Smelly washing machine
 

Our washing machine has begun to smell like stank pond/septic tank
when it runs. I couldn't figure out why. I thought it could be
septic backing up, but there's a trap.

I popped off the cup on top of the agitator, the cup that you put
fabric softener in. Underneath was the most God awful, putrid,
disgusting black goop that I'd ever seen/smelled.

It was equivalent to cleaning out a shower drain.

I put it back on without cleaning it, figured I'll deal with it
tomorrow (sorry, Ben Franklin).

Can I soak the plastic cup and parts in an Oxy Clean solution? Is
that okay for plastic?

wrote in message

Can I soak the plastic cup and parts in an Oxy Clean solution? Is
that okay for plastic?

Sure, but you can get as good a resolution with a bleach solution and it is
cheaper.

In alt.home.repair on Wed, 27 Jul 2005 01:13:57 GMT
" posted:

Our washing machine has begun to smell like stank pond/septic tank
when it runs. I couldn't figure out why. I thought it could be
septic backing up, but there's a trap.

Aiui, the trap only keeps gases from escaping. I seem to remember
that under some situations, a septic tank can back up.

A trap connected to the city sewer certainly won't keep that from
backing up.

Not that that is the problem here. Who knows.

I popped off the cup on top of the agitator, the cup that you put
fabric softener in. Underneath was the most God awful, putrid,
disgusting black goop that I'd ever seen/smelled.

It was equivalent to cleaning out a shower drain.

I put it back on without cleaning it, figured I'll deal with it
tomorrow (sorry, Ben Franklin).

Can I soak the plastic cup and parts in an Oxy Clean solution? Is
that okay for plastic?

Or soap and water.

Meirman
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On Wed, 27 Jul 2005 00:28:02 -0400, meirman
wrote:

In alt.home.repair on Wed, 27 Jul 2005 01:13:57 GMT
" posted:

Our washing machine has begun to smell like stank pond/septic tank
when it runs. I couldn't figure out why. I thought it could be
septic backing up, but there's a trap.

I popped off the cup on top of the agitator, the cup that you put
fabric softener in. Underneath was the most God awful, putrid,
disgusting black goop that I'd ever seen/smelled.

Can I soak the plastic cup and parts in an Oxy Clean solution? Is
that okay for plastic?

Or soap and water.

Try chlorine bleach. The black stuff is a fungus/mold/bacteria
collection. The bleach will kill it.


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--
-john
wide-open at throttle dot info

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On Wed, 27 Jul 2005 01:34:34 GMT, "Edwin Pawlowski"
wrote:


wrote in message

Can I soak the plastic cup and parts in an Oxy Clean solution? Is
that okay for plastic?

Sure, but you can get as good a resolution with a bleach solution
and it is cheaper.



The tough ones respond to a homemade chloramine cocktail (made by
combinig equal parts ammonia and chlorine bleach), but this stuff is
noxious to breathe, and should only be used OUTSIDE; never mix it
indoors.


Then there's pool chlorine, which is essentially triple strength
household bleach. Don't use this stuff indoors, either!


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--
-john
wide-open at throttle dot info