Samsung 5.5kg washing machine - clean with chemicals or disassembly?

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geekIT

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#289350 31-Aug-2021 19:09

The machine is top-loading Samsung WA55H4000SW 5.5 KG. It's about 4-5 years old.

Seems it could do with a thorough clean (instead of the regular tub clean it regularly calls for and gets) so I've been studying various methods.

Anyone have a favorite chemical system?

Anyone taken the disassembly route? This one is obviously more thorough, but I don't want to end up needing a new machine because I couldn't reassemble the old one.

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#2769495 31-Aug-2021 19:26

Washing machine cleaners at Countdown. Don't waterblast it.

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#2769496 31-Aug-2021 19:26

The cleaners from the supermarket work well

mdf

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#2769510 31-Aug-2021 19:51

Ceraclen is our go to.

1101

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#2769639 1-Sep-2021 09:50

on my top loader: hot water cycle & dishwashing liquid did the trick for me (that method was recommended to me)

It depends why it needs a clean of course & what you are trying to clean out/off

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#2769647 1-Sep-2021 09:59

1101:

on my top loader: hot water cycle & dishwashing liquid did the trick for me (that method was recommended to me)

It depends why it needs a clean of course & what you are trying to clean out/off

I have a 6kg front loader. Have thought of this. Have used a capful of white vinegar in the past on a hot wash , medium water level.

How much dish washing liquid do you put, and do you set to use max water level?

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#2769728 1-Sep-2021 10:50

qwertee:

1101:

on my top loader: hot water cycle & dishwashing liquid did the trick for me (that method was recommended to me)

It depends why it needs a clean of course & what you are trying to clean out/off

I have a 6kg front loader. Have thought of this. Have used a capful of white vinegar in the past on a hot wash , medium water level.

How much dish washing liquid do you put, and do you set to use max water level?

Note, 1101 is using a top loader and so, given the propensity for front loaders to start foaming at the mouth with too much detergent, I'd be very careful about using the same quantity!

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geekIT

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#2769797 1-Sep-2021 11:55

Thanks all, for helpful comments.

Re dishwashing liquid, I thought that was a super-foaming no-no.

Anyway, we always use detergent powder, like Surf or similar.

Reason for cleaning plan is washer is starting to smell moldy, and some garments have emerged from a wash with mold spots on them.

Checking Youtube, there are 100's of vids about various methods, some chemical, some involving stripping down the machine.

Ceraclen cleaner (made in Godzone) actually got a mention on an American thread. It sounded good so I bought a pack (single clean) yesterday from the local Four Square.

I'll try it later today and report back.

However, from all the vids I watched of guys doing strip-down cleans, it seems to me that there are no chemical cleaners that will remove all the gunge from washing machines.

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timmmay

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#2769818 1-Sep-2021 12:24

That's why I used a water blaster on my old washing machine. Don't do that, it breaks sensors. We have a front loader now and don't use fabric softener, which causes a lot of buildup.

geekIT

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#2769944 1-Sep-2021 13:49

timmmay: That's why I used a water blaster on my old washing machine. Don't do that, it breaks sensors. We have a front loader now and don't use fabric softener, which causes a lot of buildup.

Yep, fabric softener got lots of online mentions as stuff to avoid putting in your washing machine. Apparently it's petroleum-based.

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#2769947 1-Sep-2021 13:54

geekIT:

Yep, fabric softener got lots of online mentions as stuff to avoid putting in your washing machine. Apparently it's petroleum-based.

If you ever talk to a textiles person they'll tell you to avoid fabric softners like the plague. It makes your clothes feel soft by as you say coating them in oil. It wrecks your washer by creating sludge where you can't see, ie behind the drum.

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#2770131 1-Sep-2021 17:18

1101:
on my top loader: hot water cycle & dishwashing liquid did the trick for me (that method was recommended to me)

More generally, a hot water cycle and your cleaner of choice is always a good start, I use white vinegar but I know someone else who uses sugar soap. I suspect most of the effect is coming from the hot water rather than the specific cleaning compound you add to it, i.e. you're taking residue left by cold/warm washes and attacking it with a hot wash, augmented with any surfactant of your choice.

And as several others have pointed out, avoid fabric softener like the plague, it creates a waxy buildup called scrud that slowly gums up your machine.

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#2770134 1-Sep-2021 17:27

geekIT:
Reason for cleaning plan is washer is starting to smell moldy, and some garments have emerged from a wash with mold spots on them.

To help with that, add a capful of Canesten to the fabric-softener tray on each wash...

fe31nz

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#2770294 2-Sep-2021 00:29

More generally, a hot water cycle and your cleaner of choice is always a good start, I use white vinegar but I know someone else who uses sugar soap. I suspect most of the effect is coming from the hot water rather than the specific cleaning compound you add to it, i.e. you're taking residue left by cold/warm washes and attacking it with a hot wash, augmented with any surfactant of your choice. And as several others have pointed out, avoid fabric softener like the plague, it creates a waxy buildup called scrud that slowly gums up your machine.

The usual washing machine detergents are alkaline, so when you want to clean out the residues of that detergent, you need to use an acid cleaner. Hence the use of white vinegar which is a mild acid. I suspect the commercial washing machine cleaners will also be acid, but I have never had to use one as we never use fabric softener. The dishwasher cleaner we use is also acid, as dishwasher detergents are quite alkaline. Our F&P top loader's manual recommends doing a regular hot wash to help keep it clean, and we normally do warm washes anyway as if you are using a washing machine detergent that has enzymes (such as the Persil we use), the enzymes are useless in cold water and are a waste of money. If you use warm water and enzyme detergents, then it is easy to get out nasty things like blood.

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#2770301 2-Sep-2021 06:25

fe31nz:

The usual washing machine detergents are alkaline, so when you want to clean out the residues of that detergent, you need to use an acid cleaner. Hence the use of white vinegar which is a mild acid. I suspect the commercial washing machine cleaners will also be acid, but I have never had to use one as we never use fabric softener. The dishwasher cleaner we use is also acid, as dishwasher detergents are quite alkaline. Our F&P top loader's manual recommends doing a regular hot wash to help keep it clean, and we normally do warm washes anyway as if you are using a washing machine detergent that has enzymes (such as the Persil we use), the enzymes are useless in cold water and are a waste of money. If you use warm water and enzyme detergents, then it is easy to get out nasty things like blood.

Generally agree but Persil says blood comes out best in cold water. We do all warm washes, with the new front loader has a minimum temp of 20 degrees when set on cold, it goes up to 60 for washes, and up to 90 for cleaning. We've had it about a year and we do occasional cleaning cycles at 90c with one of the commercial cleaners. Haven't had a problem with clothes.

geekIT

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#2770528 2-Sep-2021 12:03

neb:
geekIT:

Reason for cleaning plan is washer is starting to smell moldy, and some garments have emerged from a wash with mold spots on them.

To help with that, add a capful of Canesten to the fabric-softener tray on each wash...

That'll certainly take care of the thrush 😉

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