my washing machine stinks

[jaykay]

My machine used to smell when I was using the tablets/liquid that had to be put into the drum itself. Once I went back to using powder in the drawer the smell went away. I concluded that the water had left a residue in the inside pipes and needed the hot water and detergent to dissolve/clear it. The grout in the shower turns orange with this slimy residue -makes me wonder what is coming out of the taps!
Hope you get sorted soon.

[Two_Sheds]

The grout in the shower turns orange with this slimy residue -makes me wonder what is coming out of the taps!

yes, I have orange grout too. I'll deal with that another day

[Two_Sheds]

Washing machine usage (part 2)

I suspect it is prolonged use of 40 degree washes too.
Why on earth don't they make machines that can cope with low-temp washing?
Or put warnings on the detergent boxes that this product may make your machine smelly?

I am going to do a soda wash, then a vinegar wash, and thereafter a boil wash once a month.

thanks everyone for your input.

[Mikey]

Morning, two sheds do you have a hockey stick on the back of the washing machine, i.e does the pipe create a trap like you have in a sink?

Where does the drainage go to, straight outside, join with other appliances, or into sewerage system.

If you do not have a trap on the washing machine, I would suggest that every time you put a wash on and hot water runs over your smelly drains, the odour will return up the pipe.

Either way I would advise clearing/unblockng the drain as if this smells like the washing machine there is a good chance that this is the source of the odour.

Have a nice day, I hate unblocking drains (gag).

[Two_Sheds]

I would suggest that every time you put a wash on and hot water runs over your smelly drains, the odour will return up the pipe.

it can't.
the drain is at least a foot below the bottom of the pipe, which is at a 45 degree angle to the drain ... there is no way on earth that water can go back up that pipe.

and the drain odour was only apparent once I'd stuck my hand down and swirled about in the dead-fish soup.

[SlugLobber]

We found at a previous house that the water out pipe allowed water to sit in a dip and it always smelled. The plumbing in needed redoing.

This is exactly what used to happen with mine. If you can, rearrange the waste pipe so that gravity is on your side.

[Mikey]

it can't.
the drain is at least a foot below the bottom of the pipe, which is at a 45 degree angle to the drain ... there is no way on earth that water can go back up that pipe.

and the drain odour was only apparent once I'd stuck my hand down and swirled about in the dead-fish soup.

Its not the water that is travelling up, its the smell. If you can smell it by swirling your hand around in it, then when you heat it up the aroma will rise all on its own. This is why I asked whether you have a trap on your hockey stick or if it drains out untrapped. Its the trap that stops the odour from the drain from returning up the pipe and into your machine.

[Migueli]

I suspect it is prolonged use of 40 degree washes too.
Why on earth don't they make machines that can cope with low-temp washing?
Or put warnings on the detergent boxes that this product may make your machine smelly?

I am going to do a soda wash, then a vinegar wash, and thereafter a boil wash once a month.

thanks everyone for your input.

They do make machines that cope with low temperature washes, all of them do that. It's a combination of low temperature and modern washing powders that allows certain types of bacteria to survive. Twenty years ago I was repairing washing machines and the only time I came across a machine that had mal odour was when the pump was blocked or the user was unable to open the door because the water had not drained. Even then it only happened because the clothes had sat there for a week or so.
The powder manufacturers are probably under some pressure to formulate 'greener' alternatives, with the result that they allow certain types of these bacteria to thrive. Just do the monthly service wash using the older type powder and it should prevent the problem.

[zazen999]

two-sheds

I do a white wash with bedding and tea towels every fortnight or so on a hot wash.....I don't use powder any more as I have one of those washing balls....but for the hot wash I pop some borax in and it keeps the machine smelling good.

[mythyme]

I used the Homebase product, in my case bought at Sainsbury's, worked like a dream. Still don't know the source of the smell and don't care ,just wanted it gone!!

[sweetiepea]

I use washing balls too and have no problem. Their added advantage is no soap residue in the septic tank, which in turn means it works properly and it looks after itself (essential when you live in the country and don't have a tractor!!)

[Hilary B]

The black mould on the wall behind sounds like condensation mould. If there is a lot of condensation there (and behind a washing machine is a good place for condensation to collect), it will come back quite soon. Best answer is improved ventilation (same principle as leaving the machine door open after use, fresh, MOVING air is the best killer of smells, because they are largely caused by anaerobic bacteria). Does the machine sit close to the wall? Is there any way to let more air get to that area? (or alternatively, is the wall behind getting wet from some other cause? So many options, high ground levels being a common one).
What was the floor like when you pulled the washing-machine forwards?

[Nicos]

Hi TwoSheds,
We had the same problem, did all the cleaning routines, bleached it, had the powder drawer out etc but there was still something. In Homebase we found, among the cleaning products, Washing Machine Cleaner - 'cleans deodorises and kills germs'. Its in a crystal form and you put it in the machine on a short cycle.
Also works on dishwashers (but my OH doesn't get smelly!!!)
Hope this is of some use, it worked for us.
Cheers Val.

This is what we used after we were told that if you regularly wash at 30C then any protein is not broken down in the residual water ( needs +- 35C) - and that's what causes a build up of orange/black slime. We use non-bio powder too which is more bacteria friendly.

Used it one- and problem dissapeared!

[Two_Sheds]

The black mould on the wall behind sounds like condensation mould. ... Does the machine sit close to the wall?

There's a good 5 inch plus gap between machine and wall. There is no way I can improve ventilation there ... everything is built-in


the floor is fine ... no sign of leaks or condensation anyway else.

[Two_Sheds]

I do a white wash with bedding and tea towels every fortnight

I don't own anything white