How to get rid of smell in your washing machine
Unpleasant odors from the washing machine are a problem that owners of old equipment most often have to face. But sometimes an irritating odor can also appear from a new device recently purchased in a store.
The problem with bad odors must be solved immediately, otherwise you will have to rinse the laundry for an additional time and for a long time, which, instead of pleasant freshness, may begin to smell like a swamp or sewer.
To effectively solve the problem — you need to establish the factors that provoke the appearance of unwanted odors and, based on them, choose the appropriate method for eliminating them.
The content of the article
Causes of bad smell in the washing machine
There are many factors that provoke the problem. Let's look at the main and most common ones:
- Closing the machine hatch immediately after finishing the wash results in the unit beginning to “suffocate.” In this case, the problem with the smell of mustiness, dampness or swamp is solved quite simply: after finishing washing the clothes, leave the appliance door ajar for 2-3 hours.
- Musty amber may appear due to the fact that you do not wipe the rubber o-ring on the hatch of the device, and small debris and moisture may remain on its folds. These remnants will begin to rot over time, and this process is fraught with the appearance of colonies of mold fungi, which, if they grow strongly, will not be easy to remove.
- Storing dirty laundry in the appliance drum is another factor that provokes the problem. Dirty shirts, trousers, underwear, folded for future washing in a washing machine, the loading tank of which is poorly dried - the optimal environment for the proliferation of all kinds of microorganisms.
- A putrid odor can occur due to the use of cheap and low-quality detergents.
- Contamination of the powder and conditioner tray or the channel through which detergents are supplied to the unit can lead to the appearance of a rotten smell from the machine. To prevent problems, it is recommended to wash and clean these elements of equipment at least once a month.
- A clogged drain filter, which catches small debris and thereby prevents blockages in the sewer, can also cause an irritating odor. If the filter is not cleaned, all the lint from clothes, threads and other debris will begin to rot and emit a not very pleasant aroma.
- A bad smell can also appear because there is always water left in the machine.To solve the problem, you need to check the correct connection of the device to the sewer and the functionality of the drain pump.
- An unpleasant aroma can also come from the heating element of the unit if, during operation, it has become covered with a dense coating of fluff, debris, and suspended matter from water. You may not be able to get rid of such “scale” on your own, and therefore it is better not to experiment, but to turn to a professional technician.
Less commonly, the smell of rotting and mustiness is caused by problems with public utilities, but in this case the stench will come not only from the washing machine, but from the sinks.
Ways to get rid of odor
The method of getting rid of odor in a washing machine is selected based on the reason for its appearance. But some methods are universal and can be used in different situations.
Citric acid - the principle of odor elimination
Citric acid is a substance that is found in every home and it will help you out if the cause of the unpleasant odor from the washing machine is scale on the heating element or adhered powder on the walls of the appliance. The acid will corrode the scale, and the bad aroma will disappear from the device, the main thing is to use it correctly:
- For the cleaning procedure you will need 0.5-1 glass of citric acid;
- The specified amount of substance must be poured into the powder tray or into the drum of the unit;
- Next, you need to select the longest washing mode at high temperature (at least 90 degrees) and put the device into operation.
Important! After cleaning the machine with citric acid, open its drum and carefully inspect the cuff on which scale particles may remain. Clean the cuff with a damp cloth and check that there is no debris left in the drain.
A simple procedure using citric acid will get rid of the musty smell from the device and at the same time efficiently clean its heating elements and walls from deposits and scale.
Baking soda - how it works
Baking soda, which is used by housewives to clean dishes from grease and heavy dirt, can also help in the fight against the smell of rotting and mold. Baking soda acts as an abrasive and a substance that can eat away scale and deposits on the walls of the washing machine. The procedure for cleaning a washing machine with soda will consist of several stages:
- Preparation of the cleaning mixture. To get the mass, you need to mix soda with clean water in equal parts.
- The finished mixture must be applied to the areas of the device where mold most often forms: drum, rubber cuff, detergent container. The soda mass should be left after application for about half an hour for better effect.
- Clean the machine with a soft sponge, and for hard-to-reach areas use an old toothbrush or cotton swabs.
Important! When cleaning a washing machine with soda, you should use only soft sponges. If you take a hard or metal sponge, you can scratch the device.
Once cleaning is complete, turn on the machine’s quick wash cycle at low temperature to remove any remaining baking soda.
Table vinegar - how it works
A universal folk remedy - table vinegar - will help deal with washing machine odors of various origins. For the cleaning procedure, you need to pour a small amount of vinegar (no more than 0.5 cups) into the powder container and turn on a long wash cycle at maximum temperature.
After the device has finished working, its individual parts will need to be additionally cleaned with a sponge or an old toothbrush, and then wipe the machine with a clean and dry cloth.
Important! After finishing the cleaning procedure, do not forget to leave the machine door open so that the pungent aroma of vinegar disappears.
Dishwasher tablets
To eliminate odors from the appliance, you can also use dishwasher tablets. For cleaning, you will need about 5-6 tablets, which you need to put in the drum of the washing machine.
After placing the tablets, turn on the wash cycle at high temperature and wait until half of the working cycle has passed. Afterwards, you need to turn on the machine and leave it for 2-3 hours, and then continue the washing process until it is completely finished.
More ways
You can clean your machine from mold, dirt, and also eliminate unpleasant odors using:
- Simple laundry bleach. The bleaching agent is poured into the powder tray, after which the washing mode is turned on at a temperature of 90-95 degrees.
- Copper sulfate. Vitriol is a caustic substance and therefore, before using it in the cleaning procedure, it must be properly diluted: thirty grams of granules are taken per liter of clean water. Use the resulting mixture to wipe the inside of the device and leave for 24 hours, then thoroughly clean the machine with a soft sponge and wipe with a clean damp cloth.
To clean your washing machine, you can also use specialized products that are sold in household chemical stores.
Classification of unpleasant odors. The best way to remove odor from a washing machine
Unpleasant odors from the machine can be different - the device can smell like mold, musty, damp, sewage, or gasoline.Each type of odors has its own, most effective elimination methods, knowing which you can quickly solve the problem.
How to wash a washing machine from a rotten smell
A rotten smell in your washing machine is caused by stagnant water, mold, or a clogged drain or drain hose. To eliminate it, you can use various cleaning methods, but the best way to deal with the rotten stench is such folk remedies as soda and copper sulfate.
You need to prepare a mixture from soda or copper sulfate, which is used to treat all areas where mold forms. The solution is left for some time for a more effective effect, after which the machine is cleaned manually, with a soft sponge, brush or brush.
If the cause of the rotten smell from the washing machine is a clogged drain, then you need to open it, remove all debris from it and wash it.
Damp smell in the washing machine
The appliance may begin to smell damp if you close the machine door immediately after washing or if you store dirty items in its drum for subsequent washes.
The solution to the problem is quite simple - regularly ventilate the unit after use, leaving its hatch open for a couple of hours, and store dirty things in special baskets.
Dampness can also emanate from the machine when water accumulates in the device. The reason for the accumulation of water is the incorrect connection of the unit to the sewer. Check whether you did everything correctly when connecting the device, and if you cannot check it yourself, call a technician at home.
The smell of sewage and swamp in the washing machine
The smell of sewage and swamp from the device can arise for various reasons: filter clogging, scale formation on the heating element, stagnation of water, contamination of the detergent tray, problems with the general house sewage system.
You can clean the heating elements and trays at home - to do this, you should run an “empty” wash with citric acid or vinegar, and also wipe the containers for powder and rinse aid with any detergent. It will also be easy to clean the filter and hose - to do this, just read the instructions for the machine. But if the problem is in the sewer system at home, you will have to contact the utility company.
How to remove the smell of gasoline from a washing machine
The reason for the smell of gasoline from the washing machine is always the same - it is washing clothes that have been soaked in this caustic substance. Before washing in a machine, such clothes should first be rinsed in clean water and only then placed in the drum of the device.
If you forgot to rinse things that smell of gasoline and washed them in an automatic washing machine, a persistent gasoline smell may appear in its drum, which citric acid and vinegar can help deal with.
A radical way to combat the smell of gasoline is to “empty” wash with chlorine-based bleach.
Important! You can clean the machine with chlorine bleach only after reading the instructions for the device. Read the document and find out whether it allows the use of chlorine detergents in the machine of this model and brand.
If substances containing chlorine can be used in your machine, then pour the bleach directly into the drum and then turn on the quick wash mode at low temperature - no higher than 40 degrees.
Tips for using a washing machine. Preventive measures against unpleasant odor
The best way to solve a problem is to prevent it from happening. Therefore, if you do not want to find ways to eliminate the unpleasant odor from the machine and experiment with different folk recipes, operate the equipment correctly and carry out regular preventive maintenance.
After each use of the equipment for its intended purpose, wipe the inside of the device with a dry, clean cloth, wash the powder containers and rubber elements, ventilate the machine, leaving the hatch for loading laundry open for 3-4 hours.
Periodically clean the filter element and heating element of the device. Do not store dirty clothes inside the machine and shake things before loading them into the drum, check pockets for debris and crumbs. It is better to thoroughly rinse heavily soiled items with stains of gasoline, kerosene and other caustic substances in clean water before washing them in the machine.
Conclusion
A correctly carried out cleaning procedure is an almost 100% guarantee that the smells of dampness, swamps, and sewage from the machine will disappear. To prevent problems from occurring in the future, it is enough to follow preventive measures and use the device correctly.
Proper and regular care of your washing machine will prevent the emergence of bad odors from the appliance and increase the useful life of the equipment as a whole.
