"Dirty" water supply

[Jane Frith]

I have a problem with my washing machine not working 100% correctly on the rinse cycle with concentrated conditioner. I have determined that the problem is the low flow of water through the conditioner tray during the rinse cycle. The low flow is caused by blockage of approx 2mm size holes (twenty in number) in to the conditioner tray. I have cleaned them out as well as I could -- and removed quite a bit of black "gunge" which was soluble when rubbed between fingers in water. It appears to be mould/bacterial growth of some sort. The only thing flowing through the pipe/machine to that point is mains cold water.

I have asked the legal question in uk.legal.moderated : if I draw the problem to the Public Water supply company - do they have a legal obligation to check the water supply quality and check the "gunge" to ascertain what it is.

The d-i-y questions: any ideas what the gunge will be and what could I wash the pipes equipment tray with in order to dissolve/remove it?

[Andrew Gabriel]

Fabric conditioner goes mouldy like this. It often gets splashed back into the water jets.

Also, the cheaper and eco washing detergents can leave a residue which will go moldy. Doesn't seem to happen with the better quality ones.

[Tim Watts]

On Tuesday 14 May 2013 18:51 Jane Frith wrote in uk.d-i-y:

Your gunge is probably growing in the machine - have you seen it anywhere else that is fed by mains water?

As for the tray - take it out (most unclip) and wash it in host soapy water with some bleach.

However, if you are concerned, a phone call to your water supplier might yeild something. Ask if you can have a water quality check done. I would imaging they will oblige (they have to check various points of the system so they must have a lab for it).

[polygonum]

I can't see them having any obligation beyond checking that the service pipe is delivering water of adequate quality. The the water, when fed to a washing machine and mixed with some indeterminate substance (by splash if not directly) then happens to support the growth of mould will be of no interest to them.

Black mould is the curse of washing machines. The only decent answer I know is to clean it sufficiently frequently that any significant build-up is avoided. And use a hot wash from time to time.

I hate posting a link to this newspaper, but...

Take due care as you read not to rush out and spend money on lots of products!

[ARW]

What's wrong with using the dishwasher to clean it:-)?

[Tim Watts]

On Tuesday 14 May 2013 19:49 ARW wrote in uk.d-i-y:

That too - but mine has a label insert that looks like it would get buggered up by a dishwasher, so I don't :)

[Eric]

Typical. Any problem and it's "What's in it for me".

Try thinning out the conditioner with water or use another type.

[Peter Parry]

Of course not. It is mould growing inside your machine because of detergents you are using. Why on earth should the water company be expected to do anything about it?

A combination of mould and bacteria growing in the damp atmosphere inside the machine and feeding on the detergent used in the rinse aid. More common if you use "ecofriendly" products.

The cure is to pour a kettle full of boiling water through the dispenser periodically and run the machine empty on its hottest cycle once a month.

[Adam Funk]

...

If I read the OP's post correctly, the gunge is in the "ceiling" of the slot that the drawer fits in. I discovered (the deadly) black mould in our previous washer-dryer & never quite managed to eradicate it, so I'm making some effort to prevent it in the new one (leaving the drawer out for a while in the morning if I'm not in the kitchen; wiping the slot out with surface wipes; spraying alcohol in it & brushing it).

[Owain]

I just leave the porthole and detergent doors ajar when not using it.

Never have any mould problems. Detergent drawer gets a wipe-out every

5 years.

Owain

[Jane Frith]

Perhaps you would care to read what I said again: "The only thing flowing through the machine to that point is mains cold water" Most will have worked it out that the problem is before there has been any mixing with detergent or conditioner. Adam Funk and others understood plain English: why can't you? I will ignore the rest of the shit you have posted as you obviously have comprehension problems.

[Bob Eager]

So do you. The problem may well be the warm, moist air rising into that area from the machine after a wash, exacerbated by the detergent, etc.

Have you seen the mould anywhere else in your water supply? You haven't answered that.

[Frank Erskine]

Just out of interest Jane - is there a filter in the water intake to the machine? My washer/dryer has, but it's not very likely to trap much at a sort of biological level, which is probably/possibly your problem.

If you complain to the water company about your "occasionally discoloured" (!) water they should come and take samples from the first tap in the house (probably the kitchen cold tap) and report back on any findings.

Many (some?!) water companies openly publish detailed info on their water. In some cases you can enter your postcode online and get a fair amount of detail about the water that feeds your pipes...

HTH -

[Tim Watts]

On Tuesday 14 May 2013 23:47 Jane Frith wrote in uk.d-i-y:

How can you be so sure that it's not caused by softener/detergent spash- back?

There are some quite fine sprays insideside the drawer and I fine a certain amount of washing agent residue up around the nozzels - potentially enough to grow cultures on, though I've not had that particular problem.

[Man at B&Q]

I think you just have a problem, full stop. Everyone is giving you the same basic answer, here and in uk.l.m, why not heed the advice given?

MBQ

[Brian Gaff]

Are you sure its not coming infrom a rotting feed hose?

Brian

[Peter Parry]

Perhaps you would care to engage brain. The water is in the machine, it is going through a grill onto the fabric conditioner (which, if you read the label, you would realise contains detergent) immediately below it. The mixture of conditioner and water splashes about inside and onto the conditioner grill where it is kept nice and warm and moist by the water elsewhere in the machine. Not all is rinsed through by the incoming water and mould grows on the residue which remains damp for days after the machine is finished. Each time you use the machine and conditioner you splash a bit more nutrient on the mould which increases in mass, If you use concentrated conditioner the problem is often worse which is why most washing machine instructions tell you to dilute conditioner before adding it to the dispenser and also to regularly run a max temp wash.

Your conclusion is that the water supply is the problem despite such black slime not apparently occurring elsewhere in the house and it being a common problem in washing machines (try "black mould in washing machine" in Google)? I agree, that innovative leap of logic did escape me.

Most will have worked out that it only occurs where there are both water and conditioner together inside the machine.

Most don't operate on "my mind is made up, please do not confuse me with facts"

[Edgar]

One thing you can be sure of is that Peter read and understood what you wrote. He is correct. Get your machine cleaned by someone who can reach the parts you can't. And get that person to recommend how you can keep it clean in future. Then pay them.

Edgar

[Jane Frith]

Many thanks - good points.

[Jane Frith]

You are right - it was one of the first comments made by Andrew Gabriel and I agree it is the most likely problem. It is a possibility - my partner is going to see if they can take the fixed unit above the conditioner area apart to see if that is was happened.