The problem is that while we can consider a washing machine as a magical gateway where filthy laundry goes in and gleaming clean clothing comes out, the washer is also a place where scents can start. The reason for this is that bacteria, mold, and mildew can thrive in the warm water and warmth of a washing machine, resulting in an unpleasant washer. Fortunately, if your washing machine starts to smell bad, it’s rather simple to stop the germs from multiplying and solve the issue. Here’s how.
Read also: How To Use White Vinegar In Your Laundry
How Frequently Your Washing Machine Should Be Cleaned
Experts advise doing a thorough cleaning every several months. To freshen up your washing machine before cleaning sessions, use the hottest setting or the “tub clean” or “service wash” settings.
Things to Think About Before Beginning
Toxic vapors can be produced when cleaning solutions are mixed. Because it is a two-step procedure and the cleaning agents are never mixed, this deep-clean method is safe. Before beginning the second cycle, make sure to clean the machine’s interior to get rid of any leftover bleach.
How to Clean a Smelly Washing Machine
- First, use vinegar to clean the lid or door of your washing machine. If you have a front loader, be sure to clean the gasket and the seal on the door, as these are common places for odorous standing water.
- Next, attach the detergent and bleach dispensers, which are a common source of odorous standing water. Scrub the dispensers and use a pipe cleaner to clear out the connecting pipes.
- Finally, fill the tub with bleach (4 cups for a top loader, and 2 cups for a front loader). Finally, use the hottest temperature setting and pause the washer for 30 minutes once it begins to agitate.
- Restart the cycle and add another rinse cycle at the end to remove all of the bleach.
- Fill the empty washer tub with vinegar (4 cups for a top loader and 2 cups for a front loader). Run the washer on the hottest setting once more, pause for 30 minutes after it begins to agitate, and then finish the cycle.
- Lastly, run your washer on “service wash,” “tub clean,” or the hottest wash setting.
- If the funky smell persists, clean out and drain the filter according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
How to Clean Without Using Bleach
You can skip step 3 above if you don’t want to use bleach to clean your washing machine. Rather, run the machine on its highest setting and add vinegar to the empty washer tub (4 cups for a top loader and 2 cups for a front loader). After 30 minutes of pause, allow the cycle to finish. Run a second cycle on the highest setting after adding half a cup of baking soda to the empty washer tub.
Additionally, it’s a good idea to remove the garments from the washer as soon as the cycle is complete. Odors can be avoided by drying the clothing and the washer as soon as possible. Wet garments can accelerate the growth of mold and mildew by creating a damp environment.
How to Get Rid of Hard Water Deposits
Your washing machine may have limescale accumulation if your water is hard—that is, contains higher concentrations of certain minerals, such as iron—which can draw germs and result in stains. Make use of washing machine-made water-softening tablets.
Read also: Laundry Symbols And What They Mean