Did you know that washing machines can stink? It’s not a pleasant thought but it happens with almost all washing machines sooner or later. If you’ve recently bought a new machine, then the chances are the smell is coming from it. However, in many cases, this smell stems from old residue left behind in your machine after previous uses. Luckily, there are some simple steps that can be taken to eliminate the problem and get your laundry space back to smelling fresh again. Read on to find out more about why your washer smells and how you can tackle the problem quickly and effectively.
Why does my washing machine smell even after cleaning?
There are many reasons why your washing machine may be smelling, but one of the most common is a build up of fabric softener and detergent in your machine’s drum. This can lead to an unpleasant smell coming from your machine, and it can also make it difficult to get your clothes really clean. To avoid this problem, it’s important to regularly clean out your washing machine and make sure that you aren’t using too much fabric softener or detergent when you are washing your clothes.
What Causes A Washing Machine To Smell?
1. Use too much fabric softener or detergent
The smell that you experience in your washing machine is caused by a build up of fabric softener and detergent in the washing machine’s drum. This can be prevented by regularly cleaning out your machine.
2. Not cleaning the drum
If you find that your washing machine still smells after regular cleaning, then it is likely that you are not cleaning the drum of the machine enough. The drum is where all of the water for your clothes gets mixed together and cleansed, so if it isn’t clean then there will be a build up of residue within it and this will lead to an unpleasant smell coming from your machine.
3. The drum is dirty
Another cause for a washing machine to smell is that it has become dirty over time. If there are any food particles left behind on the inside of your washer after each use, then this can cause an unpleasant smell to come from it when you are using it again next time. To help prevent this problem, make sure to clean out both the front and back of your washer regularly, as these are where most residue will start to build up once again if they aren’t cleaned out properly every time you need to use them. If you have very large loads every time you wash them, then try using a small amount of detergent and fabric softener at least once every 3 months in order to help keep them clean between uses and avoid any build up occurring.
4. Dirty water in the drum
If you notice that your washing machine smells after every wash, then there is a chance that the water coming into your machine isn’t clean enough to use for washing. In order to help prevent this, it’s important to make sure that you use only clean water when you are filling your machine with it, and you should also try running a cycle of just water through the drum of your washer before using it to help remove any build up that may have occurred within it over time.
5. The detergent is too old
Another reason why your washing machine may be smelling is because the detergent that you are using is no longer effective at removing stains from your clothes. If this is the case then try replacing the detergent with a new one which has been designed specifically for cleaning clothes and fabrics. If your detergent is still not working effectively after trying out a new one, then there may be other problems with it which need to be addressed first before they can be resolved though.
How To Clean A Stinky Washing Machine
1. Check the water
The first thing you should do when trying to clean a smelly washing machine is to check the water that you are using. If it is dirty, then it will be hard for you to know exactly what the problem is and how to fix it. You should ensure that your water is filtered and has been treated by a reverse osmosis system before filling up your washer with it. You can also use distilled or bottled water for your next wash if you’re sure that this is exactly what you need.
2. Use fresh detergent
If there are no particles left behind on the clothes after they have been washed, then there is a good chance that your washing machine isn’t being cleaned properly because of dirty detergent. If this is the case, then make sure that you use new washing powder or fabric softener and only add a small amount of detergent in order to help clean out any residue and prevent any build up occurring once again in future. Never overfill your machine with detergent or fabric softener as this can cause damage to your appliance over time as well as being very damaging for the environment in general if it isn’t recycled properly afterwards either!
3. Clean out the drum regularly
Another way of cleaning out residue from your washer and preventing further build up occurring within it would be to clean out both sides of your drum regularly; this will help remove any dirt and debris which may have been left behind by the clothes which you have just washed. This will also help to prevent any build up occurring once again in future.
4. Check the seals
If the smell is coming from the washing machine itself, then there are a few things that you should check first before deciding on a course of action. This includes checking your seals and making sure that they are in good condition, as well as ensuring that your drum and lid are both in good condition so that they don’t leak when washing your laundry. If these parts have been damaged or have become too old for their purpose, then this will most likely be causing issues for you with your washing machine and will need to be replaced with new parts in order to fix it once and for all!
5. Clean out the drain pipe
If there is no sign of any build up within the drum of your washing machine, then it could be because there is something blocking up one of its drainage pipes which is stopping any water from leaving it at all. It may be necessary for you to clean this out so that water can start flowing properly again and so that any residue left behind can be removed from inside your appliance as well!
6. Run a cycle from scratch
If there is no sign of any build up occurring within the drum of your washing machine, then it could be because there is something blocking up one of its drainage pipes which is stopping any water from leaving it at all. It may be necessary for you to clean this out so that water can start flowing properly again and so that any residue left behind can be removed from inside your appliance as well!
Conclusion
Now you know why your washing machine might be stinking up the joint and what you can do about it. The good news is that it’s usually very easy to clean your machine and remove any residue that builds up over time. However, if the smell is really strong, then you may need to take the machine apart and clean it more thoroughly. Make sure you do this regularly to avoid having to suffer a smelly washer ever again. Indeed, you can’t escape it. Even if you run your washing machine perfectly, and use the right detergent, and clean it regularly, you can still find yourself with a smelly washing machine.
FAQ’s
Why do I need to clean my washer from time to time?
It is important to ensure that your washing machine is kept clean and maintained. This way, you will get the best performance out of it and you will be able to avoid any problems such as the smell coming back.
How often should I clean my washing machine?
This depends on the type of detergent you use, how often you wash your clothes, and how much residue builds up in your appliance. However, most people recommend cleaning their machines every three months or so to keep them running as efficiently as possible. If this seems like too much work, then you might want to look into a more convenient model that comes with its own self cleaning function that will do all of this for you!
