Householders have been told how to banish washing machine smells with a 16p household staple.

The thought of tackling some household tasks seems l harder than it looks and often seems like a mountain to climb and a peak which you will never reach.

It can, however, be therapeutic getting on top of your chores and there is some satisfaction that comes from cleaning which makes you feel good getting everything sparkling clean.

Now a cleaning hack has emerged which will banish smells from washing machines with a simple 16p hack.

A video on TikTok, recommended by Stacey Solomon and cleaning expert Mrs Hinch fans showed someone someone cleaning their washing machine drum with a lemon and toothpaste.

But as ridiculous as it sounds, the hack was that simple and the results delighted those who had tried it.

It used a lemon cut in half which can be bought cheaply with lemons costing just 16p each at Tesco.

A swirl of toothpaste was squeezed on to each lemon before being put into the washing machine and a quick wash started.

The Northern Echo told about Molly Court who tried the hack out was delighted with the results after trying out the steps shown in the video.

She said: "I watched the water arrive inside as the lemons bashed about and the toothpaste foamed up."

"When the cycle ended, I opened the door and the smell was literally, like a breath of fresh air."

The Mirror reported earlier how Lynsey Crombie, also known as the Queen of Clean, who regularly appears on ITV's This Morning, has put together a guide on TikTok for an easy way to deep clean your washing machine. And the best thing is that it's eco-friendly - and only uses two ingredients.

First, Lynsey recommends opening the washing machine door and spraying it, as well as the seal with "white vinegar to remove dirt build-up".

Then all you need to do is add 500g of soda crystals directly to the drum, and "run the hottest wash cycle". Lynsey added: "After the cycle, if you notice any residue, run a quick rinse cycle."

For a really dirty washing machine, or one that hasn't been cleaned in a while, you might want to give it an extra boost.

The savvy cleaner recommends pouring "approximately 50ml of white vinegar into the detergent compartment or directly into the drum".

"Voila! Your washing machine is sparkling clean and ready to tackle more laundry," Lynsey added.