You want your washing machine to be making your clothes clean and fresh, so a smelly washing machine can be alarming. It is especially unpleasant if that smell is transferring onto your clothes when you wash them. Not to worry, our easy-to-follow guide has five simple tips for what to do if your washing machine is smelly. Soon your washing machine will smell fresh and clean again!
A smelly washer is caused by either an overgrowth of odor-producing bacteria or from a build-up of mildew. This can be caused by a variety of things such as leaving wet clothes sitting in the machine for too long, using the wrong detergent for your machine, or going too long between cleans.
The first place to start is to scrub out the drum of your machine, as this is where most of the mildew or scum is going to be concentrated. Using a scrubbing brush dipped in a solution of water and detergent, give the tub of the machine a thorough clean to dislodge any stubborn bacteria or mildew. Then run a rinse cycle to ensure that any of the dislodged debris has been washed away.
After scrubbing the drum, the next step is to clean any places where mildew might have built up that could be overlooked.
Make sure you clean the detergent and fabric softener dispensers. You can use an old toothbrush to get into any hard-to-reach crevices.
You will also want to ensure you clean around the lid and the hinges if you have a top loader, or around the door gasket if you have a front loader, as these are also places mildew can build up.
If your machine has a coin trap, remove it and empty out any debris that might be caught inside, then clean out the compartment with the old toothbrush.
Bleach is an essential tool when it comes to fixing a smelly washing machine, as it kills bacteria and mold, and prevents the bad smell from returning. In order to run a bleach cycle:
Important note: NEVER mix bleach with any other cleaners. Doing so can lead to the creation of toxic fumes.
Once you have run the bleach cycle, it is a good idea to follow up with a baking soda and vinegar cycle in order to ensure the machine is completely deodorized. To do this:
If you are short of time or your washing machine is not particularly smelly, you can try a commercial washing machine cleaner, although this will not be quite as effective as the bleach cycle followed by the baking soda and vinegar cycle.
You can purchase a commercial washing machine cleaner from a hardware store or from the supermarket. Some brands are made to go inside the drum, while some you put in the detergent dispenser. Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions before using.
In order to prevent your washing machine from smelling bad in the future, follow these simple prevention steps.
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