Dishwasher cleaner in a washing machine- ?

[MrX]

I'm just wondering if Finish Dishwasher cleaner (designed to remove limesale and gunk from a dishwasher) would be usable to clear out similar gunk from a washing machine?

Assuming that most washing machines and dishwashers are made from similar materials i.e. plastics and stainless steel, wouldn't this product be quite useful for clearing out build ups of limescale, detergent residues and mildew in front loader washers?

I was wondering if perhaps it was run on a 95C cycle.
Then rinsed numerious times at high water level

Then perhaps run a normal wash with laundry detergent to make sure it washes completely out.

Would it be an acceptable way of renewing a gunked up front loader?

Any ideas?

 

[lavamat_jon]

You can buy specific washing machine cleaner (Oust make one), which I've found to be effective... but have to say I've not had any trouble with just running half a dose of bio powder through an empty 95*C wash and never had any problems with the machine being gunked up .

 

[panthera]

I'd be careful, there

Dishwashers don't have aluminum anything anywhere in contact with the water. Washers do - and the stuff which works so well in the washer could just be the end of the washing machines spider (see forum posts on Electrolux FLs with just that problem, for example.)
I get rid of the build-up in my washer with citric acid - our water in Munich is much harder than in the UK, so the 95° bio program isn't enough...but it sure is a good way to get rid of that moldy, icky smell some machines have.

 

[maytagbear]

When in doubt...

Ring the manufacturer's HelpLine! Or use their website.

Questions like these are what HelpLines and websites are for!

I would be Very Careful with doing anything without manufacturer advice, especially if the machine was still under warranty.

Lawrence/Maytagbear

 

[seamusuk]

I use.....

This one- works well and just about the most cost effective(especially at cost price

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www.4hotpoint.co.uk

 

[seamusuk]

Jon...

I would imagine the main difference in your case is you dont need the descaler aspect as im guessing your water is pretty soft??.

I also use one of the Cal-block units- im not sure if it actually works, but it cost me about £7.50 lol!

Seamus

 

[MrX]

Just curious as to how it would work. The primary ingredients are citric acid and scent!

It's my former flatmate's old electrolux which is suffering from deplsits of lime scale and years of running very cool washes. It's absolutely disgustingly smelly.

We ran a wash with detol (disinfectant) to kill any life off in it but it's still full of limescale and gunk.

I suspect the machine's just been abused for years with very low temp washes, cheap detergent and very short washes.

 

[panthera]

it'll work, but

If things are that bad, you may have to run several loads through before everything is really free. The last thing you want is to have part of the heating elements free of lime and other parts still insulated by it.
I once had to run four cleaning cycles on a Bauknecht (a real one, the modern shit from Whirlpool is not worth it).
That being the case, it could be cheaper to buy citric acid in bulk (Boots has it.)
Oh, and you might have some big chunks break off and lodge in the pump.
Icky.