Have you noticed a foul odor coming from your washing machine when you open it? Maybe you’ve noticed a mildew or moldy smell coming from “freshly” laundered towels or kitchen towels and wondered what’s wrong. If your clothes washer has a bad odor, don’t fret. There are several things you can do yourself to eliminate the odor and produce fresh smelling towels and clothes once again. The following information will help you determine the causes of a bad smelling wash and ways to get rid of odor.
Determine the Cause of the Odor
Before throwing in a cup of vinegar or lemon juice to clean the washing machine, you must first determine where the odor is coming from and why. Here are some common causes of foul odor emitted from your washing machine:
1. Mold and mildew may be growing inside your washer. Mold and mildew can result when water is left inside the washer (a common problem with front-loading washers).
2. Are you overloading the washing machine? If so, then your washer cannot operate as efficiently as it is meant to. Extra weight will impair the spin cycle and cause water to remain in the washing machine upon completion of the spin cycle.
3. The even distribution of clothes is important. A washing machine that makes thunderous noise from an uneven load of clothes is not only hard on your washer and leaves water behind, it is also very disruptive.
4. If you have a front-loading machine, closing the door at the end of a washing cycle can leave trapped water inside and start smelling. Leaving the door open after a washing cycle will allow any unused water to dry.
5. Another cause of washing machine odor is the lint that collects over time. Be sure to clean the lint traps of your washer on a regular basis. You’ll be surprised to find debris, hair, etc. that can eventually lead to odor.
6. Overusing detergents and fabric softeners is also a culprit in causing your washing machine to smell. Be sure to follow the manufacturer’s directions and try switching to dryer sheets from liquid softener.
7. If you do not use your washer for a long period of time, it’s a good idea to clean it on occasion with a cleaner (vinegar, bleach, lemon juice, etc.)
Common Ways to Clean Washing Machine
As just mentioned, you can clean your washer with a cup of vinegar using the hottest cycle. You can also combine 2 cups of white vinegar with ½ cup of baking soda using the washer’s hottest cycle. Lemon juice is also a good cleaner or substitute for vinegar.
Additionally, you can purchase products made specifically for cleaning your washing machine. Check the internet for sources or your local grocery store.
Preventative Maintenance
It’s also a good idea to prevent the foul odor of washing machines by eliminating the above mentioned causes of odor. Don’t forget to follow good practices when using your washing machine. Not only will you extend the life of this appliance, you’ll avoid having to endure bad odors and the process of removing them.
Sources: www.smellywasher.com/blog/www.homemanagement.suite101.com/article.cfm/washing_machine_odors
