Grime can build up in your washing machine over time, so it’s important to clean it regularly to stop clothes smelling musty.
The bacteria becomes visible as a gunklike substance in the door seal and compartment drawers of your washing machine when left for too long. Scrubbing these hardtoreach places can be tedious, so I was pleased to find a potential fafffree solution: washing machine detox tablets.
From veganfriendly cleaning brand Ecoegg, the tablets aim to take the hard work out of deep cleans, removing soap scum, limescale and general grime from the pipes as well as the machine itself.
To use, simply place one into the empty drum of your washing machine and activate a hot wash.
Each £4 box comes with six tablets (which works out at an impressive 67p each), and Ecoegg recommends using one per month, meaning one box should last you six months — a costeffective way to keep your machine (and clothes) fresh.
I’ve recently noticed a musty smell coming from my threeyearold washing machine, as well as a buildup of limescale and leftover detergent in the door seal. I put Ecoegg’s detox tablets to the test to see if they could help.
Ecoegg detox tablets: My honest review
When I tried the detox tablets, I was surprised by how small they were; approximately the size of a pound coin. I couldn’t quite put my finger on the smell — it reminded me of freshly cleaned sheets, but my partner detected a fruity aroma! Either way, it was pleasant.
To use, simply pop the detox tablet in the washing machine’s drum and activate a hot wash.
As instructed, I popped a tablet into the empty drum and activated a 90°C wash. It took me less than 30 seconds to set everything up, and the drum was soon filled with hot water and suds: promising.
After an hour cycle, I left the washing machine door open to allow air to circulate for a few minutes. At first glance, the machine looked and smelled noticeably cleaner; the stale aroma had vanished, and the drum looked shinier than usual.
On closer inspection, the seal still had some signs of limescale and detergent remnants. I was disappointed that the tablets hadn’t removed the dirt completely, but, in fairness, the grime had been building for a long time so perhaps I need to run a couple more cycles before seeing goodasnew results.
After using the tablets, I popped in a load of laundry to see if my clothes would still emerge smelling musty. Thankfully, I detected no bad smells — just the fresh aroma of my favourite fabric softener. Result!
Ecoegg detox tablets: My verdict
So far, I’m impressed. The detox tablets were easy to use, affordable and they effectively eliminated bad odours from my machine, so now my clothes smell fresher after a wash.
The tablets didn’t get rid of grime entirely, so I’d still recommend giving your machine a more thorough deep clean once or twice per year. The GHI recommends wiping drawer compartments with a warm cloth after each use to prevent bacteria, and to check and clean drain filters every month.
These detox tablets provide a great solution to keeping your machine fresher for longer inbetween deeper cleans and are a quick and easy fix for musty odours — plus, it’ll be much easier next time I do clean my machine.
So, if you’re looking for a fussfree way to prevent bad smells and keep your machine at its best, you can pick up Ecoegg’s washing machine detox tablets from Amazon.
