Moldy Smelling Washing Machine?
When we arrived in Germany two weeks ago, I found an email in my inbox from a sincere man offering to give one of you a anti-stink agent for your washing machine in a little giveaway on Making This Home. Apparently you just pour his product in your machine and go. I considered his proposal. But in the end, I said no. The idea seemed a bit silly.
After all, our washing machine never smells musky or moldy because of one simple trick:
We leave the door cracked for a few hours after we’re finished using our washing machine.
Later when we walk by, we just close the door. The moisture still in the machine from washing our clothes has dried, so we won’t be growing anything or getting any disgusting smells. No molds and mildews. No money down the drain. And best of all – no chemicals.
Have any of you had bad experiences with smells in your washing machines? Or maybe you have a few tricks for avoiding odors in other places at home. Please share one and all.
September 23rd, 2009 at 7:27 am
Ever since I bought a front loader I’ve had this problem! Basically we do the same thing, leave the door open until it dries. However, I’m well known for leaving the laundry in the washer and later having it smell like mold. To fix this you have to rewash the clothes in warm water and I throw in some baking soda. It seems to work but I’m always open for other options.
Great post!!
September 23rd, 2009 at 7:49 am
I do the same thing as you so ours isn’t stinky, but I’ve smelled other peoples stinky washing machines. I feel odd saying anything to them…it’s their appliance and you would think that little trick is obvious.
September 23rd, 2009 at 8:51 am
Actually I didn’t realize this was a problem. Like you, I leave the door open to let it air out. It also tells me that it’s ready for the next load (I do laundry daily). And like Erin, sometimes I forget about the already-washed-clothes-that-now-smell-bad sitting in the washer. When I rewash, I have used white vinegar and a minuscule amount of soap but I am going to try the baking soda next time.
September 23rd, 2009 at 9:33 am
I have a Kenmore front loading machine, and despite the fact that we leave the door open all the time, the machine still smells moldy.
September 23rd, 2009 at 10:04 am
Ha…please go here for the same issue:
http://lifeingraz.blogspot.com/2009/09/ventilator-valentin-vs-close-it-up-coco.html
My husband is glad you are confirming his leaving-the-washing-machine-door-open habit!
September 23rd, 2009 at 10:06 am
Simple, but effective plan. I’m going to start doing that!
September 23rd, 2009 at 10:18 am
Unfortunatly we can’t leave the door open on ours or the dogs will crawl in it and make an even bigger mess…but good idea. (Washer/Dryer in the Laundry/Dog room.) We just had to bleach ours this weekend and scrub it down very good. It was definitely getting musty/moldy. Worked great!
September 23rd, 2009 at 10:24 am
haha Carolyn! Your post had me laughing all over my German notebooks. Maybe a compromise could be just leaving the door open a teensy bit. Same with a dishwasher. But an oven? haha! The things we learn when we get married.
Thanks for the tip on baking soda, Erin Kathleen. I would have thought vinegar like Vicki.
Tricia, Martin and I have read about some American front loading washing machines that don’t actually drain all of the water from the base of the drum. It just sits there. I’m not sure if Kenmore has a washer doing that, but it might be the source of your frustration.
Katie
September 23rd, 2009 at 12:18 pm
That anti-stink agent was citric acid. I blogged about koolaid and smelly washers a month ago. http://www.welchva.com/2009/08/cleaning-with-kool-aid.html
September 24th, 2009 at 8:52 am
My husband and I are still staying at a hotel because the kitchen in our new place is not in yet. When I do the laundry here I have noticed a really bad smell coming from the washing machine just like you mentioned! I was wondering why it smells so bad considering its purpose it to make thing clean and fresh. Thanks so much for the tip. We just got a new washer and dryer installed in our new place and I will definitely take that precaution to avoid the STINK!
Katie
October 3rd, 2009 at 1:17 pm
I have Miele front loading mashine and never had any bad smell. I am pritty demanding in those things, home should smell nice all over so till now – no problemo. We do leave the door open after the loundry is done and I don’t forget to take the loundry out.
January 26th, 2010 at 7:50 pm
Here’s another set of tricks….from Miele….the smell can also come from the rubber seal so take a small amount of amonia and water and wipe the seal including in between the spaces where it meets the drum (hopefully you have tiny fingers). Secondly, if your whites sometime don’t come out as clean or dull, consider running your machine through on a sanitize cycle (extra hot) with a very small amount of liquid detergent as sometimes dirt and grime and build up in the drum. And definitely leave the door open a crack!
May 15th, 2010 at 3:02 am
I think that where you live/humidity has something to do with how nasty one’s front-loader becomes, along with whether you use a little too much soap, let it air dry, and what kind of soap you use, and whether or not you do periodic clean-outs (our nasty Maytag advisors recommend harsh automatic dish detergent like Cascade or special pellets for cleaning hot tubs – and now, special pellets made for moldy washers – to control the mold). I’m sorry I ever got this nasty Neptune, and covet a Staber…but not the new ones, since they’ve had quality issues and complaints in the last year.
Thanks for the baking soda idea….I’m going to see if that helps, as vinegar doesn’t really do the job. I hate, hate, hate to use bleach and toxic chemicals. The citric acid idea is interesting, too.