What’s your favourite washing machine cleaner?

[adam-aussie-vac]

Hey guys I wanted to ask what everyone’s favourite washing machine cleaners are? Personally mine for European front loaders/H axis with heaters would be Dr Beckman’s washing machine cleaner and for top loaders without heaters I would use the liquid washing machine cleaner that comes from Japan from daiso stores as I like to find a washing machine cleaner that works based on how people use the machine sometimes instead of how the machine should be used, (all cold quick washes I’ll use the Japanese washing machine cleaner as everyone washes in cold water there, while if the washing machine with a heater is always used, I’ll use the European washing machine cleaner

 

[vacerator]

I do a load of whites with bleach before the clean cycle. I add a bit more for the clean cycle. Nothing else.

 

[me]

The only stuff I use is anhydrous citric acid at 90°C once a year, although that's primarily to descale the machine, due to our hard tapwater. Costs about £3 - 4 a kg, if I buy a reasonable amount. The powder detergent I use has sodium percarbonate in it and in a 40°C wash, helps keeps the machine clean.

If I had a smelly machine, I would probably use Dr Beckmanns Service it - Deep clean. Which produces peracetic acid (from sodium percarbonate and TAED) to kill bacteria and fungus etc, and is occasionally available for under 2 quid. https://www.tesco.com/groceries/en-GB/products/271531331

 

[combo52]

Favorite washing machine cleaner?

Never really thought about it I’ve never cleaned any washing machine that I own and use including my over 20 year-old Speed Queen front loader now

Likewise for dishwashers my two primary whirlpool dishwashers are 38 years old now never even thought of cleaning anything in them because a machine should keep itself perfectly clean if it’s used properly.

We do have to clean up. A lot of used. Machines were refurbishing at the warehouse, however, and have used a variety of techniques to clean machines, citric acid, bleach, of course sometimes the machines have to be physically disassembled and cleaned.

John L

 

[donprohel]

The only stuff I use is anhydrous citric acid at 90°C once a year

Same here, and I do regularly wash rags at about 50 °C with dishwasher powder, so in one go I clean the rags and the machine

 

[appledude1]

LemiShine, gentle products, and a citric acid product I believe, as in Lemons - they have products for washing machine, dishwasher, and garbage disposal.

 

[gelaundry4ever]

Hey guys I wanted to ask what everyone’s favourite washing machine cleaners are? Personally mine for European front loaders/H axis with heaters would be Dr Beckman’s washing machine cleaner and for top loaders without heaters I would use the liquid washing machine cleaner that comes from Japan from daiso stores as I like to find a washing machine cleaner that works based on how people use the machine sometimes instead of how the machine should be used, (all cold quick washes I’ll use the Japanese washing machine cleaner as everyone washes in cold water there, while if the washing machine with a heater is always used, I’ll use the European washing machine cleaner

I like Affresh.

 

[circlew]

I don't understand why anyone needs a special cleaner for either dishwashers or clothes washers. My mom had two front load, and one top load washers. We also had two dish machines. None of them got nasty odors. Then again, she used good detergent and hot water, and didn't close them until they were dry.

 

[phillymatt53]

I don't understand why anyone needs a special cleaner for either dishwashers or clothes washers. My mom had two front load, and one top load washers. We also had two dish machines. None of them got nasty odors. Then again, she used good detergent and hot water, and didn't close them until they were dry.

I always leave the lid open after doing laundry, and it stays that way until my next wash load.
Never had a problem.
My dishwasher never smells either, even though the lid is closed, it's spotless inside.

 

[qsd-dan]

You ain't doing laundry right if a cleaner is needed. Inexcusable for a member of this forum.

 

[donprohel]

You ain't doing laundry right if a cleaner is needed. Inexcusable for a member of this forum.

I strongly disagree, this is just conventional wisdom.

It is true that washing habits may make the issue better or worse, but any cleaner needs to be cleaned every now and then, and just to name the most obvious, for civilised washers equipped with the mandatory heater, descaling is necessary.

Then, it is inevitable that some residues remain, no matter how "good old style" is your washing

 

[adam-aussie-vac]

With me, I occasionally run a cleaner through my washing machines, as I do notice that even if I run Washers above 60° it does seem to be a very small amount of some sort of lint Ish looking residue or film on the stainless steel depending on where you rub wipe and look, granted the machine that I’m talking about is actually probably about 40 to 50 years old and the previous owner if I remember correctly always used to run everything on 90° so the heating element did probably get a lot of limescale, although around that age I’m trying to make sure it lasts as long as possible even though the only major component that I hope doesn’t go wrong is the timer and control mechanism as it’s got a drain pump which can be replaced two solenoid valves(on aftermarket replacement) and The bidirectional Motor for the wash drum