If you have a stinky washing machine, don’t panic. A number of issues can cause a smelly washer. The most important thing is to take care of the mold and mildew that cause the musty smell as soon as possible by cleaning your washer with washer cleaner. If you don’t address the mold and mildew problem immediately with washer cleaner, the musty smell can transfer to your clothing and to other rooms in your home. This post looks at a few of the main reasons you may have a stinky washing machine.

Using Too Much Detergent

By using too much washing detergent, you create an environment favorable for the formation of mold and mildew. Overusing detergent creates more soapsuds and since soapsuds contain air and moisture, they provide the perfect environment for developing a stinky washing machine. If you don’t thoroughly rinse the remaining soapsuds from your washing machine after each load, mold and mildew are likely to form.

An overabundance of soapsuds can also get in the way of your washing machine working properly. Soapsuds can change the tension on the surface of the water. When this surface changes, the soapsuds can work themselves into the sealed bearings inside your stainless steel tub. The moisture that gets into the bearings can ruin them along with ruining your washing machine. It’s expensive to replace these bearings, so it definitely worthwhile to use the correct amount of detergent to avoid a stinky washing machine.

Using Cold Water Only

If you use cold water in your washing machine, you probably don’t know that it keeps detergents from dissolving as well. Hot water is much more effective at dissolving detergent than cold water. When using cold water, detergent particles remain in the tub, even after running it through a complete cycle. These moist, partially dissolved detergent particles provide the optimal home for mold and mildew.

If you do only use cold water, make sure you clean away any detergent particles left behind after each wash and perform a thorough weekly check. In addition, consider running your washing machine through a full hot water cycle at least once per week to dissolve any remaining detergent particles.

Using Fabric Softener

Liquid fabric softener can also provide the ideal breeding ground for mold and mildew. Dispensed during the rinse cycle, liquid fabric softener can collect within the outer part of the tub, causing a stinky washing machine. If fabric softener is necessary, consider dryer sheets instead of liquid fabric softener. Dryer sheets will not provide a place for mold and mildew to grow.

To get rid of the musty odor of mold and mildew due to using too much detergent, only cold water, or liquid fabric softener, use washer cleaner, making sure to follow the directions exactly. A thorough cleaning with washer cleaner can leave any stinky washing machine clean, free of mold and mildew, and smelling fresh.

When it comes to getting stinky, top load washing machines can suffer just as much as front load machines. If you have a top load machine with a musty problem, the good news some simple remedies can rid your machine of the stink. Before learning how to clean your smelly washing machine, it’s important to know what is causing your top load to have a problem.

This article looks at several reasons why your top loader has the musty stink of washing machine mold and what you can do to eliminate it so your clothes and home smell clean and fresh again.

Not Using Your Machine Regularly

If you don’t use the washer regularly bacteria and molds have time to grow. Before you store the unit, leave for a vacation and even if you just don’t use the washer very much your washing habits can keep odor away.

Water temperature is important. Using mainly cold water for washing is fine, however, a hot wash or soak as your last cycle on wash day will help dissolve residue to flush it out. It’s a perfect opportunity to do more soiled laundry. Also, an extra rinse cycle after the last wash will help remove bacteria and residue from the bottom of the tub and drain pump. This is a great way to prevent having a smelly washing machine.

Overusing Detergent

The amount of detergent used is important when considering the washer odor problem. With today’s treated water, advanced concentrated detergents and improved washers you really don’t need to use an excessive amount of detergent as achieving the necessary chemical reaction with water only takes a small amount of detergent. Unless washing very soiled clothing - no more than 1 tbsp of detergent should be used. This is especially important is using liquid detergent and when washing in treated water.

When overusing detergent too many soapsuds form. These extra soapsuds can’t all exit the machine during the rinse cycle and remain in the inside of the unit to become a food source for bacteria and molds. The splash area just 3-5 inches above the normal water line is the area of heaviest buildup of suds and soiled water that splash up and don’t get rinsed out.

Cleaning Your Top Load Machine

To remove washing machine mold and mildew from your top or front loading washer the procedure of cleaning is as important as what is used. If you haven’t been able to get rid of odor using baking soda, vinegar or other cleaners Smelly Washer is your answer. If odor is persistent or returns in laundry add a cap of Smelly Washer or Towel Cleaner to a full load of laundry (preferably whites) and run through a hot setting. The added bulk of the clothing will raise the washing level to reach the splash area and help remove residue from that area.

For More Extreme Odor

Let the hot water soak the tub for an hour or two to dissolve the built up residue. The longer you soak in hot water and washer cleaner, the better results you’ll have. After a good soaking, turn the machine back on to run the remainder of the cycle.

It’s that easy. The important thing is that you clean your top load machine at the first sign of odor or washing machine mold and mildew. Getting rid of the musty stink of your smelly washing machine will keep your clothes and even your home smelling clean and fresh.

If you have a stinky washing machine, don’t panic. A number of issues can cause a smelly washer. The most important thing is to take care of the mold and mildew that cause the musty smell as soon as possible by cleaning your washer with washer cleaner. If you don’t address the mold and mildew problem immediately with washer cleaner, the musty smell can transfer to your clothing and to other rooms in your home. This post looks at a few of the main reasons you may have a stinky washing machine.

Using Too Much Detergent

By using too much washing detergent, you create an environment favorable for the formation of mold and mildew. Overusing detergent creates more soapsuds and since soapsuds contain air and moisture, they provide the perfect environment for developing a stinky washing machine. If you don’t thoroughly rinse the remaining soapsuds from your washing machine after each load, mold and mildew are likely to form.

An overabundance of soapsuds can also get in the way of your washing machine working properly. Soapsuds can change the tension on the surface of the water. When this surface changes, the soapsuds can work themselves into the sealed bearings inside your stainless steel tub. The moisture that gets into the bearings can ruin them along with ruining your washing machine. It’s expensive to replace these bearings, so it definitely worthwhile to use the correct amount of detergent to avoid a stinky washing machine.

Using Cold Water Only

If you use cold water in your washing machine, you probably don’t know that it keeps detergents from dissolving as well. Hot water is much more effective at dissolving detergent than cold water. When using cold water, detergent residue remains in the tub, even after running it through a complete cycle. These moist, partially dissolved detergent particles provide food for mold and mildew.

If you do only use cold water, make sure you clean away any detergent particles left behind after each wash and perform a thorough weekly check. In addition, consider running your washing machine through a full hot water cycle at least once per week to dissolve any remaining detergent particles.

Using Fabric Softener

Liquid fabric softener can also provide the ideal breeding ground for mold and mildew. Dispensed during the rinse cycle, liquid fabric softener can collect within the outer part of the tub, causing a stinky washing machine. If fabric softener is necessary, consider dryer sheets instead of liquid fabric softener. Dryer sheets will not provide food for mold and mildew to grow.

To get rid of the musty odor of mold and mildew due to using too much detergent, only cold water, or liquid fabric softener, use washer cleaner, making sure to follow the directions exactly. A thorough cleaning with washer cleaner can leave any stinky washing machine clean, free of mold and mildew, and smelling fresh.

When it comes to getting stinky, top load washing machines can suffer just as much as front load machines. If you have a top load machine with a musty problem, the good news some simple remedies can rid your machine of the stink. Before learning how to clean your smelly washing machine, it’s important to know what is causing your top load to have a problem.

This article looks at several reasons why your top loader has the musty stink of washing machine mold and what you can do to eliminate it so your clothes and home smell clean and fresh again.

Not Using Your Machine Regularly

A great way to prevent having a smelly washing machine is to use your top loader regularly. Every time you use your machine, a small amount of water stays behind that does not drain. If you don’t use your machine regularly, that water sits at the bottom of the tub becoming musty washing machine mold and mildew.

By using your top load machine regularly, you prevent that small amount of water left behind from turning into a stinky mess. This is why you should always clean your machine fully if you do not plan to use it regularly.

Overusing Detergent

When using detergent to wash your clothes, you clean the sweat and smells from them. With today’s advanced concentrated detergents, you really don’t need to use an excessive amount of detergent as achieving the necessary chemical reaction with water only takes a small amount of detergent.

When overusing detergent, too many soapsuds form, contributing to the development of washing machine mold and mildew. These extra soapsuds can’t all exit the machine during the rinse cycle and as they remain in the tub, they cause a smelly washing machine by providing food for mold spores to grow.

Cleaning Your Top Load Machine

These instructions are for cleaning a top load machine, not for cleaning a front load washing machine. Ridding a top load machine of washing machine mold presents a special problem because dirty water and soapsuds splash to the top of the outer tub, leaving a residue behind that can cause a smelly washing machine as it forms washing machine mold and mildew.

Begin by running your top load washing machine through its first cycle with hot water and a good washer cleaner. When the tub fills completely with hot water, stop your machine. Fill a couple of buckets with hot water from your sink and add the hot water until you have filled the tub above the splash line.

Let the hot water soak in the tub to dissolve the built up residue. The longer you soak in water and washer cleaner, the better results you’ll have. Even overnight soaks may be necessary for more extreme cases of washing machine mold. After a good soaking, turn the top load machine back on to run the remainder of the cycle.

It’s that easy. The important thing is that you clean your top load machine at the first sign of odor or washing machine mold and mildew. Getting rid of the musty stink of your smelly washing machine will keep your clothes and your home smelling clean and fresh.