Thoroughly cleaning a washing machine and dishwasher

[SurreyGuy]

I'm in the throes of buying a house and the sellers are leaving a washing machine (although I do have my own, but I don't whose is better!) and a dishwasher.

Without meaning to sound snobby (coz I certainly ain't!), I'd like to clean them out before I use them. What's the best way to do that please?

T.I.A.

[edwardian]

Channel 4 's 'How Clean is Your House' dealt with cleaning a washing machine.
First put a cup of washing soda into the dispenser and run on the hottest wash.
Then put a pint of white vinegar in the dispenser and run the hottest wash.
They also gave a tip for getting marks off walls,which, at the time I thought was bizarre, bit it's actually brilliant.
Put a little shaving foam on your hand and gently rub into the mark. Wipe of with a damp cloth.We have white hall walls and a very messy springer spaniel.I have to report that the shaving foam works!
Good luck with the washing machine.

[SurreyGuy]

Thanks, but doesn't that then leave the washing machine smelling of vinegar?

[Athley]

No I've tried it. You put the washing soda in the drawer dispenser but the white vinegar goes in the drum itself. Two separate washes.

When you put the next wash on the washing powder or whatever you use just gets rid of any slight vinegar smell.

[Athley]

Just re read and noticed you have a dishwasher too. I clean mine with shop bought dishwasher cleaners. I usually get mine in Aldi's pack of two (2 cleans) and you put it in an empty dishwasher in the cutlery basket and run the dishwasher on a 60 degree or more setting. You can also clean around the metal bits with white vinegar too.

[SurreyGuy]

Thanks Athley - however, edwardian said the vinegar went in the dispenser not the drum. I'm confoooosed!

[Athley]

Def in the drum. I did it this morning after watching. And my machine is sparkling.

[SurreyGuy]

Cool! Thanks