Dettol Washing Machine Cleaner vs Dr Beckmann Service-it Deep Clean: 60°C front-loading washing machine test

A British front-loading washing machine with a persistent musty, damp smell became our test bench. Two well-known specialist cleaners - Dettol Washing Machine Cleaner and Dr Beckmann Service-it Deep Clean - went head-to-head. Same appliance, the same 60°C programme, no laundry inside, and one simple question: which product actually removes the stench, rather than just shifting the dirt you can see?

Why a “clean” washing machine can suddenly start to smell

From the outside, plenty of machines look perfectly fine. The drum shines, the door glass sparkles, yet every fresh load comes out with a faintly stale odour. That was exactly the situation with this UK machine.

The cause is rarely on the front; it tends to sit in the hidden corners:

• the detergent drawer
• the rubber door seal
• behind the drum and inside hoses
• folds and crevices where water lingers

Moisture, leftover detergent and low-temperature washes create ideal conditions for bacteria, mould spores and biofilm. Many people then try home remedies such as washing soda crystals or the occasional empty 90°C cycle. In this case, none of that was enough: the smell returned after every wash.

Even if the drum looks spotless, thick layers of detergent residue, biofilm and limescale can build up out of sight - and that’s where the stench comes from.

The contenders compared: Dettol vs Dr Beckmann

Two products commonly found in British supermarkets were used, both also available in comparable versions in German-speaking countries:

Product	Form	Aim	Price in the test country
Dettol Washing Machine Cleaner	Liquid, fragranced	Surfaces, bacteria, odour, limescale	approx. £2.99
Dr Beckmann Service-it Deep Clean	Powder	Deep deposits, limescale, bacteria, fungi	approx. £2.19

Both brands claim to eliminate up to 99.9% of germs and leave a fresher scent behind. Their guidance is to run a maintenance wash roughly every two months - particularly if you do lots of washing at 30°C or 40°C.

How Dettol performed in the first run

Dettol went first. To tackle all easy-to-reach areas thoroughly, the cleaner was used slightly differently from what the bottle specifies.

Manual pre-clean with Dettol

One tablespoon of the liquid cleaner was mixed into around 200 ml of hot water. That solution was then used to wipe down and scrub:

• the entire detergent drawer
• the door glass
• the grey rubber seal

These areas had the usual build-up: dried detergent deposits, soapy tide marks, and small dark mould spots inside the fold of the door seal.

The result was clear: the drawer looked noticeably brighter, and the seal and glass were free of visible grime. The residue lifted easily, so Dettol delivered a solid clean across all exposed surfaces.

Maintenance cycle with Dettol

Next, the remaining cleaner was poured into the drawer and the machine was run empty on a 60°C cycle. The idea is that the pipes, drum and concealed sections are flushed through and disinfected.

Once the programme finished, the inside of the drum looked glossier, suggesting loosened residue. However, when the door was opened there was still a dull, musty smell. It was less intense, but the core issue hadn’t gone.

Dettol made the visible areas shine, but in this stress test it couldn’t defeat the deep-seated source of odour behind the drum.

Dr Beckmann targets the hidden build-up

For the second run, the starting point had changed: thanks to Dettol, the detergent drawer, glass and rubber seal were already clean. Now Dr Beckmann needed to prove what it could do inside the machine - without any extra scrubbing.

Used exactly as directed

The full sachet of powder was tipped into the detergent drawer. Although the packaging specifies a temperature from 40°C upwards, the same 60°C empty cycle was used again to keep the comparison fair. No additional cleaners or fragrances were added.

This time the focus was primarily on:

• residue on the back of the drum
• limescale and biofilm inside hoses
• organic deposits on heating elements
• bacteria and fungi in areas that don’t rinse well

The odour result after Dr Beckmann

After the cycle ended, the crucial moment came: opening the door revealed no mustiness at all. Instead, there was only a light, floral scent. More importantly, the old “cellar smell” didn’t return on subsequent towel washes either.

The test showed that the powder cleaner changed the inside of the machine so later washes no longer smelled like a damp cellar.

This is precisely what Dr Beckmann is designed for: stripping away limescale and grime layers, killing bacteria and fungi, and improving energy efficiency by keeping heating elements cleaner. In this direct comparison, it was cheaper and also more effective against the stubborn odour.

What this test means for households in German-speaking countries

Even though this tough test took place in the UK, the underlying causes are the same elsewhere: modern machines often run short programmes and low temperatures, and many households rely on liquid detergent. Both encourage build-up.

• Liquid detergents are more likely to leave greasy residues.
• Short programmes rinse less thoroughly.
• Cold washes do very little to kill germs.
• The door and detergent drawer are often kept shut, so moisture can’t escape.

If you only judge by how the drum looks, it’s easy to underestimate the issue. The smell usually originates from areas you can’t see at a glance.

Practical tips: keeping your machine fresh long term

Regular basic care

A single deep-clean product can make a big difference, but it won’t last forever. Consistent habits help:

• Run a 60°C or 90°C cycle once a month using powder detergent.
• After each wash, leave the door and detergent drawer slightly open.
• Wipe and dry the rubber seal regularly with a cloth.
• Clean the filter every few weeks, depending on usage.

Many manufacturers now include a maintenance wash in the instruction manual. Ignoring that advice risks not only odours, but also more expensive long-term issues caused by limescale and clogged hoses.

When a specialist cleaner is worth it

A specialist product like the ones tested here is particularly useful in common problem scenarios:

• persistent musty smell despite hot empty cycles
• visible black specks on the rubber seal
• brownish greasy films in the detergent drawer
• households running lots of 30°C quick washes
• areas with very hard water and heavy limescale

If your machine gets heavy use - for example, a family doing several loads a day - a thorough deep clean every two months brings clear benefits.

Risks, misconceptions and a few technical details

Many people initially respond by adding more fragrance: fabric conditioner, scent boosters, strongly perfumed pods. That may mask the odour briefly, but it doesn’t address the cause. In the worst case it can make deposits worse, because even more residue is left behind inside the system.

One technical point: over time, heating elements can develop limescale layers mixed with fats and detergent. Bacteria then settle into that film. The machine needs more energy to heat the water, and organic residues can smell when warmed. Products that dissolve both limescale and biofilm deliver a double benefit: less odour and, over the long term, lower electricity use.

Anyone with very sensitive skin should consider running a short rinse cycle afterwards, or doing the first wash with old towels. That helps flush out any remaining traces before children’s clothing or laundry for allergy sufferers goes back in.

Overall, the UK comparison demonstrates one key point: for visible dirt around the door and drawer, a liquid cleaner plus a bit of hands-on scrubbing is often enough. But for a smell built up over years behind the drum, in hoses and on heating elements, you need a product that specifically attacks those hidden layers - and in this test, that was clearly the powder cleaner.