When I switch on my machine there is an awful smell comes through the plug hole in the kitchen sink next to it and my clothes arnt coming out as clean and fresh as they should be, i think the machine just needs a really good clean. Have had it for 3 years now

Vicky, July 2009

Low temperature washes cause this problem, and about the only thing that you can do is to run a full heat programme from time to time to keep bacteria at bay. Some domestos down the sink plug wont do any harm, but it wont really go where its needed - ie into the drum area itself. Tablets such as Calgon dont clean the inside of your machine, they just help to prevent calcium build up by softening the water.

John, July 2009