Dettol vs Dr Beckmann Washing Machine Cleaner: Which Eliminates Stubborn Odours?

A British front-loading washing machine had a persistent damp-basement smell, despite its drum and door looking spotless. Rather than immediately calling out an engineer, its owner put two widely available specialist cleaners to the test: liquid Dettol Washing Machine Cleaner and powdered Dr Beckmann Service-it Deep Clean. Both claim to restore hygienic freshness, but this practical comparison revealed which product could genuinely remove ingrained washing machine odours.

Why a clean-looking washing machine can still smell

From the outside, a washing machine can appear faultless: no grime around the drum, clear door glass and seemingly nothing wrong. The smell, however, can tell a very different story. Over months, detergent residue, grease, skin flakes, lint and limescale can accumulate in the hoses, behind the drum, in the detergent drawer and around the rubber door seal. These are exactly the places where bacteria and mould thrive.

Several common household habits are particularly problematic:

• regularly using short cycles at 30 or 40°C
• relying continuously on low-temperature Eco programmes
• washing with liquid detergent and fabric conditioner
• leaving the door and detergent drawer closed after a wash

This creates a warm, damp environment that is ideal for micro-organisms. As they break down residues, they produce the musty odour that can later transfer to towels and bedding.

“A drum can look sparkling clean and still smell unpleasant – the real problem areas are hidden behind plastic and metal.”

The test set-up: Dettol vs Dr Beckmann

The products were tested on a stubbornly smelly front-loading washing machine in a British household. Its owner had previously tried soda crystals without success, as the unpleasant smell returned after every wash.

Both cleaners came from the supermarket and were similarly priced: Dettol is a liquid washing machine cleaner, while Dr Beckmann is a single-dose powder. To make the comparison fair, each cleaner was used in the same empty 60°C maintenance wash. This made it possible to assess how much the odour and visible build-up changed after just one use.

What Dettol actually cleaned on the washing machine

Dettol was used first, although its application was adapted slightly to tackle the visible surfaces thoroughly as well. One tablespoon of cleaner was mixed into around 200 millilitres of hot water. This solution was then used to scrub three typical problem areas:

• the detergent drawer, which had dried-on detergent deposits
• the rubber seal around the door, with a soap line and black spots
• the door glass, which had light residue on it

The results were clearly visible. Crusted deposits in the drawer came away, the seal looked noticeably cleaner and the glass was free from its greasy film. The cleaner made a tangible difference here, making Dettol a good option for cleaning the machine’s visible front areas.

The drawer was then returned to the machine, the remaining Dettol was poured in, and an empty 60°C cycle was run. Once the programme had finished, the drum looked slightly shinier, suggesting that some internal deposits had also been loosened.

However, opening the door still released a faint musty smell. It was less intense than before, but undeniably still there. The machine looked better on the surface, yet the underlying deep-seated odour had not been fully removed.

“Dettol restored shine to the drawer, glass and seal – but the treatment alone was not enough to tackle the deeply embedded smell inside.”

Why Dr Beckmann performed better in the direct comparison

The Dr Beckmann powder was used for the second stage of the test. This time, no additional scrubbing was carried out because the clearly visible areas had already been cleaned. That made it easier to judge what the product could achieve deeper inside the washing machine.

The entire contents of the powder pack were placed in the detergent drawer. Although the packaging recommends a 40°C programme, another 60°C wash was selected to keep the test conditions identical. The machine was run empty, without detergent or any other additives.

After the cycle came the key moment: when the door was opened, there was no longer any damp-basement odour, only a light floral scent. Towels washed afterwards did not pick up a dull smell either – a strong indication that the odour had largely been removed from inside the machine rather than merely masked.

Dr Beckmann presents its product as a deep cleaner that removes residue and limescale, kills 99.9 percent of bacteria and fungi, and is intended to support a longer machine life and better efficiency. The practical comparison supported this claim: in terms of odour removal, the powder clearly outperformed its liquid competitor.

“In the test, the persistent washing machine smell disappeared only after using Dr Beckmann – later loads then smelled neutral again.”

Which washing machine cleaner is right for whom?

The trial offers several useful everyday conclusions:

Regular hot washes already prevent many problems. Washing items such as bedding and towels at 60°C with biological powder detergent can make a significant difference. In households with children, sportswear and mainly 30°C washes, however, a biofilm can develop more quickly – in these circumstances, specialist cleaners may be useful every one to two months.

How to prevent washing machine odours

Whichever product is chosen, a few straightforward routines can help keep odours under control over the long term:

• leave the door and detergent drawer open after every wash so that all parts can dry
• run a 60°C programme with biological powder detergent at least once a month
• use liquid detergent and fabric conditioner sparingly, without exceeding the marked dose
• wipe the rubber seal and detergent drawer with a cloth every few weeks
• clean the lint filter regularly, especially in homes with pets

People who prefer household remedies often turn to vinegar or bicarbonate of soda. These can loosen deposits in the short term, but acid in high concentrations can eventually damage seals and metal components. Specialist washing machine cleaners are formulated specifically to avoid harming the materials inside the appliance, which is particularly worthwhile for newer machines.

What the test means for German households

Many German households will already recognise both brands from supermarket shelves. The tested products are aimed at people who want to keep not only the exterior of their washing machine clean, but also deal with hidden sources of odour. The trial showed this fairly clearly: liquid cleaners such as Dettol perform well on visible dirt and offer a quick refresh, while a powerful powder such as Dr Beckmann can reach further into the machine’s system.

Anyone who repeatedly notices a hint of basement or wet-dog smell in freshly washed laundry, even though the drum is shining, should schedule a genuine deep clean rather than simply scrubbing the rubber seal. A targeted intensive cycle with a deep cleaner, followed by regular hot washes and allowing the machine to dry properly, can make the difference between “it will do” and genuinely fresh laundry.