Health & Home

Have you ever put your clothes in the washer perfectly clean (ok, dirty, but perfectly clean otherwise), and have them come out of the dryer with pesky “grease” stains? You have to ask yourself if you did something wearing those clothes that would have caused the stains. When you realize there’s no way you had, you turn your attention to your washer and/or dryer. Yes, one of them is to blame. Read on for the cause of these pesky stains and how to eliminate the little rascals. A Di..

Using Smelly Washer the first time: Add a cap through the detergent dispenser (even liquid dispensers) or directly into the tub of an empty washer in the hottest setting.  Use a cleaning or a soak cycle for worse cases.   If odor persists or even smells worse repeat using a full load of laundry, preferably white towels.  The added bulk of the laundry will raise the water level to reach the splash area just above the normal waterline where suds and soiled water splash up and ..

If your washing machine stinks, don’t worry, you’re not alone. Washer mildew and odors are one of the most common complaints amongst homeowners. However, it is possible to alleviate the smell through a few simple steps.  Changing your washing habits and/or detergent used may be necessary to keep odor away. Identify Why Your Washing Machine Stinks Most of the time, a musty or mildew smell in or around your washer or laundry is indicative of mold or bacteria growing in your washing..

  The purpose of this article is not to alarm but to give alternatives to using rinse aid.  The FDA tests household chemicals and food-related products and these test show rinse aid is safe to use. All manufacturers of dishwashers claim that for proper drying rinse aid must be used. A rinse aid’s only purpose is to aid in drying and reducing waterspots. It does this by changing the surface tension of water. When a drop of water is put on a smooth surface it beads u..

  To freshen clothing many consumers add liquid fabric softener to their wash. Softener is dispensed in your washer by either gravity, centrifugal force or by suction created by flowing water and is simply too thick to be properly dispensed. Because softener is dispensed in the rinse cycle of a washing machine it leaves a residue on the inside of the outer tub. This residue is a food source for bacteria and mold and the clothes washer can begin to smell bad. We..

There’s nothing quite like stepping out of a long, luxurious shower and wrapping yourself in a plush, freshly-laundered towel that smells like… mold? But wait! Before you kick your towels to the curb, consider the underlying cause. It’s not your towels’ fault that they stink… it’s actually your washer that’s to blame. What Makes Your Towels Smell If you have good habits when it comes to dealing with damp, dirty towels (hanging them up to dry after a shower, laundering right away, and not..

We’ve all experienced it. You get out of the shower and grab a fresh towel or pull a clean shirt over your head, only to smell mildew. But don’t blame your clothes…the smell is actually coming from your washing machine. If your washing machine is stinky there are several possible causes. Residual Water Washing machines are made to hold, cycle, and drain water, so this one may seem a bit odd. But water trapped in the rubber door gasket or detergent drawer of a front loader, or under the rim..

A properly stocked laundry room can make a huge difference in how clean and fresh your clothing is.  It's also good to know there are options besides using harsh chemicals Natural Essentials A lot of people are of the belief that it’s necessary to use harsh chemicals, such as bleach, to eliminate mildew and odors from their clothes and washing machine. Not so. While bleach is certainly a good sanitizing option for some things (killing germs and viruses when someone in t..

Let’s just answer this one right out of the gate. YES! Mold, mildew, and fungus can be harmful to your health. Mold is a growth of fungi that lives and feeds off an organic matter in moist conditions. Damp clothes left in your washer, residual water, lint, hair, and detergent suds can all lead to an infestation of washer mildew. Washer mildew is not only a source of embarrassment due to its offensive odor, it can also be a source of illness for children and those who are sensitive. Not onl..

Mold can cause a host of health problems including asthma, increased susceptibility to flu and colds, and sinus infections. Because mold thrives in damp conditions, it can live in many places around your home such as the shower, under carpeting and wallpaper, in the basement and surprisingly even in your washing machine. Washer mildew can linger in your laundry room and transfer to your clothes, increasing your risk for mold-related health problems. Asthma People with asthma may ..