After the front load washer has finished its cycle, we all anticipate the crisp smell of clean clothing. However, when you open the door and notice a damp, musty odor, it can quickly ruin your day, because what should have been a quick task isn’t over yet.
The good news is that you can easily stay on top of this problem to prevent it from recurring. But for now, you will need to diagnose where the smell is coming from and sort it out quickly. This guide is here to help, and the solutions are pretty simple.
Laundry areas are hot and humid places. Because of this, the smell might not be coming from the washer directly. For example, it could be from dirt, mold, or dead insects under the washer or down its sides. Here’s a step-by-step guide to eliminating all potential sources.
If you are confident that the smell is coming from the washer, then cleaning the rubber gasket is the best thing to start with. The rubber gasket is the seal around the front loader door and prevents water from leaking. Start with this method first because it requires the least effort.
The next thing you can try is clearing out the lint tray. You should always clean the lint tray, even when there is no odor coming from it, because this will prevent lint from collecting on your clothing.
Many people assume that since the detergent they use is cleaning their clothes, it will also clean the machine. However, laundry detergents are only suitable for clothing. They do not contain any chemicals that will clean the washer. This is probably best because a detergent that cleans the machine simultaneously would ruin your clothing. You can buy washing machine cleaners from your supermarket.
All front loaders have a water pipe that expels wastewater from the machine. Most pipes usually overhang the laundry sink so that the water can go down the drain, or they might be connected to another pipe under the sink. However, if the pipe is overhanging the sink, you are more likely to notice a foul odor.
Sometimes these pipes become blocked with dirt, lint, or debris, enabling bacteria and mold to grow inside. To clean this pipe, you could try a washing machine cleaner. Aim for a cleaner that is tough on grease, detergent build-up, or hard water minerals, as it should also work on the wastewater pipe.
If you notice that the smell keeps coming back frequently, some further considerations may help.
Bad smells in the laundry room often come from mold and bacteria, and they thrive in humid conditions. They also grow best at temperatures of 77-86°F (25-30°C). Here are some ways to reduce the temperature and humidity in your laundry room:
Leaving wet clothes in the washer for too long can also create a bad odor. You should dry your clothes as soon as possible because wet clothing creates a damp environment for bacteria and mold to grow. Unfortunately, these microorganisms can still persist after washing.
One way to overcome this problem is to put your machine on a timer. For example, if you put your clothes in the washer overnight to hang them in the morning, you could put your machine on a timer for 6 hours. When the 6 hours are up, your machine will start. As a result, the amount of time your wet clothes sit in the washing machine will be reduced.
Many people opt for vinegar because it is a natural product. However, vinegar can degrade rubber and is not good for rubber gaskets and hoses on your machine. As a result, it can cause these parts to leak, and the water that escapes might contribute to other bad odors.
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