Washing machine works perfectly but smells of mildew

[69 coupe]

hora said:

Funnily enough every so often theres 'standing' water in the drum. From the bugs/dirt etc I think its better to get rid. Theres a rust spot on the corner/just under the powder tray. It just feels 'wrong' binning a white goods that isn't faulty.

When you say standing water in the drum, do you mean actually in the stainless drum or the door seal rubber gap thingy, if the former you sure your drains aren't blocked/backing up?

If latter clean rubber gap after washes usually find an accumulation of grey sludge & bits of lime-scale.

I use Soda crystals £1 from most supermarkets also 100 other uses.

[MatrixXXx]

you can buy washing machine cleaner form most supermarkets.

some use a dishwasher tablet on the hottest wash.

they says its because modern detergents work at lower temps meaning more grease/ bacteria build up (no hot washes)

[boxst]

Mine was doing this. I replaced the rubber drum seal as it was slightly ripped and water was dripping down and then staying causing mould to stay.

Bought a new one from eSpares (about #30) and an hour of spare time and when the seal was off a thorough clean of everything and now it is fine.

[Davel]

Are you using liquid washing solution?

If so, do try powder again first. It sorted our months of smelly 'clean' washing in the first wash.

[ralphrj]

MatrixXXx said:

they says its because modern detergents work at lower temps meaning more grease/ bacteria build up (no hot washes)

I'm told that modern liquid detergents don't contain the same bleaching agents that old fashioned powders do which allows bacteria to breed inside the machine.

We have the same mildew smell every now and again with our machine and use some old fashioned powder on an empty hot wash to clean the machine.

[bigdom]

Liquids are very gloopy and stick to the various internals as they never dissolve fully. Favoured by those running at low temps and quick washes, it's a win win for the detergent manufacturer as they don't have to store or dry the product, so makes it cheaper for them to produce and increases the % margin for them and the retailer - notice the amount of space they now have in supermarkets.

Powders offer a more effective clean, although they don't work so well on low temps and a quick wash. Leave the door ajar to let the moist air out, do some, if not all washes in powders, maintenance wash once a month. Affresh can rescue a smelly machine.

[eastlmark]

hora said:

So for years the inlet hose wasnt fitted ABOVE the trap outlet. I realised this when I dissembled the lot to bleach and.....I noted the sticker that says exactly this on the waste water fitment

Inlet hose?

[jmorgan]

ralphrj said:

MatrixXXx said:

they says its because modern detergents work at lower temps meaning more grease/ bacteria build up (no hot washes)

I'm told that modern liquid detergents don't contain the same bleaching agents that old fashioned powders do which allows bacteria to breed inside the machine.

We have the same mildew smell every now and again with our machine and use some old fashioned powder on an empty hot wash to clean the machine.

We just use powder except for the odd coloured wash where we use a tab. The biggest chunk is done with powder and it does have bleach in it. The other thing to do is a full wash and not a short wash. I only use the long 60 or 40, except for wool. Never had the problem.

[BFG TERRANO]

Boil wash with a dot of fairy in it. Only a dot or the soap tray will pump out like a foam party. When it's not in use leave the door open. Problem will go.

[Busterbulldog]

hora said:

So for years the inlet hose wasnt fitted ABOVE the trap outlet. I realised this when I dissembled the lot to bleach and.....I noted the sticker that says exactly this on the waste water fitment

If the hose is connected to the sink trap its best to have it above any possible sink water level as thats what it contends with when the sink plug is pulled. Most people ime who diy their own machine make this mistake.

[69 coupe]

eastlmark said:

hora said:

So for years the inlet hose wasnt fitted ABOVE the trap outlet. I realised this when I dissembled the lot to bleach and.....I noted the sticker that says exactly this on the waste water fitment

Inlet hose?

Hora, sorry your reply is confusing me

Is/was the problem soap/powder/scum or was water back filling into the drum because the Inlet hose was too high and looped because it wasn't fixed higher causing water to not fully drain and go stagnant/smelly.

[Hoofy]

Annoying! Mine pipes straight to the drain via its own hole in the wall.

[eastlmark]

hora said:

Its this: Where the waste water from the machine exits/joins the waste water from the sink.



When I fitted the machine originally the whole drilled in the unit was low-down so the machine waste pipe had an upward journey and I 'assumed' not to kink the pipe.

After I disconnected the waste pipe I ran the sink tap and immediately the sink emptied out (where the waste pipe used to be).....so all that food etc etc was sitting inside the machine. Even after washes I bet theres some food slime etc still in there.

When I removed the whole plumbing assembly to clean....thats when I noted the warning sticker. Doh.

I'm glad I've binned the machine now. I shudder to think whats in the recesses of it.

OK, that is (washing machine) outlet hose. The inlet hose quote was confusing. Sure, poor routing of a drain hose wont help but this is not the cause of most peoples smelly washing machines.

[Guffy]

We use liquid and our machine was stinking after about a year of use, so i threw a dot of bleach and run a 90deg wash, which cleared it up.

Since then we also make sure the door is left open between washes, 6-months later, the smell has not returned!