Clean a Smelly Washing Machine
A smelly washing machine can be caused by several unpleasant factors: trapped socks, lint buildup and bacteria. Front-loading machines seem to be more susceptible to developing odor due to their tight seals that can trap moisture in the machine between washes. Cold-water washes and never running a load with chlorine bleach can also contribute to a musty smell in the washing machine.
Instructions
1. Clean the washing machine's lint trap. The lint trap in the washer should be emptied with every load, just like the trap in the dryer. Otherwise, the damp lint could mold and cause an unpleasant odor.
2. Run a hot water cycle without clothes to clean a smelly washing machine. Add 3 cups distilled white vinegar to the cycle to clean out any bacteria. To keep the musty smell from coming back, occasionally add 1 cup vinegar to a load of towels and wash on hot. The vinegar will not harm the towels and will help to disinfect them.
3. Run an occasional chlorine bleach load with hot water to keep musty smells at bay. Do it once a week with a load of whites, and both your socks and your machine will come out fresh and clean.
4. Make sure you are using the right type of soap for your machine. You can't use regular soap in a high efficiency machine; only use special HE soap. Regular soap in an HE washer will cause a soap scum residue that can mildew and cause a nasty smell.
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