Cleaning washing machines

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#1219132 21-Jan-2015 14:13

trig42:
Their gurus at the factory said that if you were using Fabric Softener on cold washes (and cold washes should not be colder than 20 degrees by the way), then you should run a hot empty wash through the machine one in 10-20 washes.

I think it's called scrud. How exactly do you get 20C cold water lol? I guess we should always run warm washes.

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#1219135 21-Jan-2015 14:15

what's the mysterious ingredient(s) in fabric softener?

tdgeek

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#1219136 21-Jan-2015 14:15

Vinegar and baking soda are the man. Clean and green. Google 1000 uses for vinegar. Everything from hair wash, toothpaste with baking soda.

richms

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#1219138 21-Jan-2015 14:17

I never do cold washes, always warm and havent had any issues with buildup.

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trig42

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#1219139 21-Jan-2015 14:17

Hatch:
trig42:
Their gurus at the factory said that if you were using Fabric Softener on cold washes (and cold washes should not be colder than 20 degrees by the way), then you should run a hot empty wash through the machine one in 10-20 washes.

I think it's called scrud. How exactly do you get 20C cold water lol? I guess we should always run warm washes.

I know - most F&P machines have a wash temperature called Cold+ which adds hot water to bring it to 20 degrees. It's just that the cold water powder works a lot better at 20 degrees.
That may be different now, but it was a selling point for the F&P Intuitive machines at the time (and it was a sales course).

Hatch

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#1219146 21-Jan-2015 14:21

Our washing machine is pretty old, but still works fine. Haven't seen gunk on clothes since that one time last year. So hopefully warm washes from hereonin will avoid future repeats.

Hatch

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#1219148 21-Jan-2015 14:22

tdgeek: Vinegar and baking soda are the man. Clean and green. Google 1000 uses for vinegar. Everything from hair wash, toothpaste with baking soda.

I did that several times with several bottles of vinegar and baking soda when the gunk first appeared. Didn't seem to do anything. Perhaps I was doing it wrong.

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ajbw

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#1219447 21-Jan-2015 20:32

Now I'm a wee bit confused. As I originally asked, do you add the vinegar and baking soda together, and get a lot of froth, or do you do a wash with vinegar and one with baking soda (presumably to neutralise the vinegar residue?)?

Niel

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#1221317 24-Jan-2015 11:54

It is very common in Samsung top loaders to get a build-up of black mould stuff where you can't see it which eventually flakes off and makes the washing dirty. It is aggravated by using fabric softener, but also from using too much soap powder. I went with half the "recommended" scoop size when we had a 5kg washing machine, and also stick with decent brands, no more black stuff. You;ll know when you use too little soap, work shirts will not smell fresh when they come out of the wash.

Currently we use Persil Ultimate and have an 8kg top loader, with 1 scoop for a normal load and 1.5 scoops for a large load (or 2 scoops for a max load, but usually only for rugs as the agitator is not effective when filled to the brim). Our 8kg machine has a "clean" function, however I have not needed it in 1 1/2 years. This post is a good reminder I should probably do it about once a year.

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#1221318 24-Jan-2015 11:57

BTW, vinegar works. Had to do it once with an extremely gunked up washing machine. Just let it fill with water, add vinegar, and switch it off. A day later take it through a wash cycle without draining (i.e. wash with vinegar water, can add some more too). Might have to repeat. Hot water helps.

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DarthKermit

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#1221322 24-Jan-2015 12:16

I have a F&P washing machine that I purchased in 2002. For some reason, the bowl clean cycle doesn't work any longer.

If I try to run it, it comes up with an error code on the display and says to phone a service tech. This also happens if I try to do a hot wash (the bowl clean cycle also runs on a hot wash).

Anyone else had this problem?

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#1221394 24-Jan-2015 15:14

My old top loader was terrible with rinsing. As its a toploader it only ever did one, and it was 50ish litres per rinse. I would come back and manually turn the dial thru to get a second rinse out of it but still clothes smelled of laundry powder.

Front loader has options for more rinsing which seems to do great and the whole wash and rinse cycle takes less water than the old machine did for just a wash or a rinse.

Biggest thing is to leave it open so it drys out between loads.

Richard rich.ms

kiwirock

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#1221416 24-Jan-2015 16:02

scuwp: Just do a hot wash every now and again. Shouldn't need anything more.

That's pretty much it.

I do a hot wash now and then so I don't end up with what looks like dried leaves. It's brown algae that builds up between the bowl and shell due to cold only washes.

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#1221418 24-Jan-2015 16:08

kiwirock:
scuwp: Just do a hot wash every now and again. Shouldn't need anything more.

That's pretty much it.

I do a hot wash now and then so I don't end up with what looks like dried leaves. It's brown algae that builds up between the bowl and shell due to cold only washes.

Very good point

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#1221434 24-Jan-2015 16:39

DarthKermit: I have a F&P washing machine that I purchased in 2002. For some reason, the bowl clean cycle doesn't work any longer.

If I try to run it, it comes up with an error code on the display and says to phone a service tech. This also happens if I try to do a hot wash (the bowl clean cycle also runs on a hot wash).

Anyone else had this problem?

I'd guess the filter on the hot water valve is blocked. Unscrew the hose and see if the filter can be pulled out.

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