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I can't figure this out, our washing machine periodically smells a bit ripe. We've put the Dr whatever washing machine cleaner through it, done the internet fix of baking soda & distilled white vinegar, but a week later it pongs again.
The drain is clear, the door seal and detergent dispenser clean. The waste water coming out smells like clean laundry, it's in a well vented reasonable size (10×6ft) utility and the door is left open between loads.
Any clues on how to solve it?
Whack some Dettol type liquid through it. Super hot wash if it hasn't got a self clean program.
Does it have a removable filter?
Leaving the washer door ajar for a couple hours after a cycle goes a long way.. Stops damp build up. Prevention rather than cure and all that.
Using liquid detergents?
Top tip: make your own fabric conditioner using essential oil (such as sweet orange, lemon, lavender etc) and white vinegar, use it every time. Has stopped the pongs in my machine.
Top tip: don't use fabric conditioner.
Do your towels on 90deg with bleach and washing powder.
Door is left open, we use Fairy non-bio liqui-tabs
Non bio isn’t good for machines. The odd 90C cycle with a dishwasher tab in works wonders too.
Top tip: don’t use fabric conditioner if you have soft water
FIFY
Sorry!
Stop doing family cyclocross?..... 🙂
Similar here (fairy non bio and minimal conditioner). Doing the towels on a hot wash seems to help, as does Halo sports wash for the really stinky kit (youngest gets a rash off some detergents and waterproof chemicals etc but seems OK with Halo).
Considering what it gets fed I can't believe our Bosch is still alive and on the original 12 Yr old bearings! Previous Zanussi ate 3 sets in 7 years.
Liquid detergents are the worst for leaving smells. Try a powder instead.
We only ever use non-bio powders, mostly 30 or 40c washes.
We went to straight vinegar (soft water) instead of softener and it has made such a difference. The machine also asks for the occasional 70deg cycle to do a drum clean, presumably it would be easy enough to program the various soaks and no spins in if you don't already have it.
Ditto liquid detergents. Ours was the same until we realised this and quit using them. Been fine ever since.
If it's anything like ours, clean out the drain trap. Our is accessed by removing the trim panel along the bottom at the front then just undoing a screw-in plug. The amount of putrid gunk which accumulates was disturbing, but having cleaned it out, no more smells.
Remove the door seal clean in all the folds
Ours had black mould stuff inbetween the two halves of the drum
While the seal is off clean it all out with e.g. a tooth brush or long arm brush
Clean out the trap
Clean out the soap tray.
That stopped it stinking.
Read your machine manual -it will tell you to put it on the hottest wash every now and then, 40 degree washes don't kill the mould. Do that once a month.
Leave the door open all the time after a wash.
No more stinky machine or clothes.
we us this stuff periodically
had same problem - stopped using those liqui-tab things that are like a plastic wrapped gel, started using powder in the drawer a al oldschool, and machine much fresher for it.
Sorry for the thread revive..... but while I'm still reeling from the shock... if all else has failed and your washing machine is still smelly.
Try moving the machine forward and un-plumbing the waste hose.
Go on.
I dare you.
According to the advert you need Calgon, obviously.
But aside from that snake-oil*, as above, powder. I've switched to powder anyway for more eco packaging reasons and a few waterproof items that insist powder only. Working out way cheaper, cleans better and machine and clothes smell better too.
* (detergent does the same job in the right quantity and in soft water areas it's pretty much pointless. Their claim is Calgon means less detergent required and it's that stuff that makes it smelly, but doesn't make that much sense so long as the machine rinses out normally, and many say they tried it and didn't work)