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.
Posted under How to Get Rid of Foul Odor
This post was written by smellywasher on June 19, 2009
