Collection: Washing Machine Cleaners

Why a washing machine starts to smell

A washing machine cleans your clothes and never cleans itself. Three things accumulate inside it, and together they produce the musty smell people notice first.

Detergent and softener residue. Most households use more detergent than the load needs. The excess does not rinse away. It coats the drum, the outer tub you cannot see and the rubber door gasket, forming a sticky film.

Limescale. In hard water areas, calcium and magnesium deposits build on the heating element and drum. Scale reduces heating efficiency, so wash temperatures drop and cleaning performance falls with them.

Biofilm. That residue plus constant moisture gives bacteria and mould a place to grow, particularly in the gasket folds and the detergent drawer. This is the actual source of the smell, and it transfers to clothes.

Tablet or powder?

Washing machine cleaner tablets are pre-dosed and go straight into an empty drum. Convenient for a routine monthly clean and hard to get wrong.

Scalegone washing machine cleaner powder is a descaler, aimed at limescale and mineral deposits. This is the one to use if you are in a hard water area, if the machine is taking longer than it used to, or if you have never descaled a machine that is a few years old.

Many machines need both over time: powder to clear existing scale, then tablets monthly to stop it rebuilding.

Running the clean properly

1. Empty the drum completely. Never run a cleaning cycle with clothes in it.
2. Add the tablet or powder as the pack directs, usually directly into the drum rather than the detergent drawer.
3. Run the longest, hottest cycle the machine offers. Heat is doing half the work.
4. When it finishes, wipe the rubber door gasket by hand, pulling the fold back. Cleaning cycles do not reach inside that fold and it is where most of the mould sits.
5. Remove and wash the detergent drawer under a tap.
6. Leave the door and drawer open to dry.

Monthly is the right interval for most households. Make it fortnightly if you run several loads a day or wash heavily soiled work clothes.

Habits that keep it clean

• Leave the door ajar between washes so the drum dries out
• Use the detergent dose on the pack, not a generous scoop; overdosing causes the residue in the first place
• Take washing out promptly rather than leaving it damp in the drum
• Clean the lint and drain filter monthly, which also prevents slow draining
• Run one hot wash a month even if your normal loads are cold

Safety

Keep cleaner tablets and descaling powder out of reach of children; tablets in particular can resemble sweets. Do not mix with bleach or any other cleaning product. Do not use descaling powder on clothes. Ventilate the area and read the label in full before use.

Common questions

How often should I clean my washing machine?

Once a month for a normal household. More often with hard water or heavy use.

Can I use these in both front-load and top-load machines?

Yes, both formats work in either type. Front-load machines need extra attention to the door gasket, which top-loaders do not have.

Why do my clothes smell even after washing?

Almost always biofilm in the drum and gasket, or clothes left sitting damp after the cycle. A descaling clean plus a gasket wipe resolves most cases.

Also see: Bathroom & Toilet Care for hard water elsewhere in the home, Air Fresheners, and Housekeeping Products.