Scooby Snacks 23

We've got a Bosch washing machine which we've had for just under 3 years. With a 3yr old in the house, it's used regularly and it's never let us down or had any problems.

However, in the last few weeks, we've noticed some, what can only be described as, grey 'sludge' on some of our clothes. At first, I thought it might be washing powder which hadn't completely mixed with the water but when I looked under the rubber in the drum, this stuff was everwhere. I tried to clean it as best as I could with paper towels and did a couple of high temperature washes with Calgon tablets (which we don't normally use) without putting clothes in and whilst it seeemed cleaner for a few weeks, the sludgey deposits (most noticeable on black clothes) have started to come back.

Does anyone know what this might be? We're not in a hard water area and from the people I speak to, none of them have anything like it before.

I'm really stumped.

what would scooby do

Give Bosch a call, they are surprisingly helpful.

My bosch kettle developed a leak 18 months after I bought it. They just sent me a new one, no questions asked. Didn't even have to return the old one..

fast bloke

Have you emptied the bit at the front that collects all the stray stuff?

The Zohan

Would be my first thought, ours does this if the trap gets clogged up.

Bakerman

Drain the water from the bottom and clean the filter in the same place, also wash some washing machine cleaner through it and it should be fine. Sounds like dirty water isnt draining properly. Also read the maintenance bit in the instruction book !

Scooby Snacks 23

Thanks for the comments guys - I hadn't considered the filter (can't find the bloody manual either!).

I'll perhaps pop to Dyas today also to get some washing machine cleaner.

You see, this is why I love Scoobynet

what would scooby do

The filter should be under a flap on the front right of the washer - mine is..

p.s. manuals here:

Bosch Home Appliances

David Lock

Our washing machine drains into a sewer system with a submersible pump. About twice a year I have to use a pressure hose to get rid on a mass of grey/white sludge that sticks to the pump and to the pump float. I guess this is the same stuff and from washing powder residue. But we haven't had it in the machine itself. So as above check your outlets/filters etc. That noisy sod on the TV ads must sell some stuff to put through the machine? dl

DCI Gene Hunt

WTF's a 'washing machine' .... is that like a fancy beer fridge

Leslie

Its like an electric flat stone in the river.

Les

DCI Gene Hunt

Ahh... one of those wimmin thingys.....

fast bloke

Just found out recently that you should clear this once a week. (Our 3 year old Bosch started 'rusting' all the clothes - Paid a repair man 20 quid to come out and look it. He took the filter off and removed 16 pound coins, a handful of rusty nails of various sizes and enough golf tees to start a small shop. Wifey decided that the rusty nails and golf tees had to be mine, so I had to pay the repair man, but the 16 pound coins must have been hers )

53

iTrader: (41)

I use white vinegar in the washing machine for my weekly wax micro fibres, I recon this keeps the parts clear of limescale etc. I am sure those dodgy cleaning birds on channel 4 used white vinegar on a cool wash to clean the drum ?

Kieran_Burns

iTrader: (1)

You could also check the soap drawer for excess build up as well while you're cleaning things out.
You'd be amazed at what accumulate at the back - your washing will be much fresher after cleaning away the excess as all the rinse water would still have some soap in otherwise.

You'll need to pull the drawer completely out to be able to clean things out properly

4X4BOB

We used to get the same sort of problem with grey gunk . . . .

Until I was given a tip by a repairman, it was NOT to use powder or the compressed powder tablets

Instead he said to use liquid or liquid tablets in the machine as this dissolves fully and you don't get the same amount of gunk building up.
And every ten loads run an empty hot wash programme with a little white vinegar added to the dispenser drawer. then clean out the filter.

We have done this ever since and we don't have the problem anymore.

Bob

B0DSKI

iTrader: (17)

Clean the filter out on the front and then put it on a boil wash with some old fashioned washing soda inside, it kills off all the bacteria that forms when the soap powder in the sump and in the drain starts to rot, it should also get rid of the associated rotten egg/drain smell a lot of people complain about

B0DSKI

iTrader: (17)

Oh and Liquid detergent should be avoided at all costs as it is acidic in nature and the leftover that does not disolve sits inbetween the drums and in time attacks the drum support and bearing seals, resulting in damage.

Always use tablets but only use 1 per wash, that way you guarantee corrct doaseage, and also water down the fabric conditioner for the same reason as the liquid detergent, it will help with it fully dissolving