How to Clean a Smelly Washing Machine

Have you ever found that your clothes smell nasty while taking out your laundry from the washing machine? Well, the reason behind the nasty smell in your clothes is the dirty washing machine. You should clean your washing machine at least once in a month. Before considering it redundant, just think about all the grime from your clothes stuck on different parts of the internal side of the machine, making it less efficient and less effective.

What causes unpleasant smells in the washing machine?

While washing your clothes you are expecting nice-smelling, pleasantly clean laundry. However, if your machine is dirty, the outcome can lead to foul or mildew-scented laundry over time. There’s nothing worse than being displeased by an unpleasant, stagnant smell when opening the door to your washing machine. If you want to stop the nasty smell in your washing machine, you need to find the reason behind it, and also understand the source of the problem.

Low temp washing

We often clean our clothes in normal temperature, low temp washing helps to grow moulds in the gaskets. A combination of mould, mildew and bacteria are the main reason behind the unpleasant odours in the washing machine.

Trapped grimes

The clothes you put in the machine often contain body oil, dirt, hair, and scum. The grimes get trapped in the gasket, seal, and detergent dispenser of the machine. A few weeks later, the concocted grime and the humidity of the laundry room creates an unpleasant odour.

New user

Cleaning a front-load machine properly posed a problem for those who have transitioned from top-loader machines. Therefore, some users find their clothes having an unpleasant smell after finishing the laundry and mechanical problems because of the improper use and cleaning.

Don’t worry you have come to the right place. Training Express will provide you with all the necessary information about how to clean your washing machine so that it can perform to the best of its ability and provide you every time a nice-smelling, pleasant, and clean laundry.

How to clean a front-load washing machine

Front-load washers are becoming a more popular style of washing machines. Because a standard designed front-load washer requires less water per load than the top-load washer and needs to be cleaned once in a month. But you should clean your washer more often if you live in a hot, humid area. But you should also clean your machine dispenser every four to six weeks to prevent clogging while washing clothes.

The things you need to clean your front-load washing machine

Check the below material and tools whether you have on your house or not, before cleaning. Otherwise, you have to run to the store in the middle of the cleaning process.

Equipment / Tools

Materials

Cleaning instruction

Step-1: Run an Empty Laundry Cycle Using Bleach

You should empty your washing machine and wait for some time so that it can be dry.
Pour ½ cup (120 ml) of liquid chlorine bleach or you can use ¼ cup (59 ml) chlorine bleach powder with ¼ cup (59 ml) water to make a liquid solution to the detergent compartment of the dispenser drawer.
Fill-up bleach dispenser to the max level.
Start the washer cycle with a warm water setting and complete the cycle.

When the empty cycle is complete move on to the next step.

Step-2: Clean the door and drum

To clean and dry around the washer door opening, flexible gasket, and door glass, you should use a soft, clean and absorbent cloth.
When it comes to cleaning the inside of the door gaskets and the edges, you should spend enough time on it.
Because, if the grime remained trapped in there, the moulds start to grow on the backside of the gaskets, as a result, unpleasant odours in clothes.
Sometimes the drums get clogged by the remaining dirty residue when you wash extremely soiled or oil-soaked clothes or household items.
You can clean the drum by wiping it with a non-abrasive household cleaner, then rinse thoroughly with water.
You can also find some plastic in the drum, which often comes from the fabric. You can clean plastic parts by a nonabrasive household cleaner.

Step-3: Clean the dispenser drawers

Modern washers have a built-in dispenser for detergent, fabric softener and bleach. Sometimes these washing materials may spread in the dispenser drawers and causing unpleasant smell and bleach can ruin coloured clothing.

The dispenser needs to clean properly and regularly, so it dispenses accurately. Follow the below steps to clean the dispenser:

Remove the dispenser drawers.
Most of the modern washer dispensers have a safety latch so, check your company provided user manual to learn how to remove the drawer.
If your washing machine dispenser drawer has additional inserts for the bleach and fabric softener compartments, you should also remove those from the drawer to clean separately.
After removing the dispenser, soak and clean every compartment of the drawer with hot tap water.
Use a small nylon brush to remove traces of powders and liquids. Then allow the drawers to air-dry.
With the dispenser use a small brush to clean thoroughly the inside of the dispenser housing.
Re-assemble the compartments and replace the dispenser drawer into the washer.
Run a short cycle without any laundry to completely flush the system.

Step-4: Clean the inlet filters

After cleaning the dispenser, turn off the machine and both water taps.
Unscrew the hot and cold-water lines from the back of the washer.
Remove the inlet filter from inlet valves with the help of a small a needle-nose pliers, or some other grabbing tool with small tips
After the water supply is turned off, place a bucket beneath hoses so you can empty the remaining water from the hoses.
Remove the inlet filter from inlet valves with the help of a small a needle-nose pliers, or some other grabbing tool with small tips
Soak them in white vinegar and clean the buildup with warm water until it is properly washed. Put them back into the place and reattach the wire.

Step-5: Clean the washer drain pump

While the machine is turned off, you should also clean the drain pump. To drain the pump or recover your lost items in the pump:

Locate the service panel in the bottom corners in your machine and open it.
Unclip the drain hose and extract the remaining water in the tray and then remove the drain pump filter.
Wash the drain pump filter with a brush and rinse it thoroughly with warm water.
Then insert the drain pump filter in its place and also put the hose in its original place. Clean the service box with a dry brush and close the service panel.

Step-6: Clean the outside of the washer

While the machine is turned off, you should also clean the drain pump. To drain the pump or recover your lost items in the pump:

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How to clean a top-load washing machine

A standard top-load washer requires a higher amount of water than the front load washer. So, if you have a standard top-load washer, you should clean it at least twice per year. Although you should wash the machine every three months if you live in a hard water area to prevent mineral deposits. On the other hand, high-efficiency top-load washers need to be cleaned once in a month, since they use much less water than standard.

The things you need to clean your top-load washing machine

Check this material and tools you have on your house or not before cleaning. Otherwise, you have to run to the store in the middle of the cleaning process.

Equipment / Tools

Materials

Cleaning instruction

Step-1: Run an empty laundry cycle using bleach

You should empty your washing machine and make sure there are no clothes in the drum.
Remove detergent or fabric softener from the dispensers.
Fill the water up to ¼ of the tub and pour ½ cup (120 ml) of liquid chlorine bleach or distilled white vinegar in the tub.
Start the washer cycle with water temperature to the hottest water setting and longest wash cycle available, and complete the cycle.

Step-2: Clean the dispenser drawers

Follow the steps to clean dispenser drawer:

Remove the dispenser carefully from the washing machine.
If your washing machine dispenser is not removable, heat one cup of distilled white vinegar in a microwaveable cup in an oven or a small pan on the stovetop.
Then pour the warm vinegar into the dispensers and wait 15 minutes for soaking and to loosen any residue.
For the removable dispenser, soak the dispenser in the sink or a small bucket.
Clean it with hot tap water and a small brush to remove traces of detergent powders and liquids. Then allow the drawers to air-dry.
With the dispenser use a small brush to clean thoroughly the inside of the dispenser housing.
Replace the dispenser drawer into the washer.
Fill the washer again with hot water and distilled white vinegar. Run a short cycle without any laundry to completely flush the system.

Step-3: Clean the inlet filters

After cleaning the dispenser, turn off the machine and both water taps.
Unscrew and remove the hot and cold-water lines from the back of the washer.
After the water supply is turned off, place a bucket beneath hoses so you can empty the remaining water from the hoses.
Remove the inlet filter from inlet valves with the help of a small needle-nose pliers, or some other grabbing tool with small tips.
Soak them in white vinegar and clean them with warm water until it is properly washed.
Put them back into the place and reattach the wire.

Step-4: Clean the Outside of the Washer

To clean the dust, grime, and laundry product drips from the top and sides of the washer, you should wipe your machine wipe the top, and sides of the washing machine weekly, or after each laundry session. This will keep your front load washer looking as good as new.

Use a solution of warm water and a few drops of dishwashing liquid. Soak a microfiber cloth in the solution and wring out most of the water and clean the outer side of the washer.
Open the lid and dip an old toothbrush into the cleaning solution to get into corners and tight places on the lid.
Don’t use harsh, gritty, or abrasive cleansers on enamelled surfaces.

Some tips to keep your washing machine clean longer

Clean the front-load machine door every time with a dry cloth after using the machine.

To keep the drum and seals dry and minimize the risk of growing mould and mildew, leave the washer lid or door open after you have run a load.
Always wipe the drum with a nonabrasive cleanser after washing heavily-soiled clothing, and then rinse thoroughly with water.
To eliminate moisture in your laundry room, install a ventilator exhaust fan.
Never store or place any laundry products on top of the washer. Laundry product spills can damage the finish or electronic controls of the machine.

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Closing Remarks

Cleaning the washing machine periodically will not only keep your washing machine healthy, but also it will augment the longevity of your machine. Follow the above-mentioned tips and tricks and remove the bad odour from your washing machine. Happy Cleaning!

How to Clean a Smelly Washing Machine