Pillow cases and washing machine gunk
doom&gloom
Posts: 9,051 Forum Member
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I have a problem that's driving me mad, whenever I wash pillow cases they come out of the washing machine dirtier than when they went in as they seem to attract grey gunk from around the drum.
It doesn't happen when I wash clothes or towels only pillow cases, does anybody have any idea why or has any solutions, it seems like a waste of money to get a new washing machine because of this.
Thanks in advance.
It doesn't happen when I wash clothes or towels only pillow cases, does anybody have any idea why or has any solutions, it seems like a waste of money to get a new washing machine because of this.
Thanks in advance.
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Comments
How do you manage to get grey gunk in your machine anyway?
Maybe you could put all of the pillow cases inside one and then it would only be the one outside pillow case that would be affected rather than all of them.
With more Nd more fabrics being washed at lower temperatures the machines don't get a good blast of very hot water and clean through. Scum can just build up
That's quite a good idea.
I have wiped around the drum (or rather around the door seal where the gunk seems to be), have also done a 90 degree maintenance wash and also switched to bio as apparently you get more gunk was non-bio but nothing seems to work.
I always thought grey gunk was a fault with the Indesit Moon.
It's a combination of hard water and non-bio on low temperatures apparently.
Keeps the machine clean.
If you use a net, things will stick to the outside of that and not to the items you're washing.
Tried that and it didn't work.
Have now tried the 250ml white vinegar and 90 degree wash recommendation that seems to be what most recommend on the internet so hopefully next time it won't happen, thanks for the help.
I would like to know why people are not surprised about grey gunk , because I have never experienced such a thing in all my many years of using a washer ! And how come it's only pillowcases and nothing else ? Just plain weird
If it's only the pillowcases is it something to do with the pillows? What kind of pillows do you have?
Or are you using hair products that are leaving residue on the pillowcases?
Yes I thought it could be the oil from skin or hair, pillow cases do get changed less than clothes so maybe that's the reason?
Seems pointless washing everything at 30C then every week do a 90C "maintenance cycle".
Personally, I always wash:-
Towels & Pillow cases - 70C
Whites - 50C
Bed Linen - 50C
Colours - 40C
Silk & Wool - 40C
Does that not damage them, the washing instructions say 40 degrees?
Well, you've got to be reasonably careful, especially if your bed linen is silk...
But on the whole, it's fine.
40C doesn't kill bed bugs, or winter vomiting virus. It's only 3C above body temperature so won't melt the oils in your pillow cases.
How much damage do you think a 70C wash is going to do to flannel or bath towel...
I use this product.
I have also read that using a bio washing powder helps, especially Ariel.
I've never had this either, tbh. I'm not entirely sure exactly what the "gunk" is like, having never had any in my own washing machine.
I don't know if it depends on whether you use a washing powder, tabs or liquid and also if you use fabric conditioner.
Perhaps because pillowcases are thin they can find their way into the area around the door seal and get trapped so when the washing starts to spin they get dragged around where any "gunk" will collect. If you pull back the rubber seals you can see it can collect under there too.