There are a number of signs that your washing machine needs to be cleaned:

1. Unpleasant odour – the odour is caused by mould which is caused by bacteria in the washing machine. Mould can be carried on your clothes, bedding and towels even after they have been washed, and can lead to respiratory problems.

2. Black, slimy residue – This can be found in and around the door seal as well as inside the drum. The residue or soap scum is the build up of washing detergents and fabric softeners that stays in the washing machine and does not get rinsed away. The build up can start to come away from the drum and the door and find its way back onto your clothes leaving dirty black marks.

3. Black spots on clothing – The black spots on clothing can be down to either the soap scum left in your machine or if you live in a hard water area it could be down to limescale. Limescale builds up on the pipes and elements of your washing machine and can cause breakdowns, which will result in expensive call out and repair charges.