TankTop
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Posts: 4,783
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Jun 28, 2014 1:52:46 GMT
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Post by TankTop on Feb 11, 2017 12:48:26 GMT
Ecause i hate having to clean the drum. It requires soaking it, scrubbing it, blah...blah...blah.
I miss my old kill the planet washer.
Anyone find anything that actually works to clean these?
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Post by scrapsotime on Feb 11, 2017 12:55:42 GMT
I've cleaned my HE machine once on the clean basket setting after we moved in - almost new machines came with house. Other than that I have never had to clean the drum.
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Post by mom on Feb 11, 2017 12:58:46 GMT
I guess I am in the slacker category because all I do is run vinegar to the liquid dispensing cup, turn on the extra hot water and run a cycle.
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Post by baslp on Feb 11, 2017 12:59:48 GMT
I would wipe it down w paper towel after taking a load out every once in awhile. When we needed to replace the ball bearings we decided to replace it with a speed queen.
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carhoch
Pearl Clutcher
Be yourself everybody else is already taken
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Post by carhoch on Feb 11, 2017 13:00:46 GMT
I don't clean the drum I have never done it ,the inside of my machine is clean and shiny.
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twinsmomfla99
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,992
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Post by twinsmomfla99 on Feb 11, 2017 13:18:12 GMT
I've never cleaned my drum either. I can't imagine what would possibly be on it that would require soaking or scrubbing.
I use vinegar instead of fabric softener--cheaper, and it's better for my DD's sensitive skin, and bonus that it keeps my washer clean and fresh.
I wipe down the door gasket every couple of weeks and make sure the door is open when not in use. I also make sure I drain it and clean the drain filter at least once a month. I've never had any odor problems with my front loader HE.
ETA I also drain it before we go away so there isn't stale water sitting in the lines for an extended period of time.
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Post by SnoopyFan on Feb 11, 2017 13:21:22 GMT
I've had an HE washer for about 13 years. Other than wiping the door gasket from time to time I've never done any cleaning.
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TankTop
Pearl Clutcher
Refupea #1,871
Posts: 4,783
Location: On the couch...
Jun 28, 2014 1:52:46 GMT
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Post by TankTop on Feb 11, 2017 13:37:39 GMT
Ours is a Cabrio by Whirpool. Top loader, no agitator, HE...
I dilute our detergent and do not use fabric softener.
Every 6-8 weeks we start to get a scuzzy film on our darks. It is like that grey sludge that you sometimes see in pools or hot tubs. I have to run the wash cycle and stop it once the drum is full. I add Lemishine, let it sit, take a scrub brush and get in the holes in the drum. It is disgusting.
I wonder if it because we do not have a water softener.
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Post by jamielynn on Feb 11, 2017 13:41:09 GMT
I'm surprised to hear this. I run an afresh tab through mine as requested but haven't had to do anything else in 5-6 years. DH has a messy job too so lots of gunk gets in ours. Mines a Whirlpool too.
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Post by crazy4scraps on Feb 11, 2017 13:47:33 GMT
I haven't ever cleaned the drum on mine, but I use vinegar in the fabric softener compartment and sometimes throw a cup of vinegar in the drum and run the sanitize cycle. I always leave the doors open between cycles so the insides can dry out completely so the funk doesn't grow in there. Our machine has a filter that needs to be cleaned periodically too, and man does that get NASTY! The grey sludge that comes out of that filter is disgusting.  |
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Jun 2, 2024 14:08:47 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Feb 11, 2017 14:35:15 GMT
Ours is a Cabrio by Whirpool. Top loader, no agitator, HE... I dilute our detergent and do not use fabric softener. Every 6-8 weeks we start to get a scuzzy film on our darks. It is like that grey sludge that you sometimes see in pools or hot tubs. I have to run the wash cycle and stop it once the drum is full. I add Lemishine, let it sit, take a scrub brush and get in the holes in the drum. It is disgusting. I wonder if it because we do not have a water softener. I have the same washer. Will be a year old end of this month. The only time I had a while film on the darks was when I first got it and was using up my Gain powder. Once I switched to liquid and used less, no more issues. I have yet to clean my machine. After I wash sick kid and sick dog bedding, I do run a hot water with vinegar "load" but that is it. |
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Post by giatocj on Feb 11, 2017 14:54:06 GMT
I've never cleaned my drum either. I can't imagine what would possibly be on it that would require soaking or scrubbing. I use vinegar instead of fabric softener--cheaper, and it's better for my DD's sensitive skin, and bonus that it keeps my washer clean and fresh. I wipe down the door gasket every couple of weeks and make sure the door is open when not in use. I also make sure I drain it and clean the drain filter at least once a month. I've never had any odor problems with my front loader HE. ETA I also drain it before we go away so there isn't stale water sitting in the lines for an extended period of time. Vinegar as a fabric softener? I love this idea...is it just straight vinegar in the softner cup? I've never heard of this before but totally want to try it (without wrecking my washer or my clothes 😄😬). |
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Post by peajays on Feb 11, 2017 14:55:23 GMT
Ours is a Cabrio by Whirpool. Top loader, no agitator, HE... I dilute our detergent and do not use fabric softener. Every 6-8 weeks we start to get a scuzzy film on our darks. It is like that grey sludge that you sometimes see in pools or hot tubs. I have to run the wash cycle and stop it once the drum is full. I add Lemishine, let it sit, take a scrub brush and get in the holes in the drum. It is disgusting. I wonder if it because we do not have a water softener. We have the same set, and our darks always have residue on them, and come out so twisted together it's hard to imagine any water being able to get in there to clean them! I have washed ours periodically, and it does help....what doesn't help is having a teenager who does their own laundry and still doesn't grasp the concept of less is more with the liquid soap. p.s. I'm just thankful he does it |
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Post by tuva42 on Feb 11, 2017 14:59:08 GMT
What are you washing in it? I have never had to scrub mine out. We've had it at least 6 years. The inside is just as shiny and bright as when I bought it. What sort of detergent are you using? Could that we causing it?
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Post by anxiousmom on Feb 11, 2017 15:11:41 GMT
<<<< Total lazy slob slacker...who had zero clue she was supposed to be washing the drum? It is an HE top loader and has been going strong for six or seven years. I do use vinegar a lot (I buy the giant jugs) and no fabric softener so maybe that is why it never occurred to me? I did have the same washer when the stinky boys still lived here and they washed gross sports stuff daily but never noticed it was dirty. (I did just go stick my head in to inspect it-I even put my glasses on  - and didn't notice an obvious yuck, what should I be looking for??) |
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Post by idahomom on Feb 11, 2017 15:14:20 GMT
I also have a Whirpool Cabrio. I don't notice anything that needs cleaning, but mine has a "clean with Afresh" setting so I throw in an Afresh tablet and use that setting once a month.
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Post by Merge on Feb 11, 2017 15:14:28 GMT
I wonder if you're using too much detergent. Even diluted. We finally switched to the little gel packs with our top-loading HE because it's just easier. Never had to clean the washer or had any gumminess on the clothes. We also don't have a water softener.
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Jun 2, 2024 14:08:47 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Feb 11, 2017 15:20:31 GMT
Ours is a Cabrio by Whirpool. Top loader, no agitator, HE... I dilute our detergent and do not use fabric softener. Every 6-8 weeks we start to get a scuzzy film on our darks. It is like that grey sludge that you sometimes see in pools or hot tubs. I have to run the wash cycle and stop it once the drum is full. I add Lemishine, let it sit, take a scrub brush and get in the holes in the drum. It is disgusting. I wonder if it because we do not have a water softener. I have to do something similar to our washing machine. Our water is really hard. We've been through two water softeners in eight years. |
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Post by ihaveonly1l on Feb 11, 2017 15:21:34 GMT
We've had the same Whirlpool front loaders for about 9 years and I don't clean the drum. I occasionally run a clean washer cycle and rinse out the soap bins and gasket.
We switched from Tide detergent to All Free and Clear a few years ago because we moved from a place that had Costco to a place that only had Sam's. All Free and Clear was a good price at Sam's. It's a great detergent and we use just a small amount. My guess is you're using too much soap-even diluted.
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Post by librarylady on Feb 11, 2017 15:25:37 GMT
Ours is a Cabrio by Whirpool. Top loader, no agitator, HE... I dilute our detergent and do not use fabric softener. Every 6-8 weeks we start to get a scuzzy film on our darks. It is like that grey sludge that you sometimes see in pools or hot tubs. I have to run the wash cycle and stop it once the drum is full. I add Lemishine, let it sit, take a scrub brush and get in the holes in the drum. It is disgusting. I wonder if it because we do not have a water softener. I would guess it is in the minerals in your water supply. Perhaps vinegar will be all you need. |
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twinsmomfla99
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,992
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Post by twinsmomfla99 on Feb 11, 2017 15:32:00 GMT
I've never cleaned my drum either. I can't imagine what would possibly be on it that would require soaking or scrubbing. I use vinegar instead of fabric softener--cheaper, and it's better for my DD's sensitive skin, and bonus that it keeps my washer clean and fresh. I wipe down the door gasket every couple of weeks and make sure the door is open when not in use. I also make sure I drain it and clean the drain filter at least once a month. I've never had any odor problems with my front loader HE. ETA I also drain it before we go away so there isn't stale water sitting in the lines for an extended period of time. Vinegar as a fabric softener? I love this idea...is it just straight vinegar in the softner cup? I've never heard of this before but totally want to try it (without wrecking my washer or my clothes 😄😬). Yes, just undiluted vinegar in the fabric softener dispenser. I haven't bought fabric softener in years but I go through a lot of the big bottles of white vinegar from Sam's. |
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Post by giatocj on Feb 11, 2017 15:33:54 GMT
Vinegar as a fabric softener? I love this idea...is it just straight vinegar in the softner cup? I've never heard of this before but totally want to try it (without wrecking my washer or my clothes 😄😬). Yes, just undiluted vinegar in the fabric softener dispenser. I haven't bought fabric softener in years but I go through a lot of the big bottles of white vinegar from Sam's. Awesome! Thank you. |
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Post by just PEAchy on Feb 11, 2017 15:39:39 GMT
I have the Cabrio set, too, and I just use the Afresh tabs to clean it. I do occasionally get the white marks on our dark clothes, but I thought that was from using too much detergent, less is more with HE washers. It also helps to use the extra rinse cycle and deep water setting,
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milocat
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Location: 55 degrees north in Alberta, Canada
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Post by milocat on Feb 11, 2017 15:54:43 GMT
In 6 years I've probably run the clean cycle 3 times when you put vinegar in it. My drum is shiney and bright. Just don't close the door you'll get that funky smell. We're on town water but it's still pretty hard and I don't have any build up or film.
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Post by workingclassdog on Feb 11, 2017 15:56:03 GMT
I also have a Whirpool Cabrio. I don't notice anything that needs cleaning, but mine has a "clean with Afresh" setting so I throw in an Afresh tablet and use that setting once a month. This is what I do.. but I am more lazy, I probably only do that once every six months. Unless I think it's getting gross. |
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Post by papersilly on Feb 11, 2017 15:59:44 GMT
My washer guy told me to run a got cycle with 2 cups of baking soda and 1 cup of vinegar .
I always leave the door open and soap drawer open ajar to let air circulate and prevent mold and mildew.
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IAmUnoriginal
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Jun 25, 2014 23:27:45 GMT
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Post by IAmUnoriginal on Feb 11, 2017 16:27:26 GMT
I have the Maytag Bravos HE top loader. I run an Affresh tablet once a month or so. DH works for the railroad and his clothes are pretty gross. The washer is always shiny, but I figure that dirt and gunk has to build up somewhere, so I run the affresh through because the manual says to. I also use vinegar in with my towels, and Borax in with lights and whites (helps prevent dingy whites from hard water). I think they each help a bit to keep the basket clean, too.
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Post by jumperhop on Feb 11, 2017 16:28:57 GMT
I have HE washer and dryer downstairs and a stackable, water guzzling washing machine in my master bedroom. I love my water guzzling washing machine so much that I wash all the clothes for the family in my master bedroom. But the dryer in my master is broken so I haul all the clothes downstairs to dry them. It's a huge pain. But for the fist time in 12 years of having used a HE washing machine we finally have clean clothes.
Jen
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GiantsFan
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Jun 27, 2014 14:44:56 GMT
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Post by GiantsFan on Feb 11, 2017 16:32:37 GMT
We have a Maytag HE top loader, no agitator, hard water and don't use softener.
We never clean the drum or had a scuzzy film on clothes. We use Affresh when the Clean Washer light comes on. I will say that if we close right after removing the clothes it smells musty. So we just leave the lid open.
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Deleted
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Jun 2, 2024 14:08:47 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Feb 11, 2017 16:53:01 GMT
I'm on my third HE washer and no musty smells or residue either. But we do use our washer a lot, leave the door open when done and add vinegar to most loads.
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- and didn't notice an obvious yuck, what should I be looking for??)
