Just as your washing machine takes care of your clothes, you also need to care for your washing machine. Fresh laundry smells comforting and nice, but what if your washing machine smells bad?
If your washing machine is already giving off a foul mildew odor, don’t fret. Instead of calling your repairman, you might want to first give it a good cleaning. Most of the time, washing machines stink not because of defects or leaks but because it only needs a thorough cleaning.
Soap and water aren’t enough to remove the foul odor in your washing machine. Here, we listed ways how to do it thoroughly.
What You Will Need:
Rubber gloves
Brush
Washrag or sponge
Baking soda
Plain white vinegar
1. Pre-scrub
The first step is to give your washing machine a good scrub. Use an old toothbrush to go through the nooks and crannies of your washing machine, removing all the built-up dirt. Brush and clean the bleach, soap, and fabric softener dispensers. Include brushing the pipes as much as you can.
For top-load models, clean around the door and hinges where filth can hide. For front-load washers, remove the grimes in the rubber gaskets by wiping them clean.
2. Bleaching
One of the main reasons for a smelly washing machine is a combination of mildew, mold, and bacteria. There’s so much humidity inside your washing machine that it becomes a perfect breeding ground for them to thrive.
Bleaching is an effective way to remove mold and mildew. Before doing this, wear rubber gloves and open the windows to have proper ventilation. When using bleach, you should never use it with other cleaners.
Begin by adding four cups of bleach to a top-load washing or two cups to a front-loader.
Using the highest temperature, fill the tub and run a wash cycle (with no laundry). Once the bleach has mixed with the water, pause the wash cycle. Let the bleach works its magic by letting it sit for at least 30 minutes. Then, continue the cycle.
Rinse and make sure all traces of bleach have been washed away.
3. Deodorize
This step acts as a second cleaning and deodorizing measure. It can remove any remaining dirt and grime and any foul smell in your washing machine.
Begin by mixing 1/4 cup of baking soda and 1/4 cup of water. Pour this into the detergent container.
For a top-loader, pour four cups of plain white vinegar into the drum. For a front-load model, use two cups of white vinegar.
Run a high-temperature cycle, pausing halfway to let the mixture sit for 30 minutes. Then, finish the cycle.
Use a washrag or sponge to wipe any stubborn stops around the drum. Rinse.
A tip to prevent mildew and mold from proliferating is to keep your washing machine door open between washes or wipe the inside.
And, there you go! These steps should help your washing machine clean and odor-free. Use your washing machine correctly and keep it clean to make it last longer. It’s also best to know easy home cleaning hacks you can use around the house. If you have a Whirlpool washing machine, learn the simple steps on how to properly clean it.
