Signs Your Washing Machine Needs a Deep Clean

Your washing machine cleans your clothes — but what cleans your washing machine? Over time, detergent residue, limescale, and bacteria build up inside the drum, pipes, and seals. Here's how to spot the signs that your machine needs a deep clean.

Sign 1: Unpleasant Odours

The most obvious sign is a musty or sour smell, either from the machine itself or on your freshly washed clothes. This odour is caused by bacteria and mould thriving in the damp, warm environment inside your machine — particularly in the rubber door seal and the detergent drawer.

If your clean laundry doesn't smell fresh, your washing machine is likely the culprit.

Sign 2: Black Mould on the Door Seal

Pull back the rubber seal around the door and take a look. If you see black spots or streaks, that's mould. It thrives in the trapped moisture and is difficult to remove with regular cleaning.

Mould doesn't just look unpleasant — it can transfer onto your clothes and cause allergic reactions in sensitive people.

Sign 3: Detergent Build-Up in the Drawer

Pull out the detergent drawer and look inside. If you see caked-on detergent, black mould, or a slimy residue, your machine isn't dispensing detergent properly. This means your clothes aren't getting as clean as they should be.

Sign 4: Grey Marks on Clothes

If your freshly washed clothes come out with grey streaks or a dull appearance, it's likely that old detergent and grime is being redeposited from a dirty drum onto your laundry.

Sign 5: The Drum Looks Dull

Open the door and run your finger around the inside of the drum. If it feels gritty or leaves a residue on your finger, there's build-up that needs attention.

Sign 6: Longer Cycles or Poor Performance

If your machine seems to take longer to complete cycles, or clothes aren't coming out as clean as they used to, limescale build-up on the heating element could be the cause. This forces the machine to work harder and use more energy.

What Causes the Build-Up?

Several factors contribute:

• Low-temperature washes: Eco-friendly cold washes don't kill bacteria or dissolve detergent as effectively
• Using too much detergent: Excess detergent doesn't rinse away and builds up over time
• Closed doors: Keeping the door shut between washes traps moisture
• Hard water: Limescale accumulates on the element and in the pipes

How to Maintain Your Machine

Between deep cleans, you can reduce build-up by:

• Running a hot cycle (60°C or above) once a month
• Using the correct amount of detergent
• Leaving the door open between washes
• Wiping the door seal after each use
• Removing and cleaning the detergent drawer regularly

When to Call a Professional

If you're seeing multiple signs from the list above, a professional deep clean will remove build-up from areas you can't reach — the drum, the heating element, the internal pipes, and the filter system.

At Fordwell, our washing machine deep clean includes:

• Drum and door seal cleaned
• Detergent drawer descaled
• Filter cleaned
• Limescale removal from internal components

Prices start from £30, and we cover Kent, Surrey, East Sussex, Essex, and West Sussex. Book online today.