Does your washing machine smell musty? It is very unpleasant when you unload these and find that your laundry smells. Although you may want to blame it on a pair of smelly socks, the source of the smell may be the machine itself. If it smells moldy, the only solution is to clean the washing machine. But first, get to know the causes of the unpleasant smell.
The washing machine smells musty – why is that?
Over time, soap scum, dirt, body oil and hair build up in the washing machine's seals, sealing rings and dispensers. If the washing machine is not cleaned regularly, it will end up smelling just as disgusting as this buildup of dirt sounds. Combine this toxic brew with the constant humidity in the laundry room, and you can create an ideal environment for bacteria to grow.
And therein lies the irony: the machine we rely on day after day, cycle after cycle to remove dirt and stains now smells worse than the dirty laundry. Sometimes even the hardest working devices need a little TLC to get back on their feet. Read on to find out how to remove unwanted mold and bacteria and successfully refresh the inside of the washing machine.
Your laundry stinks after washing – causes and solutionscan be found here!
Cleaning the washing machine – How to do it right
Washing machine smells musty? To get rid of the bad smells, follow three steps to get it looking clean and fresh again: scrub, disinfect and deodorize. Be careful not to mix cleaning products together, this can be dangerous.
Scrub the soap, bleach & fabric softener dispensers
STEP 1:Washing machine stinks – what to do?If it smells like mold, the first thing you should do is clean the soap, bleach, and fabric softener dispensers. When water gets into one of these parts, it often remains as standing water between washes - a breeding ground for mold. Use an old toothbrush to get into the cracks and crevices of the dispensers, then use a pipe cleaner to remove debris that has become lodged in the dispensers' pipes.
If you have a front-loading washer, wipe the rubber seal with a damp cloth and use a cotton swab to remove debris around the seal.
For top-loading washing machines, pay particular attention to the cracks and crevices around the doors where dirt tends to hide. Once you're done scrubbing the parts, it's time to move on to the tub.
Washing machine smells musty – disinfect with chlorine bleach
STEP 2: Chlorine bleach is an effective remedy when a washing machine stinks because it is the absolute best solution for killing mold and mildew. Take proper precautions when using bleach and do not mix it with other cleaning products for safety reasons.
The amount of bleach you should use depends on your washing machine: Add 4 cups of bleach to a top-loading washer or 2 cups to a front-loading washer, then start a cycle. Set the washing machine to the highest possible temperature setting. Allow the tub to fill and stop the wash cycle once the agitator has mixed in the bleach. Allow the bleach water to sit for 30 minutes and then continue the wash cycle. Another rinse should remove all traces of bleach.
Remove the odors with vinegar
STEP 3:Washing machine smells like mold – what to do?Remove any remaining odors by performing a vinegar wash. Not only is vinegar an excellent deodorizer, but the acidic nature of the liquid also removes hard water deposits as well as any bacteria that may have survived the bleach. First, set your washing machine to the hottest setting. Add 4 cups of plain white vinegar (not balsamic or apple cider vinegar) to a top-loading washer or 2 cups to a front-loading model. Don't use detergent or anything else in this cycle - the vinegar works alone!
The process should feel familiar from now on: Allow the tub to fill and stop the wash cycle once the agitator has mixed the vinegar and water. After 30 minutes, turn the washer back on and let the cycle continue until it is complete.
Home remedies such as citric acid and baking soda can also remove bad odors. How,find out here!
Rinse the drum through a service wash cycle
STEP 4: Washing machine smells musty – what to do? Rinse the drum with a service wash. A service wash, which can also be called a maintenance wash or self-clean cycle, uses hot water to clean the inside of the machine. Some newer washing machines have a service wash function. If your machine does not have such a function, you can simply set it to a long warm cycle.
Performing a service wash cycle about once a month can help prevent washing machine odors from recurring in the future. Always make sure your washer is completely drained before starting a maintenance cycle. You can also add a washing machine cleaner to the wash cycle. This removes more bacteria and odors than hot water alone can.
If your washing machine stinks despite cleaning, the problem could be a blockage in the drain pipe.
