When we think of washing machines, we think of clean, fresh-smelling clothes. Laundry is supposed to have a comforting aroma—one that’s so well-loved that there are even colognes designed to mimic its scent.
But what do you do when your front-load washer, well… stinks?
Before you resign yourself to a musty, mildewy, sour-scented existence, consider this: Your washer probably isn’t defective—it just needs some TLC. A few simple steps could help eliminate that stench forever.
That’s right, my friends: It’s all smooth, fresh-smelling sailing from here on out. Grab your hampers, keep your heads high, and scrub stinky clothes from your life for good.
How to get rid of that smell
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Bring out the baking soda.
Your first inclination may be to reach for the bleach, but we prefer to use something a little gentler. Popsugar suggests mixing 1/4 cup of baking soda with an equivalent amount of water. Add this solution to your machine’s detergent container.
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Bring out the vinegar.
Pour two cups of white vinegar into the drum, then run a normal cycle at high heat—without any clothes, of course.
The baking soda and vinegar should break up any residue stuck to your drum and kill any mould that might be present. They’ll also help remove any foul odours.
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Scrub away any remaining grime.
If stubborn spots remain, attack them with the rough side of a kitchen sponge and a mixture of one part white vinegar, one part water. Ta-dah, good as new!
You can repeat this cleaning method once a month for maintenance if you’d like, or try some other odour prevention techniques.
How to keep your front-loader fresh
Your washer is finally free of nasty odours, and you want to keep it that way. But how?
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Break up with your old detergent.
If you own a front-loader, you should always use detergents made for high-efficiency machines. Normal detergents simply produce more suds than your front-loader can handle; less suds means less scum for stinky lifeforms to cling to. Liquid fabric softener is also off-limits for front-loading washing machines, so do yourself a favour and ditch it.
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Keep the drum dry
Once you’ve got the soap situation under control, it’s time to make sure the drum doesn’t stay damp for long periods of time. Always remove your laundry promptly after the cycle ends, and be sure to leave the door open when it’s not in use, so the moisture can escape.
You can also run a fan in the room where your washer lives to improve airflow and consider investing in a dehumidifier. Remember: You don’t want bacteria or mould to feel at home here, and nothing invites bad smells quite like wet, stagnant heat.
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Clean the gasket.
Even with the correct detergent and anti-humidity efforts, there’s no guarantee your washer drum won’t develop some mould-friendly buildup. The rubber seal around the doors is especially problematic, so you should regularly remove any debris you see trapped in the gasket and wipe it down with a cleaning solution made of one part white vinegar and one part water.
Finally, be sure to dispose of any lint that may have accumulated in your machine’s drain trap filter. Once a week should do the trick.
