Washing machine build-up

I had the same problem in a new washing machine I bought a few years ago. Like you nothing I did worked. Then after 2 years the heating element had to be replaced and when removed was absolutely covered in limescale, the worst the engineer had ever seen!! Never happened in any previous machines. After a few days the mould started to disappear and is now non-existent.

I run a solution of white vinegar and bi carb through a hot wash ( no clothes in) it seems to keep the machine sweet.

When mine was delivered they rec omened a hot wash with a handful of household soda crystals thrown into the drum once a month. No problem here.

I have a fairly new machine and the water seems to sit in the rubber seal after the machine has finished, I push a dry tea towel into the grooves of the seal which soaks up the odd drops of water, plus I leave the door slightly ajar, it’s in a cupboard so it doesn’t show.

It’s working so far.......

I no longer use fabric conditioner but put a small amount of white vinegar into the rinse tray - result is no mould I anywhere and the clothes do not smell of vinegar. I often use a conditioning sheet in the tumble dryer.

I also use a paste of distilled vinegar and bicarb which I rub into the folds of the rubber seal, leave it for half an hour or so and rinse off. Comes up a treat. Then a hot wash with bicarb and vinegar. Bicarb and vinegar is my miracle clean all. It's great on UPVC, sink drains, toilet bowls etc. Chemical free and low cost.

I use a hot programme with either washing soda crystals or citric acid in the drum as a maintenance wash. This seems to keep whiffs and mould at bay.

I also regularly use the citric acid as a very quick and cheap kettle descaler, and the washing soda and a pint of hot water to keep plug holes pleasant.

I regularly use a dishwasher tablet and run it empty on a very hot—90 deg setting.
Then I always leave the washing machine door and drawer wide open between washes...seems to work well at keeping mould etc away.

I'm another soda crystals and very hot water dude. In fact I use soda crystals instead of washing-powder or liquid. Why use complicated chemicals when a simple one will do? My washing-machine has no yuck at all.

Thanks all for your feedback with some very interesting solutions. I think I will try the bicarb and//or soda crystals to see how I go.
Thanks again.

On a related topic, how do you clean the dispenser drawer? I've tried most things including taking the whole thing out and running it in the dishwasher. There are those inaccessible parts of the plastic moulding thing that still have black gunge. Any advice welcome - thanks

Blinko, most of that black hinge will be fabric conditioner residue and is almost impossible to remove in its entirety but, with much patience and an assortment of different brushes and cotton buds, you can get rid of most of it. Since my new washing machine was delivered last year, I haven't used fabric conditioner at all and Presto! No gunge!

Wretched predictive text! That should be gunge, not hinge.

Can I add another query? Why does my conditioner drawer always have water in it at the end of a wash? If I am not using conditioner in the next wash I just leave it and if I am using conditioner (rare) I pull the draw out and tip water away. But it is annoying that I can't sort it out.

Thanks, Scribbles. Guess I'll just have to persevere. Perishing thing. If the designers had to clean it, they'd surely think again!