If you’re struggling with washing machine odor in your front load washer, or just hoping to avoid it, here are a few simple tips to ensure you always have a fresh washer.
The Water Factor
Water plays an important role in the function of your washing machine. Not only does it clean your clothes, water is also responsible for ensuring your washer is clean (or not!)
When a cycle is complete, there may be some residual water left behind that doesn’t drain. It can hide under the lid or agitator of a top loader, or in the rubber door gasket or detergent drawer of a front loader. It can also remain in the drain pump filter in the bottom of the washer.
One of the easiest ways to prevent a smelly washing machine is to remove the water that mildew feeds off of. After each load, use a tower to whisk away any remaining water. Also, leave the lid or door ajar after a load to allow the inside of the washer to dry completely.
The temperature of the water can also be a culprit of washing machine odor. While it’s unrealistic to wash all your laundry in hot water, where you can, you should. Heat kills bacteria and can help prevent mildew from growing. At the very least, run the hottest cleaning cycle once a month with no clothes in the washer.
Switch Fabric Softeners
If it’s a fresh washer you crave, liquid fabric softener is one of your worst enemies. Liquid fabric softener has a tendency to leave a residue behind the builds up on the inside of the tub. It also accumulates in hard-to-reach places such as under the agitator. When combined with water, this residue makes the perfect breeding ground for mildew that causes washing machine odor.
The solution is simple: switch to fabric softener sheets. The sheets are just as effective as the liquid at softening your clothes and leaving behind a fresh scent. They even have an added bonus of preventing static in the dryer. Most importantly, the sheets are harmless to use in your dryer.
Use A Washer Cleaner
Using a washer cleaner, such as Smelly Washer, a couple times a month will ensure you always have a fresh washer. Smelly Washer uses all natural ingredients to eliminate odor, fungus and mildew that cause washing machine odor.
Smelly Washer should be used in the hottest or “clean” cycle of your washer with no clothes. For more stubborn odors, allow the solution to soak in the washer. Smelly Washer can also be mixed in a spray bottle of warm water to clean the detergent drawer, rubber door gasket, or under the lid – all those hard-to-reach places!
Use Smelly Washer before washing machine odor begins and you’ll always have a fresh washer.
Posted under How to Get Rid of Foul Odor, How to Have Fresh Smelling Laundry
This post was written by smellywasher on August 12, 2009
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