Scour washing machine innards

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obbop

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Washing machine beginning to smell akin to the rest of the shanty. Suppose it should be clean since one does expect clothing to emerge smelling at least slightly better than when entered.

So..................

what's the bestest method to clean the critter?

Bleach? How much? Vinegar, how much?

Something else?

Hopeless since Coot clothes clog the beast every few days?

Can't afford a new one. Present machine was in the shanty when I moved in 10 or so years ago.

Flame thrower? Napalm? Hydrocloric acid?

Any ideas/suggestions considered. Except disassembly and scrubbing components with a toothbrush.

Clothing remits a thanky in advance..... as well as the general public that is forced to sniff the Coot due to close proximity that seldom lasts very long.

Yep.
 
I use bleach in a misty spray bottle, close lid and sit at least a few hours.

Saw one of the 1/2 hour infomercials once produced by clorox showing all the uses for bleach. They id'd the most bacteria ridden places in your house, the washing machine was right up there on the list. Guess laundry soap doesn't kill the little nasty's.
 
Bleach will kill the odiferant organisms, given the surfaces are relatively clean.

So this smell is coming from where in the machine?

My advice IF it's in the bowels of the machine (not underneath) - run some clean car towels (dummy load) through with double laundry soap, and a couple cups of Simple Green, and a cup of baking soda. Repeat with no soap, but a couple quarts of ammonia. That out to clean it out. Take towels out, run a water only rinse. Then run a water and lots of bleach (2 cups+) only load.

If it stinks after that, it's not coming from the guts.
 
i just went through this a week ago. my top loader was getting a rust coloured stain inside it. it wasnt actual rust, just a scummy rust coloured stain.

what i did was set it up for a full load, but i didnt add any clothing. i added a quart of muriatic acid though. after a wash and rinse cycle, it looked nearly new again. just to be sure i got all the acid out, i did another empty wash.
my machine never looked better!
 
Don't think the water level gets high enough to really get the upper area around the tub cleaned. Why I nuke it with the spray bottle bleach.
 
I have a top loader and had the same problem. I popped the top cover to gain better access to the insides and manually removed some goo from around the top of the basket with a rag, which looked to me like a combination of soap scum and softener, some of which was turning dark. Normal washing cycles do not reach this upper level, I believe that it was several years of splash coating. Anyway, I then found that several plastic pieces were easily removed from around the top of the basket, so I took them outside and cleaned them with Dawn and a kitchen sink brush. After re-assembling everything, I sensed that I had already eliminated the odor. I chose not to run a strong chemical for fear of damaging a rubber gasket or hose, but I did run an empty load with hot water and some bleach to clear-out any loose particles. I use bleach about once per year, so I'm sure that this step helped also.
 
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