How to clean washing machine?

[Galatea]

I have an old top-loader. It works fine except i think there is a lot of detergent residue in it. I got some new dipes and washed them on hot with no detergent and there were suds! I've tried running a cycle with just bleach or just baking soda or just vinegar, and nothing helps. Any ideas?

[arahzel]

Have any borax handy? I use it in my tub and it seems to cut through the grime pretty fast -- I also use it in my wash, so it shouldn't hurt anything to run it through on it's own. Maybe sprinkle some in and rub it in with a cloth as a paste, then just run the cycle through with a vinegar rinse?

Good luck!

[AuntLavender]

A toilet brush helps

but you need the cheapie kind that can bend and is in a wire loop for lack of a better description! LOL! My top loader would smell a little even when I wasn't using it and after I scrubbed under the rim where it's hard to get to (thus the brush helps) the odor vanished.

Prior to that I did an empty wash with detergent and bleach with no effect. It had grime on it like soap scum and that had to be scrubbed off.

[Mama Dragon]

Originally Posted by AuntLavender

but you need the cheapie kind that can bend and is in a wire loop for lack of a better description! LOL! My top loader would smell a little even when I wasn't using it and after I scrubbed under the rim where it's hard to get to (thus the brush helps) the odor vanished.

Prior to that I did an empty wash with detergent and bleach with no effect. It had grime on it like soap scum and that had to be scrubbed off.

That's an excellent idea!

[SleepyMamaBear]

http://www.thediaperhyena.com/washingmachinecare.htm