Best Ways to Remove Odor from Washing Machines
If your washing machine stinks, then all the clothes washed therein will stink too. Not the desired results at the end of laundry day. Both front and top loading washing machines develop odors because mold and bacteria grow inside the warm, moist environment. That odor will transfer to clean clothes during the laundry cycle and stink up your laundry room unless you remove the odor from the washing machine with these tips.
Front Loaders
Start by selecting the machine’s preset cycle to clean the interior. Add one cup of liquid chlorine bleach to the dispenser (or use a cleaning product designed for front loaders). Run the machine through the cleaning cycle, then use a dry towel to dry the drum interior and around all the rubber door gaskets. Remove the dispenser drawer and rinse it with warm water to soften the buildup of detergent and other laundry additives, then use an old toothbrush to scrub away the product buildup. The laundry product buildup in the dispenser is a magnet for mold and mildew.
Top Loaders
Select a normal wash cycle, large load size with hot water. Pour one cup of liquid chlorine bleach into dispenser or directly into water after machine is full. Allow the machine to run through the normal cycle, then run it through an extra rinse cycle.
Remove soap and softener dispensers, rinse in warm water and scrub with an old toothbrush. For machines with an agitator, remove it if possible and scrub away the gunk buildup that often adheres to the underside of the agitator.
Prevent the Stink
Once the odor-causing mold and bacteria has been cleaned away prevent it from re-growing with a little machine maintenance.
Before washing each load of dirty towels, use one of them to wipe away dribbles around the detergent dispenser.
At the end of laundry day leave the washing machine door open for at least an hour so the interior moisture can evaporate. Mold and mildew (the stink causers) will have a harder time trying to grow in a dry environment so the stink will be kept at bay.
Keep your washing machine fresh smelling by running a preventive cleaning cycle with one cup of liquid chlorine bleach each month.
