1 cup of (any) vinegar and 1 cup of bicarb ?? Ali - I always use big box Fairy powder but must admit, a few weeks ago changed conditioner to the double concentrate Comfort. Perhaps the conditioner has made the smell worse. Will go back to the normal Comfort. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Frugal Posted August 16, 2007 Share Posted August 16, 2007 1 cup of distilled white vinegar if you've got it or 1 cup bicarb - use either and if the smell is a real problem you can do this once a month. Both are cheap and neither will do any harm and will hopefully do the trick. I've used vinegar as a fabric softener before when I've run out and it does make the machine smell nice and fresh. Bicarb is brilliant for removing pongs anyway so if the room's smelly too, leave a dish of bicarb on the worktop and that will help no end, especially if you stir in a few drops of lavender oil or any of your favourite essential oils. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted August 16, 2007 Share Posted August 16, 2007 Waitrose sell little boxes of washing machine cleaner & descaler, & I have found that really good ,especially after washing the dog bedding Mine gets this sort of thick grey scum all around the inside, on the door & nestled in the rubber seals. It stinks, but wipes off easily enough with a Flash wipe. I too have been told it is down to concentrate liqueds Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crooked Chicken Posted August 16, 2007 Author Share Posted August 16, 2007 Right - just droping the kids off at the childminder, then to corner shop (Waitrose), to get ALL of the above (so that I've got back-up if one thing doesn't work), then home before work at 10...................... phew ................I'm gone, and THANKS. xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted August 16, 2007 Share Posted August 16, 2007 I googled "smelly washing machine" and came up with ... this.... It pretty much confirms everything that has been said. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trish Posted August 16, 2007 Share Posted August 16, 2007 I second (or third, or fourth) the vinegar trick, workes a treat for me. I use vinegar with essentail oils as a fabric cinditioner all the time now and we never have the wiffy washing machine problem any more. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Louise Posted August 16, 2007 Share Posted August 16, 2007 I don't use fabric conditioner as I have very sensitive skin so I fill the little section on the drawer with white vinegar EVERY wash as it does the same job, is chemical free, doesn't affect the absorbency of towels AND stops the machine starting to pong Sometimes the clothes smell a little vinegary when they come out but it is gone when they dry - go on be brave and try it Much cheaper too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickenlass Posted August 16, 2007 Share Posted August 16, 2007 Have you still got the machine instruction book at all?? It usually tells you how to get the powder drawer out.... Mine is just a real good tug...then you can scrub all that black stuff that collects in there off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
susiepoos Posted August 16, 2007 Share Posted August 16, 2007 spooky my washing machine is doing the same - only the last 2 days but I was beginning to think that it was possessed machine on now with the bicarb - let's hope it works Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted August 16, 2007 Share Posted August 16, 2007 A hot wash with soda crystals is recommended elsewhere. I reckon these 30 degree washes are the cause of grease build up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted August 16, 2007 Share Posted August 16, 2007 Mine doesn't pong, but then I use Napisan with every wash.. originally to clean and disinfect nappies in the old boilers, it removes stains like magic and is eco-friendly too. Try running a hot wash through with that, and leave the door open after the washing so that it gets a chance to dry out - the only time that mine smelled was when Phil had used it and left the door closed afterwards, it was a couple of days before I noticed and the mould had set in Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dancing Gal Posted September 3, 2007 Share Posted September 3, 2007 I am so relieved to come upon this topic. I've had a stinking washing machine for months now. We've pulled it apart and cleaned pipes, filters, drawers etc. I've done the bicarb and all the hot washes. I've used the very expensive washing machine cleaning products and this week I used the household soda stuff. All of these get rid of the pong for a while but after a bit it comes back. I haven't tried using vinegar instead of fab con and we do use the concentrated washing liquid. I'll change back to proper powder no the concentrated which is what we used to use and see how I get on with this. thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Louise Posted September 3, 2007 Share Posted September 3, 2007 I can't use fabric conditioner as it really starts to play havoc with my skin and I find the vinegar works well and I have no smelly machine either I have always used big box powder because of my skin as well Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chocchick Posted September 3, 2007 Share Posted September 3, 2007 (edited) Mine doesn't pong, but then I use Napisan with every wash.. originally to clean and disinfect nappies in the old boilers, it removes stains like magic and is eco-friendly too. Try running a hot wash through with that, and leave the door open after the washing so that it gets a chance to dry out - the only time that mine smelled was when Phil had used it and left the door closed afterwards, it was a couple of days before I noticed and the mould had set in How did you get rid of the mould? Ours is left partially open all the time, but collects in the groove of the rubber seal in the door. I presume bleach wouldn't work well with my clothes Missing my non-existant new kitchen with new washing machine Edited September 3, 2007 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted September 3, 2007 Share Posted September 3, 2007 The Napisan and hot wash got rid of it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chocchick Posted September 3, 2007 Share Posted September 3, 2007 That was fast! Where do you get it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted September 3, 2007 Share Posted September 3, 2007 *tee hee* Tesco, baby section. Blue and white packaging. It's good for soaking whites and stains too; I always use it in my whites wash. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
One Man Banned Posted September 3, 2007 Share Posted September 3, 2007 We've got a Bosch Machine too and they recommend that after every wash you leave the detergent drawer open ajar as well as the door for it to dry - we do this and it's never been a smelly one! To wash with we wash with Ecover liquid just poured in the drawer with the Ecover fabric softner (mind you I have it all in 25ltr bottles in the garage! ) Never thought to clean out the washing machine but we do have to send a Finish Dishwasher cleaner around the dishwasher every few months to keep it smelling fresh A xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chocchick Posted September 4, 2007 Share Posted September 4, 2007 Our worst pong was when I microwaved peas and forgot about them for several weeks, then opened the door I ended up cleaning it a lot and using lemons to absorb the smell, it smelt of horrible cleaning stuff for ages though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
