Washing machines have a reputation for becoming a little stinky over time. A smell will start to emit from the heart of your laundry room without cause, leaving you to wonder where in the world this smell is coming from. In most cases, if you have a front-load washer your washing machine is the source of the unpleasant odor. Front load washing machines, unlike top load washing machines, have more places to hide dirt and grime and these places can be especially hard to clean. With the traces of dirt and grime in your washing machine, these unwanted objects can make its way onto your clothes making them stink! So the real question is how do we kick out the dirt and grime from our front-load washing machines?
Why Does My Washing Machine Smell?
The smell permeating from your washer can be a number of different things. The conditions of your washing machine make for the perfect place for bacteria, mold, and mildew to grow. These three unwanted items excel in dark, damp, and warm areas which describes your washing machine to a tee. The smells you are most likely smelling are a culmination of bacteria and mildew mixing together to create the foul smelling odor. Another factor to consider that may be an added “funk” creator in your washing machine is a buildup of excess laundry detergent and fabric softener. I’m sure you have overdone it a time or two on how much detergent you used in your laundry load. The use of too much laundry detergent can create this buildup in the rubber gasket of your washing machine, leading to soap scum smell. Soap scum is the combination of detergent accumulation and skin and body oils that were on your clothes. Can you imagine the harsh smell that can create in your washing machine?
Tips to Removing the Mildew Smell
How do you get rid of that funky smell eliciting from your washing machine? That is the question we all keep asking whenever we get that foul smell in our washing machine. Many of us have heard of different methods to remove this smell from our washing machine, but here are the main tips to begin using in your laundry room to remove bad stenches in your washer.
Be Picky When Choosing A Detergent
Your detergent can be a big culprit for the stench of your washing machine. By using the wrong detergent you can be doing a big disservice to not only your clothes but your washing machine. Most front load washing machines typically require high-efficiency (HE) detergent to get the job done. Normal detergents produce more sud than your front load washer can handle and the more suds means the stinkier your washer can get. Another helpful hint is to try using a free and clear detergent, so that scented smells don’t build up in your washer, as well as using the dreaded fabric softener that really shouldn’t be used in front load washers. Also, think about using a laundry additive to remove harsh chemical odors in your laundry.
Clean the Gasket
The rubber gasket in your washing machine can be the problematic area in your washing machine, to say the least! The gasket is the ideal spot for dirt and grime to get stuck and trapped. Even with the correct detergent, the drum can still develop some mold and mildew buildup. Try to get in there and clean up around the rubber seal and try to rid the seal of any hidden dirt that is causing your clothes to smell a little foul.
Leave Your Washing Machine Door Open
A damp drum left for a period of time can certainly create an unpleasant odor in your machine. So how do you allow for the drum to dry? The best way is to make sure you leave your washing machine door open to allow it proper time to dry. Most washing machine doors today have a feature that makes it that the doors are left a crack open to help promote the drying of the drum to help alleviate odors.
Use an Effective Washing Machine Deodorizer
DIY’s are the new fad in trying to remove washing machine odors. The biggest method many people are using to remove odors from their machines is by using white vinegar. Although this may do the job it could be harming your washing machine. Vinegar could be eating away at your rubber hoses and seals making them brittle! Instead of using vinegar, try using an effective washing machine deodorizer like the OdorKlenz Washing Machine Deodorizer. This deodorizer is formulated to neutralize odors at their source via a compilation of metal oxides which are naturally derived. OdorKlenz is your expert on unwanted smells and has the ideal solution for troublesome front-load stenches. All you need to do is shake the liquid washing machine deodorizer and pour 1/2 cup into the dispenser of your machine. Run a normal, warm water cycle to get your machine de-funked of the stinky odors!
