Smelly washing machine

[Clarabel]

Help!

My washing machine stinks! A combination of washing dirty gardening clothes and (mostly) leaving it shut all the time (I'm paranoid the cats will go to sleep in there and I won't notice and put them on spin cycle!)

Any ideas?

Clarabel

[ina]

Clean out filter - that might help a bit, if there's anything stuck in there. And use some vinegar (in the last rinse) next time you wash; that's good for the clothes, too. And leave the door open... Maybe you can drape a net in front of the opening to keep the cat out?

[Clarabel]

ahhh I was wondering about something like vinegar or lemon juice but didn't know if it would damage the clothes.

It's not even like they even go in there, they used to like to watch it when I first got it since I hadn't had one for years, they were amused by the clothes going round! My mums cat used to sleep in the tumble drier and she had to be very careful when putting it on.

Think I might do a 'proper' white wash and use vinegar, usually I just chuck everything on a low temp quick wash but whites do get dirtier than other clothes and need the occasional full wash so that might help!

Clare

[shiney]

I found that my washing machine started doing this. We cleaned out the filter etc and it still is a bit pongy. This started when I began just using one washing tablet and an eco quick wash.

So...I had to do something naughty. I did a major hot half load wash with nothing in apart from a drop (and I mean a drop) of bleach. Blimey, it bubbled up like a cartoon washing machine would. Bubbles creeping out of everywhere. It did the trick tho!

I could justify myself using such a method as I have been so good for months on end using just one tab and making my softener last four times as long as it should by using a quarter capful each time. I have also not used my tumble dryer for months and invested in an Italian clothes airer/drier which holds loads of clothes!

[Clarabel]

I also wondered about that, but again, felt so naughty about doing it!

[glenniedragon]

What does an Italian clothes drier look like? does look like an English one but the clothes hang with style?

kind thoughts
Deb

[hedgewizard]

make sure you're using a phosphate-free laundry agent. If that grey phosphate stuff is building up in your machine bacteria can colonise it and make a considerably nasty smell!

[ina]

What does an Italian clothes drier look like? does look like an English one but the clothes hang with style?

It's funny, but the German ones look different, too... And they hold more than the British variety.

[Clarabel]

*grins* I had no idea there was such variety with clothes driers!

I feel mine is woefully inadequate esp living in a tiny flat where space is at a premium and clothes take *ages* to dry in winter (poss cause of the dampness) We have a 'shared' drying cupboard, but I've been trying to get the key off my neighbour for ages and he doesn't seem like he wants to share. Considering I would hardly ever use it, it's electric and it seems pointless just to get things dry a bit quicker, also there was a fire caused by one on the 5th floor a few years ago!

Clarabel

[pixieface]

Try using half a cup of washing soda in your machine with half the amount of your usual powder. Use vinegar instead of softner. The washing soda will clean out any smelly detergant in your pipes and the vinegar neautralises the water.

You can try an experiment, wash your clothes without any powder, you will be astounded at the residue left in your clothes!!!!!!

You can also use washing soda in the sink and the bath to keep pipes clear, just pour in the soda and wash down with a kettle of boiling water.

I only use washing soda, vinegar and stardrops for cleaning along with the occasional squirt of bleach in the loo.......i used up all the chemical stuff I had in my cupboard, now I have just as clean a home but a cupboard to store other things in!!!!!!!!!

[ina]

*grins* I had no idea there was such variety with clothes driers!

I'm lucky to have one of those oldfashioned pull-up ones that you get in old country houses above the range - mine is above the radiator (the house not being old enough for a range). Absolutely great! Doesn't take up floor space, and dries fairly quickly, as it's "heated" from below. In summer (like now) I've got the door open at all times right next to it, for the cat, really - but it also creates a nice bit of draft and helps the drying process.

[Clarabel]

Those are *fantastic* we had one in a tenement I lived in, only problem was my flatmates liking for fried foods could make your clothes a bit smelly!

[greenbean]

Hi Clarabel, No advice here, but just wanted to join in the chat as I love my clothes pulley, we used to live in Glasgow and there we inherited a lovely old pulley, one of the first things we installed when we moved to this house in Stirling was the pulley (you can't beat Crocketts in Glasgow for these things), what area in Glasgow are you in?

[shiney]

An Italian Clothes airer is the same as a French, Spanish or probably Greek one! It has a great accent and is very sexy. LOL

Here's where I got it from...

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ITALIAN-QUALITY-C ... dZViewItem

Yeah, ebay, it does say that delivery is free if you collect, but I thought £8 was fair enough as these driers are really expensive in the UK elsewhere. Goodness knows why, they are as cheap as chips in Spain!

[Millymollymandy]

You can get 'em from the supermarket here. I thought you were talking about something fancy!!