Mums Net Warning: Washing Machine making clothes smell 'damp'

ESBlonde

Mumsnet tip.

Your towels will be softer without fabric conditioner if you wash them on a high temp with just soap powder. Over several washes they go fluffy like in posh hotels. Also these high temp washes help destroy the bacteria that cause the black spotty smelly thing.
You're welcome.

Sambostar

And so will your wallet

Bod

Do you use liquid?  That's often a culprit...

Sambostar

What about biological vs non biological.  Having worked with sewer pipes and soakaways the shit and piss is the least of your worries, that rancid stuff that comes out of the sink and the washing machine and dishwasher is disgusting.

LooseMoose

sweepy said:

I have the Aquatic system
http://www.purewaterpeople.co.uk

I know that a lot of good Bathroom/Plumbing places do them too

What sort of cost? Don't want to get fisted...

holnrew

Once you've cleaned it, do a wash once a month with biological powder on 60 degrees and that should keep it at bay

holnrew

Adding soda crystals can help with the hard water, helps get a better lather

joneve

Sambostar said:

What about biological vs non biological.  Having worked with sewer pipes and soakaways the shit and piss is the least of your worries, that rancid stuff that comes out of the sink and the washing machine and dishwasher is disgusting.

So you're saying non-bio could be the cause?

Flink_Poyd

Sorry, I just felt the need for something a bit less washing machine based in the thread. 

ESBlonde

holnrew said:

Adding soda crystals can help with the hard water, helps get a better lather

While you are correct it is as well to note that all the washing powder/liquid brands are made by just two manufacturers. The reason for many brands is that some work better in hard or soft water. So you might say Tide or Surf is crap but 25 miles away it's the best soap available because of the local water.

Modern front loaders use soaps designed not to lather up too much because of the potential for flooding out of the filler tray.

Nikko

Flink_Poyd said:

Sorry, I just felt the need for something a bit less washing machine based in the thread. 

Steve Stine uses fairy non bio...fact!

bobblehat

Use biological washing powder at least once a month on a hot wash cycle .
Non Bio and 40 degree washes is what causes the smell.
Dont forget to leave the door open when not in use.

exocet

My 10 year old Bosch started doing this a few months ago. My previous AEG also started doing it around the 10 year Mark.  I tried the baking soda approach, high temp boil wash. This didn't work for me. However a dose of domestos in a 60 degree wash has worked.
I'm pretty sure that Fabric softeners or wash powder / liquid that contains softener is the main culprit. We don't use it normally but from time to time we have...pretty sure that within a few months the stench appears.

sweepy

The water treatment unit cost @£3k with £100 a year for swapping the filters and a bag of salt £8 every 2 weeks

Rocker

Clean the filter.

sweepy

The filters are flushed and back flushed every 24 hrs, they need replacing eventually 

Maynehead

Holy crap, this thread has just made me realise that I've never cleaned the washing machine's lint filter in the 7 years or so I've had it...!