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I never get mould in my washing machine thanks to a £1 Home Bargains cleaner

A £1 washing machine cleaner from Home Bargains has been highlighted as an effective way to remove mould and bad smells from the appliance. The product, Elbow Grease's Washing Machine Cleaner, is used in a simple step-by-step routine that tackles the drawer, seal, and drum.

By Tertius News AI Desk 2 outlets · 2 articles Version 1 Coverage Aug 24, 2026 Published 1d ago

A £1 solution to a common household problem

Washing machines are often overlooked when it comes to household cleaning, despite being used frequently to clean our clothes. Over time, bacteria, detergent build-up, and mould can accumulate, particularly around the rubber seal. While natural remedies like white vinegar or bicarbonate of soda are popular, some people prefer a dedicated product for a thorough clean.

One such product is Elbow Grease's Washing Machine Cleaner, available from Home Bargains for around £1. According to user reports, it not only refreshes the machine but also removes stubborn dirt from every part, including the drawer, seal, and drum.

The cleaning routine

The method begins with the detergent drawer. A small amount of the cleaner is added to warm water, and the drawer is left to soak before being set aside.

Next, the product is applied to kitchen roll and used to wipe around the rubber seal. This step reportedly reveals a surprising amount of mould. A small amount can also be applied to the interior of the door, another area prone to grime.

After about 20 minutes, the drawer is gently scrubbed to loosen any remaining mould and dirt, then dried completely before being replaced.

Finally, the cleaning solution is poured into the machine's wash compartment, and a hot empty cycle is run.

Results and maintenance

The double-strength formula is said to tackle dirt, limescale, and unpleasant odours effectively. After the cycle, the interior is left spotless, with a pleasant fragrance that lingers.

One user reports using the cleaner once a month to keep the machine running smoothly, and also pours drain unblocker down the drains as part of their monthly maintenance routine.

The product's low cost and effectiveness have made it a go-to choice for many looking to keep their washing machines in good condition.

How each outlet told it

Daily Express as of Aug 24, 2026, 9:16 AM UTC

Framing: Headline emphasizes the reporter never gets mould thanks to a £1 cleaner, focusing on personal success. — Self-help/advice: 'my go-to option'

Facts Included:

Elbow Grease's Washing Machine Cleaner from Home Bargains costs roughly £1.
The cleaner can be used on the drawer, seal, and machine.
Instructions: add small amount to warm water, soak drawer, then set aside.
Apply product to kitchen roll and wipe around seal.
Wait roughly 20 minutes before scrubbing drawer.
Dry drawer completely before returning to machine.
Pour cleaning product into wash compartment and run hot empty cycle.
The double-strength solution removes dirt, limescale, and unpleasant odours.
Interior left spotless with pleasant fragrance lasting after cycle.
Reporter uses it once a month to preserve efficiency.
Reporter also pours drain unblocker down drains monthly.

Read the source article →

Liverpool Echo as of Aug 24, 2026, 10:23 AM UTC

Framing: Headline emphasizes the reporter's personal action of tackling mould and bad smells with the cleaner. — Measured/practical (e.g., 'simple to overlook')

Facts Included:

Elbow Grease's Washing Machine Cleaner costs around £1 from Home Bargains.
It cleans the drawer, seal, and machine.
Starts by cleaning drawer: add to warm water, soak, set aside.
Apply some product to kitchen roll and clean the seal.
After roughly 20 minutes, scrub drawer to dislodge mould.
Dry drawer completely before putting back.
Pour product into wash compartment and run hot empty cycle.
Double-strength formula tackles dirt, limescale, and foul smells.
Leaves interior spotless with pleasant fragrance.
Reporter uses it once a month.
Also pours drain unblocker down plug holes monthly.

Read the source article →

What was claimed, and who backed it

Each row is one claim, attributed to the outlet whose wording states it most clearly. Confidence rates how directly the source text states the claim — explicit and unhedged rates high; hedged, pieced-together, or internally inconsistent statements rate lower. It does not measure whether the claim is true. Status counts the distinct outlets we found asserting it — so a single-source claim can still show high confidence, and a multi-source claim can show medium. Every one of those outlets is named beside the status, so you can check the count against the list. For claims extracted before we began storing that list, the row says so: it names the outlet the claim is quoted from and states that we have not recorded which outlets backed it. Outlets wrote at different times, so a figure that evolves — a casualty count, for example — can legitimately differ between rows; check the "as of" time next to each claim's source.

Claim	Confidence	Status
ClaimElbow Grease's Washing Machine Cleaner from Home Bargains costs roughly £1.	ConfidenceHigh	StatusMulti-source (2 outlets) via Daily Express as of Aug 24, 2026, 9:16 AM UTC, Liverpool Echo as of Aug 24, 2026, 10:23 AM UTC
ClaimElbow Grease's Washing Machine Cleaner can be used on the drawer, seal, and machine.	ConfidenceHigh	StatusMulti-source (2 outlets) via Daily Express as of Aug 24, 2026, 9:16 AM UTC, Liverpool Echo as of Aug 24, 2026, 10:23 AM UTC
ClaimTo clean the drawer, add a small amount of the cleaning product to warm water, let it soak, then set it aside.	ConfidenceHigh	StatusMulti-source (2 outlets) via Daily Express as of Aug 24, 2026, 9:16 AM UTC, Liverpool Echo as of Aug 24, 2026, 10:23 AM UTC
ClaimApply some of the cleaning product to a piece of kitchen roll and wipe around the seal.	ConfidenceHigh	StatusMulti-source (2 outlets) via Daily Express as of Aug 24, 2026, 9:16 AM UTC, Liverpool Echo as of Aug 24, 2026, 10:23 AM UTC
ClaimWait roughly 20 minutes before scrubbing the drawer to dislodge mould and dirt.	ConfidenceHigh	StatusMulti-source (2 outlets) via Daily Express as of Aug 24, 2026, 9:16 AM UTC, Liverpool Echo as of Aug 24, 2026, 10:23 AM UTC
ClaimDry the drawer completely before returning it to the machine.	ConfidenceHigh	StatusMulti-source (2 outlets) via Daily Express as of Aug 24, 2026, 9:16 AM UTC, Liverpool Echo as of Aug 24, 2026, 10:23 AM UTC
ClaimPour the cleaning product into the machine's wash compartment and run a hot empty cycle.	ConfidenceHigh	StatusMulti-source (2 outlets) via Daily Express as of Aug 24, 2026, 9:16 AM UTC, Liverpool Echo as of Aug 24, 2026, 10:23 AM UTC
ClaimThe double-strength formula removes dirt, limescale, and unpleasant odours.	ConfidenceHigh	StatusMulti-source (2 outlets) via Daily Express as of Aug 24, 2026, 9:16 AM UTC, Liverpool Echo as of Aug 24, 2026, 10:23 AM UTC
ClaimAfter the cycle, the interior of the machine is left spotless with a pleasant fragrance that lasts long after the wash cycle has finished.	ConfidenceHigh	StatusMulti-source (2 outlets) via Daily Express as of Aug 24, 2026, 9:16 AM UTC, Liverpool Echo as of Aug 24, 2026, 10:23 AM UTC
ClaimThe reporter uses the cleaner once a month.	ConfidenceHigh	StatusMulti-source (2 outlets) via Daily Express as of Aug 24, 2026, 9:16 AM UTC, Liverpool Echo as of Aug 24, 2026, 10:23 AM UTC
ClaimThe reporter also pours drain unblocker down the drains monthly.	ConfidenceHigh	StatusMulti-source (2 outlets) via Daily Express as of Aug 24, 2026, 9:16 AM UTC, Liverpool Echo as of Aug 24, 2026, 10:23 AM UTC

Transparency & Audit Trail

2 outlets · 2 articles consulted: Daily Express, Liverpool Echo 11 claims extracted Version 1 Written 2026-08-24