Your washer has a secret. It’s been hiding it from you for some time now, and when you least expect it, probably when company shows up, it is going to announce that secret loudly to all within the vicinity. It is harboring the perfect climate to make the most horrible odor you’ve encountered since college. Why do you ask? That is a good question. This is the best way to clean a washing machine.
Washing machines need to be cleaned. You wouldn’t think of not scrubbing out your kitchen sink when done with the dishes, so why wouldn’t you do the same with your washing machine? The quick answer is, you just don’t think about it. It is a machine that runs soap and water through itself. Why would it be dirty? How should it be cleaned?
Detergent and fabric softener will build up over time and attract all sorts of molds and bacteria, which then cause some pretty terrible odors. In order to keep this from happening, you need to routinely clean your washing machine.
Self Clean a Washing Machine
Most front load washers have a self-clean setting because it is more common in front loaders to get smelly. Run this every month or so and your machine should stay odor-free. Here are some tips to make it the best possible cleaning for your washer.
- Use a half cup of baking soda and place it straight in the drum.
- Use 1 cup of distilled white vinegar and put it in the fabric softener drawer.
- Run the cleaning cycle on the hottest possible water setting.
- Use a cloth and hot soapy water to clean the rubber seals around the door.
- Repeat as necessary.
Your washer should stay fresh between monthly cleanings. If you start getting odors before then, it is a sign that you are using too much detergent and fabric softener. Cut back on the amount of each and you should see (or smell) a huge improvement.