Nasty Appliance

I don't use conditioner either. I stopped for reasons of economy, but it hasn't made any difference to my clothes. I always use liquid soap too and halve the recommended amount.
Clothes are still very clean.

I never use conditioner. What is the reason for it? Soap and water were good enough for our forebears. Is it not something of a con?

I saw a whiles ago that doing all washing loads at 30/40 deg is bad for the machine and allows bacteria to grow. One load at least, every week, should be a very hot wash. I have also found that not using the very thick conditioner keeps the drawer less grungy as does using liquid detergent as opposed to powder.

I used one of those treatments on my old washer, you pour in the entire contents of the bottle and do a hot wash and it leaves it sparkling and smeels fresher.

trish45 Wilkinsons do a solution that you put into the drawer and it will give a wash through,it not only cleans the drawer compartment it also cleans all the inside of the machine,I have used it twice and all the gunge seems to disappear,not expensive either about £2.00 worth a try.

My Nilquist bagless vacuum is a creature of the devil: it gunges up at nothing, the smallest thread tangles the brushes and the filters need an engineering degree to sort and and clean. It's been back under warranty once, but it is a hopeless case.

I've chucked it in the bin and bought a Miele with bags. I think I should do an exorcism over the bin where the machine from hell it awaits collection and the dump.

My DIL had an Indesit washer/dryer and in two years was repaired twice and now replaced, worst machine I have ever had to use.Wiring burnt out and then the bearings went. She now has replaced the offending machine with a washer and stand alone dryer. My washer/dryer in my second home hasn't worked properly since a couple of months after purchase, the on/off button keeps popping out so that you go and find washing undone after a couple of hours.

You can get most instruction manuels on the web - key in the model name and number on google and you will find the info you need. I done this for lots of appliances.

Milton solution is bleach, branded and marketed for sterilising baby bottles. So ordinary very cheap bleach solution is an acceptable substitute methinks.

Me too , love the smell , and also on the rare occasions I iron now , no work shirts , the smell of freshly ironed shirts

I love my washer drier! It is ideal for only two of us - dries all the knickers and socks etc when needed, and it's perfect for my small utility room. This is my third, and is an Indesit. I do still prefer to dry most things outside if I can, though.

My mother's flat in an assisted care complex has a Hotpoint Aqualtis washer/drier in the kitchen area. So far it has: chewed up two pairs of trousers and spat them out looking like worn dishcloths, broken down and we had to wait five weeks for spares and now it has sprung a leak . I do all my mother's laundry at home!

My Hotpoint drawer opens in exactly the the same way as described by Tanith , press the blue bit and pull.......which reminds me that I have the horrible job to come of taking it out and removing the nasty gunge underneath the drawer which is now dripping on the floor....yuk.

Thank you to you all. I have to say that the young guy who plumbed it in for me didn't know how to get the drawer out either. Saying that, I think the machine is older than him

In a fit of economy/ecology I have on DH's instigation just bought a clothes airer form Amazon (I already have an overhead pulley) on which I can dry/sir/hang ironing - I am so excited by it [sarcasm] emoticon

Abbobel ~ I think I looked at that site this morning, and went through all the palaver to see if I could get a manual. After a lot of messing, I was told that I would get an answer within 9 minutes and if satisfied, just have to pay £11.00 ~ yeah right!

Of course, Trish you don't need to use the dryer bit unless you really get snowed under with soggy washing!

Kittylester ~ I scraped quite a bit out with a spoon, scrubbed it with a toothbrush, but not really satisfied with it. I am not familiar with Milton solution. Thanks also for the information about the dryer ~ I did wonder about the cost with towels and bedding.

About a year ago, I asked Gnetters' opinions on washer dryers - nobody had a good word to say for them. So I didn't bother and anyway my elderly refurbished washing machine is still doing a good job.

JessM ~ I totally agree with you ~ guess it's back to doing the laundry in the bath!!!
Tanith ~ just had a look. There is a brown circle with a small piece which moves at the back, but the drawer still will not come out. I think this one is ancient also, that's why I was given it.
Thank you for your message Nonu.
My solution to a lot of things ~ get the hammer out!

Totally agree Jess I bought one on that basis Nonu but they won't tumble dry as much as they wash so I had to take half of the stuff out and they cost a fortune to run - apart from that they are ok!

Sorry Trish, back to the question. If you really can't get it out a weak Milton solution should be ok for cleaning it.

I think a lot of people find them a total godsend , I haven"t one myself , but for young mums with loads of washing to get dry in wet weather . !!!

My Hotpoint drawer is removed by pressing down at the middle of the top of the drawer when its open.. there is a blue bit of plastic press that, lift and pull , having said that mine is fairly ancient..

washer dryers are the invention of the devil...