Almost all users of Smelly Washer Cleaner are able to remove odor from their top or front load washing machine by adding a level cap (1 tablespoon) into the detergent dispenser with no clothing in the washer and allowing the washer to complete a hot wash cycle. If the odor isn’t initially removed follow the instructions below. For more difficult cases extended soakings make a world of difference! Also - the hotter the water is - the better Smelly Washer works.
More extreme cases need to put the washer into a hot soak and allow Smelly Washer to soak for a long period (even overnight) in order to give it time to dissolve the odor-causing mold buildup inside the outer tub. After soaking allow the cycle to complete. Very extreme cases will need to add extra water (1-3 gallons) of hot water after the washer has filled by adding hot water either directly through the door/lid or by pouring slowly into the detergent dispenser. This is done because the heaviest concentration of detergent/softener residue buildup and mold growth is invariably just above the normal waterline where suds and soiled water splash up against the outer tub and don’t get rinsed out. NEVER manually fill a front load washer with more than 5 gallons of water as it may force the door open.
To clean a top load washer. Fill the washer in the hottest setting after adding a tablespoon of Smelly Washer Cleaner in place of detergent. Add up to five gallons of water in order to also soak the area just above the normal waterline. Allow to agitate momentarily then stop the washer and allow it to soak.
If there is still an odor repeat the procedure. Keep in mind that in more extreme cases that the odor may be much worse before it gets better because as the outer layers of mold and residue are dissolved away the inner layers are exposed to air and smell worse!
To clean a door gasket on a front load washer: Mix just a teaspoon to a tablespoon of Smelly Washer Cleaner in a spray bottle with hot water and spray the affected areas liberally with the solution. Allow it to soak for a long period (even overnight) then wipe the mold away! Mold stains impregnated into the rubber or plastic may take repeated applications and/or vigorous scrubbing to remove.
To clean your detergent/softener dispenser: If the dispenser can be removed from the washer and soaked in a solution of hot water and Smelly Washer overnight do so. Otherwise use a spray bottle to liberally douse a solution into all the compartments and allow to soak overnight then pour hot water into them to clear the channels of detergent/softener/mold build-up.
To get rid of mildew odor from towels and/or clothing: The washing machine MUST be cleaned before attempting to get rid of the odor-causing mold spores from towels and clothing because the odor is being transferred from the washer to them. After the washer is free from odor add a tablespoon of Smelly Washer to a full load and allow to agitate in a hot setting. Stop the washer and soak for two hours. Complete the cycle and the towels should smell like new. More extreme cases will need to do another wash with detergent to rinse out the dead mold spores. Do not soak brand new dark towels in Smelly Washer because they will fade. Wait until they’ve been washed a few times.
To remove mold on windows, canvas boat covers, etc. Add 1 tablespoon of Smelly Washer to a spray bottle filled with hot water and spray the affected areas liberally with the solution. Allow it to soak for a long period and then wipe the mold away. To keep the mold away spray again lightly after cleaning. The completely organic solution won’t allow mold to return! a. Silicone adhesive used on windows, etc for sealant allows mold growth. It is best to use
Posted under How to Use Smelly Washer Cleaner, Smelly Washer Cleaner
This post was written by Paul Flynn on July 29, 2008
I read about your Smelly Washer product in the Fixit Column of the Minneapolis Star Tribune. I got my order from you in an about two days and used on my smelly towels. Just like magic the ugly odor has gone.
I have just placed my second order aand only wish you offered a larger size. The product has completely eliminated the foul smell in our laundry room when a plumber service call cost me nearly $100 with no improvement with with our Maytag front loaded washer. Now all is well and the room and the towels all smell great. Thank you and good luck with your invention.
(Mrs Meyers sold to S.C. Johnson you know!)
Thanks Linda / who is this Mrs. Meyers you speak of ?
I would like to know if this will be just as effective on top loaders?
Barb/ Smellywasher is just as effective on top loaders. Thanks, Paul
Thank you, thank you…..I guess I’ll keep my Bosch front load washer. Everything is working like it should.
Hi Josie / You’re welcome! Remember to change your detergent habits and the odor won’t return!
Hi!
I had a Maytag Neptune that developed mold, but no smell.
Now I have a brand new LG…and want to avoid mold etc.
How can I best use this product proactively?
Hi Robi/ Use just a teaspoon in a hot wash or soak cycle monthly to remove any accumulated residue. Your detergent/softener/water temperature habits are most important for keeping mold growth away.
How do I clean the mold off the rubber seal in my front loading washer? ‘
Dawn/ Mix a tsp to a tbsp of Smelly Washer in a spray bottle and spray the affected areas liberally then allow it to soak for a long period (even overnight). Wipe the mold off in the morning. Mold stains impregnated into the gasket may take repeated applications and/or vigorous scrubbing.
My washer iteself doesn’t seem to have a smell, it is the towels that smell when they get wet (i.e. when I dry off after a shower or the kitchen towels are used to dry hands more than a few times). Will smelly washer help with that? We have well water and a water softener (dual filter). Thanks!
Kate/ You have just the start of a mold problem in your washer. The mold spores are being transferred from the washer to your towels. You notice the problem there first because they are wet when used which activates the mold spores and because they’re used in close proximity to the face.
The washer should be cleaned before removing the odor from the towels. Smelly Washer Cleaner will clean both of them - Guaranteed!
The smell of my towels was getting so bad that I didn’t want to use them anymore. In fact, the smell was kind of making me gag. I didn’t understand why this was happening to my towels but I had never had a front loader before. A friend of mine gave me the name of Smelly Washer and I bought a bottle of it. I just used smelly washer in my front loader and then washed a bunch of towels, following the directions on the bottle. That nasty odor in my towels is FINALLY gone and my towels smell the way they’re supposed to after being washed. Thank you, thank you, thank you. I highly recommend Smelly Washer!
Hi JT/
You’re welcome, you’re welcome, you’re welcome! Remember to change your washing habits so you don’t have to buy more Smelly Washer!
Good morning, I was wondering how to go about using it in a washer that only fills with water above the clothes line and will drain if you leave it to soak? I do have a soak cycle, but I believe it only adds like 15 minutes to the wash cycle. Do I just run the normal cycle repeatedly? I see sometimes it takes more than 1 soak, so I’m wondering how many times I’d have to run on a normal cycle. Thanks.
Dawn/ If you are able to open the door to allow a longer soak, unplug the washer or even shut off the circuit breaker to stop the washer from draining it will make a world of difference. This would only be necessary for more extreme cases. The number of cleanings or cycles would depend upon how old the washer is and your washing habits.
I am at a loss. The laundry room itself smells like a locker room, but the clothes smell great and I can’t see any mold or mildew in the front load washer? I have tried smelly washer but I have only been able to run it through a cycle - I can’t soak it because this particular washer drains automatically when you turn off the washer. I will try what you suggest above by unplugging it. I do have a question that maybe you can answer. When the washer’s off, and I put my hand inside and rotate the drum manually, I hear water sloshing inside. Is this normal? Should there be water between the drum and the machine? Could this be the cause of the odor? Thank you for your very valuable website and product!
i have a top loading washer i have always used liquid detergent. i got smelly washer in crystal form can i still use it somehow?
I have a top loading washer. I have always used liquid detergent. i got smelly washer in crystal form can i still use it somehow?
It took several attempts, but I was able to get this product to work for me. The key was to add additional hot water as noted on the detailed instructions on this website. (instructions on the bottle are a bit too vague)
My one question relates to proper detergent use. You say I should use “a fraction” of the detergent quantity recommended by the detergent manufacturer. Specifically how much should I be use? Is there a preference of detergent type (i.e. powder, liquid, any specific chemicals)? Is it a good idea to add cleaners such as Simple Green, which claim to reduce the amount of laundry detergent needed? Thank you.
Is this septic friendly? I’ll be using this for my front load washer and it’s only 2 yrs old.
My washer and towels smelled so bad..I wanted to get rid of them! After 5 night soaks adding extra water- finally all the mold is gone!!! the smell is gone YAY! Just keep using smellywasher it will get that nasty smell!!
Thanks again!:)
remember the tips mentioned on this blog site your product is the best out there for this mold mildew issue. However, will using your product for a lengthy period of time, will it eliminate the issue over time or do we all have to keep using it,,forever?
College dorms many have front loaders, various users, no one cleans front loaders in this environment..I inspect my sons dorm units, mold/mildew of rubber gasket and soap dispenser fill with crud.
He does his clothes off campus now.
Note Smelly Washer marketing Dept:
You may want to promote your product to the large and small universities who have laundry facilities on site for students in the dorms as their on site maint. folks Im sure cannot not keep up with this issue.
I have a front end loader and do not have a “soak” cycle. How do I soak overnite with your product? At what point do I “stop” my washer to do this?