Dirt, threads, standing water, and scum can be trapped in the gasket, making your washing machine smells like mildew. If your laundry machine smells bad, then this article will thoroughly guide you on removing mildew from the washing machine?
Run an empty cycle with hot water. Make a paste by mixing half a cup of white vinegar and 4tbs of baking soda. Add the mixture and let the washer run. It will kill any mold building up and foul odor. Repeat the process if necessary.
Before jumping toward the solution, have a look on what’s the reason behind the problem.
Why Does the Washing Machine Smells Like Mildew?
The main reason for the nasty smell coming from the laundry room is the mildew. Mold can grow over the standing water.
Leaving the washed clothes into the drum can also cause this problem.
Why Does My Heavy-Duty Laundry Machine Stink?
There are many reasons for this issue. The standing water in the draining hose makes your appliance stink most of the time.
Tapped scum and the standing water in the drain hose may also cause an unpleasant aroma coming from your heavy-duty washer.
The Cleaning Process – Keep Smelling Fresh.
Before starting the process, gather all the necessary ingredients you will use. These are not only organic but also daily kitchen use products.
Things Required to Clean Washing Machine.
- One Cup Vinegar
- Half Cup Baking Soda
- 2tbs White Bleach
- Detergent or Fabric Softener.
How To Clean a Smelly Top Loading Laundry Machine?
Follow these easy steps to get mold out of your top-loading washing appliance without getting any professional help.
- Fill it with hot water and let it run for 5 minutes.
- Add white vinegar to it and wait for another 10 minutes.
- Mix baking soda with water and add it in.
- Let the cycle complete and drain the water entirely.
- Make sure that there is no standing water in the drain hose.
Repeat the same process if necessary. It is recommended to disinfect your washer once a month to prevent it from stinking.
How Can I Make My Front Loader Washing Machine Smell Nice?
Overusing the detergent can cause a foul odor from your front-loading laundry machine. If fixed or wall-mounted, the bacteria and mold can build up. Here’s how you can fix the problem.
- Pour the half cup of baking soda into the empty washer drum.
- Add a cup of white vinegar and 2tbs of fabric softener to the detergent tray.
- Run the regular wash cycle with hot water.
- Drain it thoroughly.
- Add ½ cup of bleach to the bleach dispenser and run the second wash for persistent mildew.
- Visually make sure that there is no blockage in the drainage hose.
Regular service at 40 degrees once a Fortnight will make your laundry appliance smell nice.
How to Deep Clean Your Washing Machine? How Can I Get the Mold Out From My Washer?
A rotten aroma can ruin your laundry. To prevent it from happening, it is recommended to deep clean your laundry machine once a month.
Here’s the step-by-step guide.
Scrubbing the Washer Tub.
To ensure there is no soap scum left, start with scrubbing the tub or bucket. Mix baking soda with white vinegar and pour it in.
Use a soft brush or damp cloth and scrub it gently. Then, run an empty washing cycle with the heaviest setting and hot water.
It is advised to be very gentle while scrubbing a heavy duty washing machine as it can damage the interior.
Gasket Cleaning.
This step is crucial. Some powder and water may leave in the dispenser and gasket sealing. It can cause a strange sulphuric odor.
There is no problem with the top loader as gravity does its work.
How to Clean the Gasket of the Front Loader Washing Machine?
Start with opening the door and peeling the gasket. Once the interior is visible, remove any object you find, i.e., buttons, hair, or coins.
Spray bleach and soapy water and rub it gently with a stiff cloth. To obliterate the mildew, repeat the process twice.
Exterior Cleaning.
Mix soap and vinegar and add them into a spray mixture. Spray the mixture on the exterior and light scrub it to get all the dirt.
Use a damp cloth to clean the glass and LED display.
How Do I Clean My Washing Machine Drain Pipe?
To unclog the drain pipe, fill a bucket with hot water and add 1⁄2 cup of regular baking soda. Please take off the pipe and run the solution several times through it. Clogged tubes can cause damage and lead to washing machine leakage.
Tips For Maintaining The Fresh Smell In Your Compact Washing Machine.
Once done with the cleaning and getting the mold out. It is necessary to follow some tips so that you won’t face the same problem in the future.
- Don’t use too much detergent.
- Leave the door of the front loader open between cycles.
- Remove the clean fabric as soon as possible.
- Don’t leave your appliance wet.
- Wipe the inner surface after every laundry day.
Keep following these simple tricks. These will not only give a fresh aroma but will also add shelf life to your appliance. Keeping the laundry washer clean also minimises the system errors, and you don’t need to reset your washing machine often then.
Wrapping It Up!
Nobody wants the unpleasant smell coming from the laundry room. To get the mildew odor away, frequently run a vinegar cycle with the hot water. It is advised to visually make sure that there is no blockage in the pipes or standing water.
Once you start following the methods mentioned earlier and tricks, you’ll notice that your top/front loader smells like spring season.