Prevent smelly laundry by cleaning your washing machine.
If you notice your laundry coming out of the washer with a foul odor, it is time to clean your washing machine. A smelly washing machine transmits odor onto your clothes. Detergent residue, excess moisture and dirt from your laundry all contribute to washing machine odor. Cleaning a washer requires little effort and will pay off big in terms of the condition of your laundry. Whether you have a top-loading or front-loading washing machine, cleaning the washer thoroughly will help to ensure that your laundry smells fresh.
Instructions
Cleaning Top-Loading Washers
1. Fill the washer to the highest water level with hot water. Pour three cups white vinegar and ½ cup baking soda into the washing machine as soon as it begins to agitate.
2. Let the washer run a nearly complete wash cycle. When the washer begins to drain the water, advance it to the "Spin" cycle. This will make the washer spin and drain simultaneously.
3. Wipe out the inside of the washing machine tub with a dry rag to remove any loosened grime after the washer has stopped running. Run a complete wash cycle with cold water to further remove the loosened residue.
4. Repeat this entire process if the odor remains. It may require more than one cleaning to completely remove washer odor.
Cleaning Front-Loading Washers
5. Make a paste of three parts baking soda and one part water into a bowl. Stir the ingredients until a thick paste forms.
6. Scoop the paste from the bowl with a rag. Wipe down the inside tub of the washer with the rag and baking soda paste.
7. Set the washer on the hottest water setting and the shortest wash cycle. Add ¾ cup chlorine bleach to the bleach dispenser tray.
8. Start the washer and let it run for about 20 seconds so that the bleach and water mix up in the tub. Stop the washer and let the bleach and water sit in the tub for 15 minutes.
9. Add the usual amount of laundry detergent to the dispenser tray. Restart the washing machine and allow it to run through the remainder of the wash cycle.
10. Combine ¾ cup chlorine bleach, one gallon of warm water and one tbsp. powdered laundry detergent into a bucket. Dip a rag into the cleaning solution and wring it out well.
11. Wipe down the rubber seal on the door of the front-loading washer. Pull the seal back just a bit to wipe behind it as well. Detergent, water and dirt buildup behind the seal can lead to odor.
12. Dry the rubber seal with a rag. Leave the door to the washer open to let the air circulate through the washer. Repeat this entire process, if necessary, until the odor is gone.
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