Washing Machine Smells And How to Get Rid of Them: A Grand Rapids Homeowner’s Guide

When you've run a load of clothes through the wash, there's nothing more frustrating than taking them out to find an undesirable smell. Whether your washing machine is suffering from mold and mildew growth or plumbing and drainage issues, you want your wet clothes to smell fresh and clean upon taking them out. To eliminate those odors, you need to get to the source of the issue.

In this blog post, we'll explore what causes that foul washing machine smell and what you can do about it.

Why Does My Washing Machine Smell in Grand Rapids?

There are a few common culprits behind bad washing machine smells. These foul smells come from mold growth, mildew and bacteria presence. These bacteria can develop through the presence of body oil, hair, lint, and soap scum getting trapped in the gasket and seals.

Gasket

One of the main breeding grounds for detergent buildup and unwanted washing machine smells is in front-loading washer rubber seals or gaskets. The gasket's purpose in a washing machine is to prevent leaks and ensure all water stays inside the unit, but moisture can gather inside the gasket and cause the growth of mold and mildew, resulting in foul washing machine smells.

Detergent Buildup

Another main cause of washing machine smells is due to an overuse of laundry detergent. When you put too much detergent in your machine, it can result in build-up in or around the washing machine drum. Along with the moist environment inside the machine, this detergent buildup can cause bad smells to develop. This is the case, especially in machines that have not been regularly maintained. Consider running a maintenance wash cycle for your washing machine to prevent buildup and keep it running smoothly.

Drainage and Plumbing Issues

When your washing machine smells like sewage, it's likely a drainage or plumbing issue. Your washing machine is connected to a P-trap. The p-trap's job is to stop debris to prevent it from reaching further into your plumbing system and to trap sewer gasses from your pipes underground. However, if you have a dry p-trap, it will prevent the gasses from being trapped and will cause your washing machine to smell like sewage.

Does Your Washing Machine Smell? How To Get Rid of Those Foul Washer Odors

Now that you're aware of the common reasons behind those pesky washing machine smells, you're probably wondering what you can do about it. Read on for a step-by-step guide on how to rid your washer of those musty smells.

Step One: Gather Supplies

You'll need a few select materials to get started on cleaning out your washer of those unpleasant odors, including:

• Baking Soda: Baking soda is used to neutralize unwanted smells and protect the washing machine drum against scratches.
• Gloves: Since you'll be using some harsh chemicals, gloves are a must to help protect your hands against unwanted rashes.
• Cloth or Sponge: A damp microfiber cloth will help protect your machine against scratches.
• Bleach: For more stubborn growths like mold or mildew, bleach will be the best chemical to use.
• Cleaning Brush: A cleaning brush will allow you a more thorough clean than a cloth or sponge, as it can efficiently clean in the nooks and crannies of the unit and more hard-to-reach places.
• Bucket: A bucket is ideal to have on hand to rinse tools and mix solutions.

Step Two: Clean Detergent Dispensers

Old detergent and the damp environment of a washing machine are the perfect breeding grounds for slime to develop and mold and bacteria to thrive. But, there's a simple solution! Regular maintenance and cleaning can help keep your smelly washing machine from developing any harmful bacterial growth. Read on to find out our step-by-step cleaning process:

• Remove Dispensers: The first step in the cleaning process is to remove all dispensers from the detergent drawer. This includes all detergent, pre-wash, and fabric softener dispensers. Since these are the areas where detergent is gathered, it's easy for slime and still water damage to develop and harden.
• Clean: Using either bleach or white vinegar and water solution, fill the bucket and allow the dispensers to soak. Let it sit for about 30 minutes. After the dispensers have finished soaking, scrub them thoroughly with a clean brush to ensure all build-up and slime has been thoroughly removed.
• Re-install Dispensers: After the dispensers have been efficiently cleaned, rinse them in a tub of warm water and ensure they have been thoroughly dried. Once dry, re-install them in the unit.

Step Three: Sanitize

The final step in the cleaning process is to sanitize the washer drum. The cleaning process looks slightly different between a front-load washer and a top-load washer. Read on to learn how to sanitize your specific unit:

Top-Loading Machines:

• Mix Solution: Combine a 1/4 cup of bleach and 1 quart of water
• Run Cycle: Once the mixture is ready, dump it into the washing machine drum and run a complete cycle with hot water.
• Wipe Down: Once the cycle has been completed, run a damp microfiber cloth around the inside of the drum, ridding it out any excess water or moisture and leave the lid open to dry. Wipe down the exterior of the machine with the bleach mixture, also.

Front-Loading Machines:

• Mix solution: Use the same bleach and water solution as we used for the top-loading machine.
• Wipe Down Door: Using a cloth and the solution, wipe down the washer gasket and the door of the machine, ensuring it reaches nooks and crannies where build-up may have occurred. Wipe down the exterior of the machine, as well, including any knobs or small crevices.
• Clean Drum: Use a washing machine cleaner to clean the drum.
• Run Cycle: Run a cleaning cycle with bleach or vinegar solutions to ensure the inside of the washer is properly sanitized.

When these steps have been completed, run a hot water washing cycle to clean out any remaining detergent residues and rid yourself of those foul washing machine smells.

Mr. Appliance of Grand Rapids Can Help With All Your Washing Machine Smells

Whether you have a front-loading washing machine or a top-load machine, you don't want to wait another minute to get those units back in pristine condition and rid your washer of those nasty smells. Contact us today to help get to the bottom of why your washing machine smells! We proudly serve our community of Grand Rapids and the neighboring cities of Kentwood, Ada, and Wyoming. Let’s deal with the stinky washing machine today and remove all foul odors for good!