my washing machine stinks

[Flummery]

I can't stand the smell of fabric conditioner and never use it. It makes me feel sick to smell it (as does the smell of it on other people's clothes!)

[Mikey]

I can't stand the smell of fabric conditioner and never use it. It makes me feel sick to smell it (as does the smell of it on other people's clothes!)

Do you do this often Flum, go round smelling other peoples clothes. Do they look at you odd like!

[smallblueplanet]

I can't stand the smell of fabric conditioner and never use it...

Gotta agree, its a disgusting smell. The smell catches in my throat and nose and makes me cough. If you feel in need of a fabric softener substitute try a capful of white vinegar instead (so say Old-fashioned MSE'ers).

[Flummery]

Do you do this often Flum, go round smelling other peoples clothes. Do they look at you odd like!

Hmmm... I wondered why!

[Two_Sheds]

So does it still smell Two Sheds ?

the machine is better since I soda'd it.
I'm going to give it a week until I decide if the smell has really gone though, cos it tends to come and go. Sometimes nothing at all, sometimes really whiffy.

[Flummery]

Ooooh a phantom pong!

[di]

Mine was giving off a pongfor about a year before it broke....I tried just about every suggestion above & more...none worked!
When it did finally give up the ghost everyone was shocked how long it had lasted,until I said about the smell...according to the sales chappie,I should have been replacing it a year ago...can't remember exactly what he said,but a part had stopped working which meant it wasn't draining as well as it should??(I think?).(but then he was a sales man!)...(Mine only smelt at a particular point in the cycle,not the duration)
Hope you manage to find what it is & that it's not the first sign of a poorly machine!

[BFG]

Have you checked the filter and hoses for any blockages? The filter is the obvious suspect. A lot of people don't realise they're there and require clearing.

Or it could be gunked up pipes. How much detergent do you use?

The instructions for washing powder are always ridiculous. i use a level tablespoon of powder a wash and don't even bother reading the box for their claimed amounts.

Putting the powder direct in the drum would help. I 2nd ditching the conditioner, which probably won't be helping matters.

[funstuie]

I can't stand the smell of fabric conditioner and never use it. It makes me feel sick to smell it (as does the smell of it on other people's clothes!)

I'm not too fond of fabric conditioner myself. When I was a wee nip of a lad I came home from school and grabbed a carton of milk from the counter and took a big swig. Moment later I was retching and puking into the kitchen sink. Apparently my dad was putting on a wash before he went to work but he dropped the fabric conditioner bottle and the top broke so he grabbed the nearest bottle he could find (which happened to be a milk carton) and poured the remaining conditioner in and left it on the counter (as you do).

To this day the smell of fabric conditioner still reminds me of that horrible day. I still check milk before pouring into my tea even though my dad lives thousands of mile away. I'm not too fond of tequila either but that's a different story.

Incidentally our washing machine stinks and our landlord is refusing to sort it but reading through this thread has given me some ideas on getting rid of the smell.

[SlugLobber]

I don't use fabric conditioners, either (can't stand air fresheners for that matter!).

How much Borax should one use in a wash? I get mine through the lab (hurrah!), so hopefully I won't have a problem sourcing it, unless Sigma closes down!!

[di]

*see Sluglobber now become inundated with Borax pleas!!!

[Mikey]

*see Sluglobber now become inundated with Borax pleas!!!

Why do you wanna cover sluglobber in borax?, sounds very uncomfortable!