Getting Started - The Dreaded Smell

So, the other day, my laundry room started to get this funky smell. You know the one. That damp, slightly sour odor that just screams "something ain't right." I tracked it down to the washing machine area. Figured the waste pipe was overdue for a good clean out. It’s one of those jobs you always mean to do, but then you forget, right? But the smell was getting pretty noticeable, especially when folks came over. I decided it was time to roll up my sleeves and just get it done.

What I Rounded Up

Didn’t need a whole arsenal of stuff, which was good. I’m not one for buying specialist tools if I can manage with what I’ve got. Here’s what I pulled together:

• An old bucket – absolutely crucial for catching any nasty water.
• A few old towels – because, let's be honest, spills are gonna happen.
• A pair of rubber gloves – the thought of touching that pipe slime without them? No thanks.
• My trusty screwdriver set, just in case any clamps were being difficult.
• A flexible drain brush. Picked this up a while back, it’s like a long, bendy bottle brush, pretty handy.
• Some baking soda and white vinegar. My old faithful for lots of cleaning tasks. Cheap and does the trick.

The Dirty Work - Step by Step

Alright, so here’s how I got down to it. First things first, I unplugged the washing machine! Can't be too careful, even if you're just messing with pipes. Then, I had to heave the washing machine away from the wall. That was a bit of a grunt and shove job; those things are heavier than they look and always awkward to move.

Next up, I found where the waste hose from the machine connects into the standpipe in the wall. Got my bucket positioned right underneath before I touched anything. Then, I carefully wiggled the hose out of the standpipe. Some machines have a clamp, mine just pushes in. A bit of stinky water usually dribbles out here, so that bucket was a lifesaver. Learned that the hard way a long time ago!

Looking into that standpipe, man, that was where the real party was. I shone a flashlight down there. Could see all sorts of build-up – lint, congealed soap, who knows what else. Pretty gross, to be honest.

This is where that flexible drain brush earned its keep. I started by just jamming it down the pipe and giving it a good scrub around. Twisting it, pushing it, pulling it. Loads of gunk came out on the brush. Had to rinse the brush off a couple of times. It’s definitely not a job for the squeamish.

After I felt I’d got most of the loose chunks out, I reached for the baking soda and vinegar. I tipped about half a cup of baking soda straight down the pipe. Then I slowly poured in about a cup of white vinegar. It started fizzing up like a science experiment. I just left it to do its thing for about 20, maybe 30 minutes. I could hear some gurgling, which I took as a good sign that it was breaking down more of that grime.

While that was bubbling away, I took a quick look at the end of the washing machine hose itself. Sometimes you get a bit of build-up in there too. Mine wasn't too bad, but I gave the end of it a quick scrub with the brush and a rinse in the utility sink just to be sure.

Once the fizzing had died down and I reckoned it had sat long enough, I boiled the kettle. Carefully, I poured a couple of kettle-fulls of very hot water down the standpipe. This was to flush out all the loosened gunk and the baking soda/vinegar residue. You want to get all that stuff moving out of your pipes.

Putting It All Back and The Result

Reassembly was pretty straightforward, just doing everything in reverse. I slotted the washing machine hose back into the now much cleaner standpipe. Pushed the washing machine back against the wall – another grunt and shove. Plugged it back in. Gave the floor a quick wipe where I’d inevitably dripped a bit.

Then came the test. I ran a short rinse cycle on the empty machine. Kept an eye on the drain. Water went down smoothly, no issues at all! And the best part? Over the next day, that nasty smell completely vanished. Job done!

It’s not the most pleasant task, I'll give you that, but doing it myself definitely saved a few quid on calling a plumber out. Plus, there’s a bit of satisfaction in sorting these little household niggles yourself. I’ve made a mental note to try and do it a bit more regularly now, before it gets to the smelly stage again!