How do you clean the inside of your washing machine?

I don't think I ever have ?

Its not something I have ever thought about.

No me ?

But we had a new washing machine a couple of months back and I want to try and keep it as clean as possible

I run an empty wash at 60 degrees with some washing soda in every three or four months - only started doing this with my new washing machine though.

You're supposed to clean them? I just assumed they stayed clean on their own!

If you're asking how I clean mine, I don't. If you're asking how it should be done:

Two steps. First pour white vinegar into the drawer and run it on the hottest wash it has. This can also be done with soda crystals but vinegar is better. Then use white vinegar to wipe down the inside of the drum and seals.

And before I take my Kim and Aggie hat off, take out the dispenser draw, soak it in a solution of bio powder and hot water and give it a good scrub.

Blimey another one who never gave it a thought and assumed they self cleaned with all the washing powder and hot water. I might have to give the vinegar thing a try. At some point.

I don't think I've ever thought about cleaning the washing machine let alone actually done it.

Some people have far too much time on their hands LOL

I was another one in the 'surely it's self-cleaning' camp ?

I do nothing, apart from the incredibly vile job of cleaning out the filter every now and then <heave>

They have a filter?

Someone on here posted this links a few months go- so thanks whoever that was.

http://www.washerhelp.co.uk/usage_2.html#cl_q1

I now run a 90C wash once a month, and use biological powder, in an empty machine. Normally use non-bio to wash my clothes at 40C.

Sounds stupid but I run a can of coke through a cycle (just stick the liquid in the powder dispenser), it does a good job on mine.

Sody crystals in the machine and a really hot wash empty every now and then (repair man told me to do this when the rubber seal went mouldy.

I've also done it with white vinegar in the drawer and in the drum to try and get rid of whiffs. Read that in my mum's housewives book. It seemed to work.

Dear God life's too short to faff on with doing that! ? I might occasionally wipe a clump of dog hairs out of the rubber seal with a piece of kitchen roll when I wash Woody's blankie but other than that ....

honestly, how long does it take to bung in some soda crystals/vinegar and turn the washing machine on? I'd rather waste a few minutes of my life doing that than waste many pounds paying a repair man to replace the rubber when the seal goes mouldy.

You know, I would agree with you Sunset but our washing machines have a habit of blowing up and catching fire instead! ? Our current one is only 12 months old after the last one did just that - luckily we were covered by insurance which meant we had a lovely new one.

I think, to be honest, that H has got the filter out a couple of times to clean it. I seem to remember there was a fight over the £1 coin he found in it! He's much better at keeping things ticking over than me (domestic slut and all that).

We've done it with a bit of bleach in that drawer thingy and on a hot cycle, and then a few more times on a short cycle at normal temp (30). Probably not the most enviromentally friendly ways, but it sparkled like new!

With a bottle of chemicals called 'Washing Machine Service Engineer' or some other such name, from the supermarket.

Sorry I have only just got back online. Thank you everyone for your replies. I run a cycle with some soda crystals in it. Easy enough. Thanks again.

can you educate me pls? why will the seal go mouldy?

I do the vinegar in the drum thing every now and then, to freshen it up, we only use it once a week so it can get a bit smelly in between washes after a few weeks. now i wish i knew where the filter was as well.

I've never cleaned ours although I know you should. Never noticed any mould on my rubber seal and I had no idea there was a filter either, where would I find that?

No idea why it does, but mine does. Not sure if it's the make or model that's a bit prone to it, or the fact we use it every day, or maybe the type of powder / softener?

It's the rubber seal and the detergent drawer.

I just had a good look all over mine for the filter, then googled to find out it doesn't have one.

Reason it goes mouldy is if it's used on low tempratures washes & a non bio cleaner & use of fabric softner.

I do use a 60'c on whites & bedding & will put a 90'c wash on with soda to clean the machine at least once a week , I also leave the door open & rub a dry towel around the seal & door, when finished. The hose from the rear gets changed yearly (£3).

I clean the detergent drawer, but can't get the slot it goes into clean or free of mould, despite attacking it with a toothbrush and bleach.

I have a high-efficiency machine so with less water there is often debris left inside the seal. If I pull back the seal really far I have found mould. So now I run it through with bleach and some old white sheets (otherwise the water won't reach higher levels of the machine) about once every 2 months. I also wipe it out with kitchen roll every day or so, and in the past have painted bleach onto the mouldy parts with a foam brush.

In hindsight it was totally stupid to get a HE front loader, I should have kept my normal american top loader...