We depend on our washing machine to keep our laundry clean. And one would think that it – the washing machine – would stay clean in the process, due to all the cleaning going on inside. Well, this is actually not the case for front-load washers, which require a little bit of TLC of their own when it comes to keeping them clean.
How do you know if you have this issue? Have you ever gone to fold towels, sheets, or even your clothes and you are greeted with a stinky, sour smell? This is an indication that your front-load washer has bacteria and mold present.
How Does This Happen?
But wait – aren’t front-load washers the best? Front-load washers are more efficient than their top-loading counterparts – they use less water because the entire drum does not fill up. The clothes move around and through the water. So what’s the issue?
One of the problems is with your detergent. Since there is less water, you need less detergent. Additional detergent is not able to wash away and builds up as a coating inside the drum, trapping dirt and dead skin cells from your clothes. Add to that the heat of hot water and lack of complete drying due to the rubber gasket on the washer door, and you have a breeding ground for bacteria and mildew.
Okay, so now we have a layer of scum combined with bacteria – this is gross. But don’t fret – we can overcome this with some basic products that are present in your house, most likely in your kitchen. Good old baking soda and vinegar to the rescue.
How to Get Rid of the Smell
Mix ¼ cup baking soda and ¼ cup water and then add this to your detergent filler. Now, pour 2 cups of vinegar into the drum and run a normal wash cycle on the highest heat setting you have. This combo will remove the scum on the drum (hey, that rhymes) and also kill the smelly bacteria, thus removing the odor.
Once your washer is clean again – keep it that way by doing this once every month or two. Your nose will tell you when it’s time. There are other things you can do to eliminate the scum buildup. Use a detergent especially created for the high-efficiency washers, and follow the instructions on how much to use. This is a case where more is not better.
To keep your washer drum dry, leave the door ajar and the detergent drawer open after you have finished. This gives both a chance to dry out – especially the rubber seal on the door. And even like older style washers – clean the drain trap filter by removing any lint buildup.
And if you launder work-out clothing frequently, make sure you are following some simple steps so as not to introduce even more bacteria.
With your front-load washer clean, you are equipped to “do” laundry that not only is clean but also smells clean. Let The Cleaning Authority keep your house looking and smelling clean as well. Check out our weekly, bi-weekly, monthly, and one-time cleans. Our team of experts takes care of all the details, so you can enjoy a clean house while focusing on the things that matter most. Get an estimate today.