cleaning a washing machine

[to_love_a_rose]

I recently moved and while my new place comes with a washing machine, it's a bit scuzzy. Specifically, the bleach tray and the fabric softener dispensers have an icky film on them. I was thinking of maybe running the machine empty and trying to flush them both out or something? I don't know. Any tips on cleaning a washing machine?

Comments

[puzzlement]

Advice on strip washing nappies (that is, washing them until all existing detergent is out of them) tends to advise an optional vinegar rinse. Now, I'm not guarenteeing that I know it won't harm the machine, but vinegar is a fairly weak acid, and I've done a vinegar rinse of nappies and it doesn't seem to have harmed mine.

[takemyrevolution]

I assume the tray isn't the removable sort. The one in mine comes out when you pull it out and up. When it gets cruddy, I just take it out and scrub it.

Anyway, baking soda and a scrub brush seems to work well.

[seekingeden]

If you can't remove the tray a bottle brush and vinegar, backing soda or bleach are the way to go.

[raletha]

For the washing machine at large, running a hot wash (with no clothes or linens, just the water) using powdered, not liquid, detergent, can help clear out general accumulated gunge. Repeat if needed.

(This was recommended by the manufacturer for my last washer, a Fisher and Paykel, and it worked really well.)

HTH! :)

[majoline]

I can vouch for that piece of advice: This is what I've always done and it seems to work pretty well.

[marymac]

There should definitely be a way to get the tray out - jiggling it around until it gives usually works.

After that, scalding hot water and a run empty on the hottest wash. If that doesn't work, in the UK you can get a washing machine detergent in the Co-op, which works wonders. It's got hilariously 50s daisy packaging, but it works.