On a simplicity machine that had been idle for 2 months, when we used it all the clothes came out grey with black spots like oil (?). Could this be a dirty filter? I can't find one. Any other ideas?

Bob Collins, September 2009

It will be old soap scum which builds up on the outer drum & when machine is not used for some time the soap dries & flakes off. Apart from dismantling the inner & outer drum to clean thoroughly the next best thing is to do a hot wash with no garments in the machine. Buy some dishwasher/washing machine descaler & put that in the machine at the start & let it do a full cycle on a high water level.

Lincoln Appliance NZ, September 2009