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It's easy to assume that the things that clean for us, like washing machines, are also clean by default. However, the reality is that washing machines are a breeding ground for germs, mould, and nasty odours.

I typically tend to opt for the natural route of using soda crystals to clean my washing machine. However, this time around, I had to use something a little more specialised, as the soda crystals wouldn't seem to remove the stubborn odour coming from the drum. The products used were the Dettol Washing Machine Cleaner and the Dr. Beckmann Service-it Washing Machine Cleaner.

Both washing machine cleaners were around a similar price. The Dettol one retails for £2.99, and the Dr Beckmann solution costs £2.19.

I initially was just going to use the Dettol washing machine cleaner; however, this didn't give the results I was after when it came to cleaning the drum.

To use it, I started by diluting one tablespoon of the washing machine cleaner in 200ml of hot water to clean the detergent drawer, glass door and seal.

This cleaning solution worked pretty well to remove hardened soap scum and small patches of surface mould.

I then added the drawer back into the machine and poured the rest of the solution into the drawer before putting the appliance on a 60-degree wash cycle.

Once the cycle was over, the drum looked shinier, but the odour was still lingering as soon as I opened the door.

Next, it was time to put the Dr. Beckmann washing machine cleaner to the test. As the drawer, seal and door didn't need further cleaning, I poured the entire bottle into the detergent drawer.

While the instructions said to just put it on a minimum 40-degree cycle, I opted for 60 degrees to make it fair.

After the time was up, I opened the door and was met with only a pleasant floral scent and no musty stench.

As well as cleaning the machine, if used regularly, this cleaning solution is designed to enable energy-efficient washing and a long service life.

Although the Dettol washing machine cleaner did prove to be effective enough to tackle the drawer, it didn't hold up well against the drum. With it being more effective and cheaper, I'd recommend the Dr. Beckmann Service-it Washing Machine Cleaner.