Laundry Room Essentials

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A properly stocked laundry room can make a huge difference in how clean and fresh your clothing is.  It’s also good to know there are options besides using harsh chemicals

Natural Essentials

A lot of people are of the belief that it’s necessary to use harsh chemicals, such as bleach, to eliminate mildew and odors from their clothes and washing machine. Not so. While bleach is certainly a good sanitizing option for some things (killing germs and viruses when someone in the house is sick), it’s not a good option for everyday use. Bleach emits noxious fumes that can be harmful to the respitory system – especially for people with breathing problems such as asthma. It can also ruin fabrics if spilled. And it is poisonous if ingested so it’s use around children is not recommended.

A safer, and just as effective, alternative when it comes to your laundry room is all natural essentials such as vinegar and baking soda. Both are very effective at eliminating mildew and odors. It’s safe to use baking soda in every load of laundry to eliminate odors caused by mildew, body odor, or smoke. Vinegar can alo be used in your laundry to neutralize odors, but it does have an astringent smell that may linger on your clothes. A better use for vinegar in the laundry room is mixing it with water in a spray bottle and using it to clean hard surfaces such as the utility tub, outside, lid, and under the rim of your washing machine.

Detergents

Detergent makes the biggest difference in the effectiveness of our laundry practices.  The type used can make the difference in how clean our clothing is, can make your washer smell and can even make the difference in how long your washer lasts.  If you’re not happy with your detergent there are options to choose from.  Powder detergents are less prone to cause odor because of ingredients used but sometimes doesn’t fully dissolve.  There are all natural detergents that work great to remove stains and keep your laundry fresh.

Smelly Washer

A clean washing machine equals clean clothes. If your machine has washer mildew, chances are your clothes are also mildewed and everything stinks. To get clean clothes, you need the proper tools which includes a clean machine. A washing machine cleaner, such as Smelly Washer, uses all natural ingredients to safely and effectively remove the mildew, odor, and fungus that cause washer mildew.
To use Smelly Washer, add 1 capful to your washer on the “clean” or hottest setting with no clothes. For more stubborn washer mildew, let the washing machine cleaner soak before proceeding with the cycle.

A washing machine cleaner, like Smelly Washer, can also be mixed with a spray bottle of hot water and used to clean the rubber door gasket, under the rim, and in the detergent/softener basket of your machine.

Dryer Balls

Gone are the days of liquid fabric softener. If you haven’t heard by now, liquid fabric softener can wreak havoc on your washing machine by leaving behind a residue that can lead to washer mildew. A better alternative is skipping the softener in the washer and using dryer balls instead.

Dryer balls work by separating your clothes in the dryer which allows the warm air to circulate more evenly around the clothes. This helps reduce dry time, wrinkles, and static electricity. So long, fabric softener!

What’s Causing Your New Washing Machine To Stink?

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So you just bought a brand new washing machine and it stinks!  That stinks!  But don’t despair. Once you figure out the cause of  odor your new stinky washing machine, you can take steps to eliminate and prevent it.

Front Load Washing Machines

Unfortunately, front loaders have gotten a bad rap over recent years. While front load washing machines receive praise for their high efficiency by using less water and energy they are notorious for causing odor.

One of the biggest culprits of a smelly washing machine is residue buildup on the inside of the outer tub.. If you notice a musty washer odor, chances are you have mildew in your washing machine. Mildew thrives in damp conditions, feeding off of lint, detergent suds, and even hair and other organic material left behind after a wash.

To prevent this problem:

  • use less detergent.  It’s odd to think that all you need is a tbsp. of detergent but, generally speaking, we’re only washing perfume and sweat out of out clothing!
  • stop using fabric softener.  It’s dispensed in the rinse cycle and leaves a film that becomes a food source for bacteria and mold to grow.  Dryer sheets or dryer balls area better options.
  • Maintain your washer by running a hot cycle as your last cycle on wash day and even an extra rinse if doing especially soiled laundry.
  • Clean the filter.  The filter can be partially plugged to slow the drain of water to cause problems.

 

to dry any excess water from the machine after a wash. Places like the rubber door gasket and detergent drawer harbor hidden water in a front loader. It also helps to clean the drain pump filter located in the bottom, front panel of the washer. This filter catches lint and other material as it drains from the washer; which, combined with water can be the source of your stinky washing machine.

Finally, front loaders require a special high efficiency (HE) detergent. They also require a lot less of this special detergent than you’re probably used to using. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions and measure carefully. Detergent mistakes can cause over-sudsing and poor rinsing, both of which can cause washer odor.

Top Load Washing Machines

A top loader can also harbor mildew caused by residual water. In this case, the water, lint and other material can become trapped under the agitator or under the lid of the washer. Wipe these areas down with a clean towel after each wash and remove and clean under the agitator periodically.

A good habit with any type of washer is to always leave the lid or door open in between loads. This will allow any residual water to evaporate completely.

In both types of washers, not using the machine regularly can also cause washer odor. Because a washer doesn’t drain completely and a small amount of water remains in the tub, it’s important to use the machine regularly to flush out the system.

Use Smelly Washer To Eliminate And Prevent Odors

Using a washer cleaner, such as Smelly Washer, a couple times a month will eliminate and help prevent future washer odor. Smelly Washer uses all natural ingredients to eliminate odor, fungus and mildew that can cause a stinky washing machine. Smelly Washer should be used in the hottest or “clean” cycle of your washer with no clothes.

If your stinky washing machine doesn’t smell musty like mold or mildew, then you may have a different problem. If you ever smell an electrical or burning smell, you should unplug the machine and contact the manufacturer.

Tips For Removing Smoke Smells From Clothes

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If you’re a smoker or are around people who are, you’ve experienced the smell of cigarette smoke ligering on your clothes long after the butt has been extinguished. Washing smoky clothes over time can even cause a smelly washing machine. Here are a few tricks for removing smoke smell from clothes and using a washing machine cleaner to keep your washer fresh.

Remove Smoke Smell From Clothes

Smoke is particulary hard to remove from clothes because of the tar in the tobacco; the tar causes the smoke to adhere to your clothes more readily than other offensive odors. So to prevent a smelly washing machine, it’s a good idea to remove as much smoke as possible before washing.

Trick 1: put the smoky clothes in a plastic bag with 2 dryer sheets and 2 tablespoons of baking soda. Secure the bag, and shake. Let the clothes sit overnight, then shake out any remaining baking soda and wash as usual.

Trick 2: add 1 cup of baking soda and 1 cup of white vinegar to your washing machine and allow the smoky clothes to soak for at least an hour. Add detergent and wash as usual. This will also help neutralize your smelly washing machine.

Both baking soda and vinegar have remarkable odor-neutralizing abilities. For clothes that are not washable, hang them outside to air out before dry-cleaning.

Use A Washing Machine Cleaner

If you’ve been washing smoky clothes for any extended period of time, you may have a smelly washing machine. While the tar and smoke may be eliminated from your clothes in a typical wash cycle, the odors can remain and cling to the inside of your washer. The smoky smell is then re-deposited onto your “clean” clothes, making them come out smelling… not-so-fresh.

Using a washing machine cleaner, such as Smelly Washer, effectively removes odors from your washing machine; and the natural ingredients in Smelly Washer are safe and gentle and can be used up to twice a month. A washing machine cleaner is used in your washer’s hottest or “clean” cycle with no clothes.

Smelly Washer not only removes odors; it also effectively eliminates mildew and fungus that can make your clothes smell musty.

Freshen Up In Between Washes

In between washes, there are a few simple tricks to minimize smoke clinging to your clothes. Whether you are a smoker, or are standing near someone who is smoking, stand upwind so the smoke blows away from you.

You can also use an odor-eliminating fabric spray on your clothes. Certain fabric sprays are designed to actually remove odors, not just cover them up with flowery smells. And if you don’t plan to wash smoky clothes right away, instead of throwing them in the hamper, try hanging them up instead.

How to Get Rid of Foul Odor by Cleaning Your Washer

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A stinky washing machine is no laughing matter. Not only can it cause your laundry room and surrounding area to reek, it can also be the source of stinky, mildewed towels and clothing. All of which can be embarrassing and downright miserable to live with. If you’ve tried the traditional methods of cleaning your washing machine without success, the source of the stink may be hidden.

A Hidden Cause To Your Stinky Washing Machine

A washing machine’s job is to clean clothes, and that’s exactly what it does. But have you ever wondered where all the “dirt” goes? Most of it drains out of the washing machine with the water. But larger particles like lint, hair, skin and even residual detergent and fabric softener, can accumulate in hidden places in the washing machine.

These places where residue collects are breeding grounds for mildew and bacteria, which can cause a smelly washing machine. Mildew thrives in dark, damp places where there is a food source (such as lint, hair and detergent suds).

One of the most common places in a washing machine for mildew growth is under the agitator. This is an out-of-sight and out-of-reach area that has a tendency to trap larger particles and any residual water that doesn’t drain. So it’s important to clean under your agitator regularly to remove any build-up before it begins to mildew.

Remove And Clean Under The Agitator

Removing an agitator isn’t as scary as it sounds. In only a few simple steps, you can eliminate the source of your stinky washing machine.

The first step is to remove the cap on the top by either lifting or twisting it off. Beneath this cap should be a bolt. Use a socket wrench to unscrew the bolt, and then lift the agitator up out of the washing machine.

If you’ve never cleaned under the agitator, it may be “glued” down by all the gunk and mildew. It may be necessary to use rubber gloves to get a good grip, or even slip a small rope under the agitator for leverage to help pull it up out of the machine.

Warning:  It’s easy to get smacked in the face by the agitator suddenly popping loose so be careful.  As always, safety should be your number one concern!

Once you have removed the agitator, thoroughly clean the washing machine tub and the agitator with a cleaning solution.  You may need to scrub the thicker areas and allow drying before replacing the agitator.

Clean the filter

It’s surprising what can make its way to the filter trap and it’s possible for the filter to become plugged with lint, toys, coins, screws, bra wires, etc. A good maintenance plan includes cleaning your filter if your washer has it.  Consult your owners manual or do a search using your model number

Use A Washer Cleaner

Now that you have a clean washer, it’s important to maintain it. Not only should you clean under the agitator regularly, you should also consider using a washer cleaner such as Smelly Cleaner.

Washer cleaners are used in the hottest or clean cycle of the washing machine. Smelly Washer uses all natural ingredients to safely and effectively remove odor, fungus and mildew from your washing machine.

When combined with routine maintenance and cleaning of your washing machine, a washer cleaner can help eliminate and prevent the embarrassing odors caused by a stinky washing machine.

3 Tips For Preventing Washing Machine Odor In Your Front Loader

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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 is a gallon or more of residual water left behind that does not drain. This water is not visible as it remains on the bottom of the plastic outer tub and in the drain pump in the bottom of the washer.

Many people like to use only cold water for washing in order to save energy.  This is great but a hot wash or soak should be done as the last cycle on wash day.  It’s a perfect chance to do more soiled laundry!  If leaving for a vacation or the washer is not going to be used soon a second rinse is a good idea.  These methods are the easiest ways to prevent a smelly washing machine. 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, 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.

Don’t use fabric softener

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 that builds up on the inside of outer tub. It also accumulates in hard-to-reach places such as under the agitator and above the splash line. When combined with water, this residue makes the perfect food source for mildew to grow and cause washing machine odor.

The solution is simple: switch to fabric softener sheets or dryer balls. The sheets can be cut in half and even reused and still be effective.  They even have an added bonus of preventing static in the dryer.  Keep in mind softener and/or sheets can be overused and cause problems with long dry times and multiple repair attempts by coating the lint screen and/or the moisture sensor in most dryers.

Use A Washer Cleaner

Using a washer cleaner, such as Smelly Washer, monthly 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. If odor persists add a cap of Smelly Washer or Smelly towel to a full load of whites.  The added bulk of the clothing will lift the water level to include the splash area 3-5 inches above the normal waterline.  This “splash area” is always the worst area for buildup.  Use Smelly Washer before washing machine odor begins and you’ll always have a fresh 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!  Just spray liberally and allow to soak. This method is also great to remove mildew stains from showers and tile grout.

3 Secrets For Removing Mildew Odors From Towels

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Nothing’s worse than a lingering mildew odor in your linen closet when your towels are supposed to be “spring fresh.” But don’t despair.  If your towels are smelly, here are a few simple secrets that will help break the mildew cycle and prevent it from returning. If nothing else works we’ve created all natural Smelly Cleaners to remove odor from your clothes washer, dishwasher and laundry forever!

 

The Baking Soda Trick

OK, what doesn’t baking soda do? It’s in our toothpaste, it’s in our cat litter, it’s in our laundry detergent, and there’s probably even a box in your fridge to help neutralize odors. Notice a trend?

Baking soda, or sodium bicarbonate, is a chemical compound with alkaline properties which make it a great neutralizer and proven odor remover. Baking soda is used in cooking, cleaning, and even is the main ingredient in many antacids. Because of these properties and its gentle nature, it can be safely used in every load of laundry you do.

If your towels are smelly, try using ½ cup of baking soda in your next load. This amount can safely be used in every load of towels and even regular clothing. For a more powerful odor-fighting combination, use baking soda and very hot water.

High Heat

We know that heat kills bacteria. That’s why we cook meat and pasteurize milk. So it makes sense that high temperatures would also be effective at eliminating and preventing mildew in your washing machine.

Most washing machines come with specific cycles that use hot water such as “sanitary” or “whitest whites.” Unfortunately, it’s simply not realistic to wash all of your clothing in hot water because it can cause damage and shrinkage. Fortunately, most towels are made of 100% cotton which allows them to be washed in hot water, for the specific reason of sanitizing them.

To use these hot cycles effectively, take the extra time and do the extra load; wash your towels separate from the rest of your clothes. These high heat cycles can also be used in between load of towels to simply clean your washing machine. For an extra boost, use a washer cleaner.

A Clean Washer = Clean Clothes

Clean, fresh towels start with a  clean washing machine.  Lingering mildew in the washer can work its way into clothes during a wash to make it smell.

To combat mildew in your washing machine, use a washer cleaner such as Smelly Washer. The natural ingredients safely and effectively eliminate odor, fungus and mildew from your washing machine. A washer cleaner can be used whenever odor is noticed. Use Smelly Washer with no clothes or towels in the load, and use the highest temperature or cleaning cycle on your washing machine.  If odor persists, add a cap to a full load of laundry and wash in order clean the splash area above the normal washing waterline and the entire inside of the outer, plastic tub.

Washer cleaners are powerful tools against the war on smelly towels. Use a washer cleaner, such as Smelly Washer, regularly to help prevent mildew from growing in the first place. In between cleanings, keep your towels fresh with baking soda and hot water.

3 Places In Your Home Mold Likes To Hide

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Mold is a type of fungus that thrives in warm, damp conditions. While some molds may pose certain health risks, there are also some molds hiding around your home that may just be downright stinky. Three places to check for smelly, hidden mold: your bathroom, washing machine and under carpeting.

Not Just The Bathroom Shower

When you think of warm, damp conditions, the bathroom shower and tub may seem like obvious breeding grounds for mold. And while these surfaces can certainly be host to mold if not properly cleaned and maintained, there are other out-of-sight places in your bathroom that mold may be lurking.

If your bathroom smells musty or like mildew and your shower is sparkling, take a look at your walls. If you have wallpaper in your bathroom, it is very possible mold is hiding behind it. Combined with the warm steam from the shower, mold can feed off the paper and glue from the wallpaper. Mold can also hide under shower mats or rugs if they are not moved and dried regularly.

The best way to combat bathroom mold is to regularly clean the shower and tub, clean and dry mats and rugs, and remove wallpaper and instead opt for a good primer and paint that will inhibit mold growth.

Washing Machine

If you notice mildew smell on clothing, the culprit is likely washer mildew. There are a number of reasons mildew may be growing in your washing machine. Overuse of detergent or using the wrong type of detergent, using liquid fabric softener, and using cold water can all cause washer mildew.

A mildew smell on clothing can also be caused if wet clothes are left to linger after a wash cycle is complete, or if residual water is left in the tub. To prevent this type of washer mildew, always promptly remove wet clothes and leave the lid or door ajar to allow the residual water to evaporate.

Washer mildew can be prevented by using a washing machine cleaner such as Smelly Washer in the cleaning cycle. This will eliminate mold and allergens and the embarrassing mildew smell on clothing that is caused by washer mildew.

Carpeting

Mold can grow, unseen, under the carpeting in your home. The carpet fibers and padding provide an excellent food source for mold if given the right conditions. This is why it is never a good idea to install carpeting anywhere in a home where moisture may be an issue, such as the bathroom, kitchen, laundry room, or outdoor area.
If having your carpets cleaned with a machine that uses water, it is important to make sure the carpet dries thoroughly and in a timely manner. If you ever have a flood, the water needs to be dried within 24-48 hours to prevent the growth of mold.

If you do find mold under your carpeting, it’s best to call in a carpet cleaning professional that specializes in mold.

3 Surprising Culprits That Are Making Your Washing Machine Stinky

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We’ve all experienced it. You get out of the shower and grab a fresh towel or pull a clean shirt over your head, only to smell mildew. But don’t blame your clothes… the smell is actually coming from your washing machine. If your washing machine is stinky there are several possible causes.

Residual Water

Washing machines are made to hold, cycle, and drain water, so this one may seem a bit odd. But water trapped in the rubber door gasket or detergent drawer of a front loader, or under the rim of a top loader, can be a breeding ground for washing machine mold.

Mold is a living organism. It needs food and warm, damp conditions to thrive, making your average washing machine an ideal playground.

To prevent washing machine mold caused by residual water, simply leave the door or lid ajar after you’re done using the washer. Also keep a clean hand towel in the laundry room and wipe around the door, inside the rubber gasket, and inside the detergent drawer of a front loader. On a top loader, wipe under the rim and agitator. Do this every time to prevent washing machine mold.

Detergent Mistakes

Using too much powdered or liquid detergent can cause several problems which can lead to washing machine mold. Too much detergent can cause excess suds — and these leftover suds create a cozy place for mold to grow.

This problem may be compounded in a front load washer. Because these machines are high efficiency, they use less water and therefore require a smaller amount of a special high efficiency (HE) detergent.

The solution is easy. Follow the manufacturer’s guidelines for detergent and measure carefully.

Dirty Drain Pump Filter

If your washing machine is stinky and residual water and detergent mistakes aren’t the culprit, the problem may be out of sight. When a washing machine drains, it takes with it soap, dirt, lint and even skin and hair. Over time, these items can get trapped and collect in the drain pipe. So it is important to clean the drain pump filter every so often to prevent washing machine mold.

The drain is located on the lower, front panel of both front and top loader washing machines. Some, especially front loaders, are very easy to access via a flap or panel. Others are hidden behind a panel that must be removed first.

After locating the drain, have a bucket and towel ready when you unscrew it. After draining the water, the filter can be removed and cleaned. You will immediately see why your washing machine is stinky. Most washing machine manufacturers recommend cleaning out the drain filter once per month.

If your washing machine is stinky, consider these three surprising culprit. With proper care and maintenance, you can easily eliminate washing machine mold.

Blame Your Washer If Your Towels Smell

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There’s nothing quite like stepping out of a long, luxurious shower and wrapping yourself in a plush, freshly-laundered towel that smells like… mold? But wait! Before you kick your towels to the curb, consider the underlying cause. It’s not your towels’ fault that they stink… it’s actually your washer that’s to blame.

What Makes Your Towels Smell

If you have good habits when it comes to dealing with damp, dirty towels (hanging them up to dry after a shower, laundering right away, and not letting damp towels sit at the bottom of the laundry basket), then it may be your washing machine that’s making your towels smell.

If your washing machine succumbs to mildew, then your towels and clothes will inevitably follow.

There are several things that may cause mildew to grow in your washer including residual water, misuse of detergent and fabric softener, and bad laundry habits.

If you start to notice that your towels smell, and not in a “spring meadow” or “clean mountain” kind of way, it’s a pretty good indication you have mold in your washing machine. The first plan of attack is to clean your washing machine.

How To Clean Your Washing Machine

There are several washing machine cleaner products on the market, that when used properly can eliminate and prevent washer mold and mildew. Smelly Washer washing machine cleaner uses natural ingredients to effectively remove odor, fungus and mildew. It is recommended that you use Smelly Washer twice a month to clean your washing machine.

Washing machine cleaners should be used with your washer’s hottest cycle or preset cleaning cycle, with no laundry in the tub. For more extreme cases of mildew, allow the cleaner to soak in the tub and repeat the process until the mildew is gone.

Smelly Washer can also be mixed in a spray bottle with hot water to clean inconspicuous areas like under the rim of a top loader and in the rubber door gasket and detergent drawer of a front loader; all of which are damp places where mildew likes to hide.

Preventing Washer Mildew

Once you have a clean washing machine, there are some simple steps you can take to prevent future mildew growth. First, always leave the lid or door ajar to allow any residual water to evaporate.

Next, use the right detergent and measure carefully; this is especially true of front loader washers. Because they are high efficiency, they use less water and require a smaller amount of a specially formulated high efficiency (HE) detergent. Liquid fabric softener also leaves behind a residue that is conducive to mildew growth; switch to dryer sheets instead.

Finally, follow your washing machine manufacturer’s instructions for maintenance which includes temperature settings, the cleaning cycle, and cleaning the drain filter.
Following these simple steps to clean your washing machine will help eliminate and prevent the mildew that’s making your towels smell.

How To Clean A Washing Machine That Stinks

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If your washing machine stinks, don’t worry, you’re not alone. Washer mildew and odors are one of the most common complaints amongst homeowners. However, it is possible to alleviate the smell through a few simple steps.

Identify Why Your Washing Machine Stinks

Most of the time, a musty or mildew smell in or around your washer (or on your clothes!) is indicative of mold growing in your washing machine. Mold is a living organism that, in addition to a food source, needs warm, damp conditions to thrive.



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There are several things that may cause mildew to grow in your washer including residual water, misuse of detergent and fabric softener, and bad laundry habits in general. Lint, dirt, soap and even skin and hair can also accumulate in the drain pump filter or under the agitator. And this constantly wet, decaying matter (aka “gunk”) can really start to stink over time.

Clean Under The Agitator Or Drain Pump Filter

If your washing machine stinks, this is one of the less obvious culprits. It requires a tad bit more work than throwing some bleach or washing machine cleaner into the clean cycle, but it can effectively eliminate the “gunk” at the root cause of the stench.

Typically, your washing machine’s instruction manual will tell you how, and how often, to clean under the agitator or the drain pump filter. Top and front loaders are different in the way they operate and drain, so there are different methods for both.

For a top loader, you’ll need to remove the agitator to get to the “gunk.” Usually, there is a top that can be popped off to expose a bolt in the agitator. Removing the bolt allows the agitator to be lifted up out of the washer. Once removed, clean in, under and around the agitator with a hot water and bleach solution.

A front loader washer does not always drain completely so they typically have a panel on the bottom, either exposed or hidden, that contains the drain pump filter. Removing the panel will expose a drain. Make sure you have a bucket and a towel handy as some water will come out when the drain is released. Once the water is drained, the filter can be removed and the “gunk” cleaned out. Most manufacturers recommend cleaning the filter once a month.

Use a Washing Machine Cleaner

A washing machine cleaner, such as Smelly Washer, uses natural ingredients to remove odor, fungus and mildew from your washer. If your washing machine stinks, simply follow the instructions and add some washing machine cleaner to its cleaning, or hottest, cycle. For tougher odors, repeat the process. Use a washing machine cleaner up to twice a month to prevent mildew from returning.

Washer mildew is not the end of the world. With a little elbow grease and a quality washing machine cleaner, your smelly washer will be a distant memory.