Spotless and fragrant laundry is what we want every time we load our washing machine with dirty or smelly clothes. But, unfortunately, we have more or less all experienced the disappointment of a laundry with a bad smell or that stinks, perhaps because we forgot to remove the clothes immediately after washing, leaving them to get tangled in the basket, or because the washing machine is old or dirty.
As with any appliance, proper use and proper maintenance of the home washing machine are important to ensure its proper functioning.
We will see the good habits to keep our washing machine clean and efficient and the solutions to clean, wash, and sanitize its components.
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Why does the washing machine stink?
When we buy a new washing machine, there is nothing to worry about. But problems can come later. For example, if our washing machine begins to emit unpleasant scents or our clothes no longer smell like in the early days, we probably have not followed the washing machine’s proper maintenance.
It is perfectly normal for mold and unpleasant odors to be created inside a washing machine, as the drum remains cyclically in contact with the stagnant water in the drain, often even for a long time, between one wash and the next.
The stagnation of water is the first cause of the formation of bad smells from our washing machine. Furthermore, soap and fabric residues can get stuck on the gaskets, filter, or parts of the basket, eventually forming other foci of mold and bacteria.
It is important to follow the routine maintenance practices discussed later and assume virtuous behavior in the appliance’s daily use.
For example, to avoid the stagnation of humidity inside the drum, it is always good to open the door so that the inside of the washing machine can dry completely without creating condensation and further humidity.
Using an excessive amount of detergent will greatly increase the chances of developing mold and bad smells inside our washing machine, as greater detergent quantities correspond to greater residues at the end of each wash.
Even cold washing, often preferable to others as it is less expensive and polluting, should not always be adopted: a 60° wash occasionally helps sanitize the appliance’s interior, killing germs and bacteria of unpleasant smells.
How to prevent bad smells?
So what is the correct maintenance of the washing machine? It should be washed, ideally every month, especially if we use it daily. So let’s see how to clean the washing machine so that it works perfectly throughout the year, guaranteeing us the clean and fragrant laundry we want.
The cleaning process of the washing machine consists of a vacuum wash without clothing or detergent. Instead of detergent, we can put two tablespoons of vinegar, baking soda, or coarse salt in the tray. The perfect ingredient is also, in the case of the washing machine, those of timeless grandmother.
Once the tray is loaded, just set a standard wash at least 60°C, considering that the ideal would be to start a wash at the highest possible temperature to ensure that you have eradicated germs and mold.
Vinegar and baking soda are often used together to remove stains and disinfect domestic surfaces. In addition, they will clean and sanitize the machinery’s entire interior, guaranteeing its correct functionality and, not a small thing, contributing to the appliance’s longevity.
Generally, vacuum-cleaning with salt, vinegar, or baking soda is sufficient to eliminate the problem of bad odors and clean the washing machine’s entire interior well. But if that is not enough, and our washing machine continues to stink or stink the laundry, we should proceed with a more thorough cleaning.
How to thoroughly clean the washing machine?
Cleaning the washing machine thoroughly also means dedicating yourself to the appliance’s gaskets, filters, and removable parts. So let’s see in detail how to clean the washing machine, wanting to sanitize all the components:
- The washing machine’s internal rubber gaskets are often harassed of mold and dirt, getting stuck and developing dirt and a bad smell. To clean the seals, wipe them with a damp cloth soaked in vinegar or baking soda. In the most difficult cases, a toothbrush will help us get to even the most stubborn dirt.
- A similar procedure can be used to clean the washing machine’s filters, on which soap residues and lint of fabric tend to accumulate, which – over time – stagnate on the bottom of the washing machine. Removing the filters from their housing and cleaning them by rubbing them with a toothbrush is an operation that should do at least every six months. The most suitable products, also for this process, are apple cider vinegar and baking soda.
- Finally, the trays must be removed and washed very carefully. To make sure you can remove all the soap incrustations and plastic residues, the advice is to soak them in a basin with hot water, vinegar, and baking soda. After a few hours, remove the remaining residues with the help of a dry cloth.
How to do if we have a high-water saving or top loading washing machine?
If the vacuum cleaning does not work, and not even having cleaned every part of our washing machine could solve the problem of bad smells. Ours is probably the latest generation washing machine, high-water saving, or load from above.
So let’s not despair, and let’s see how to clean the washing machine even in the two specific cases:
” High-water saving ” washing machine
The procedures described above will not be entirely useful for its cleaning. This type of washing machine requires that the basket is never filled with water, which is why our vinegar and bicarbonate allies will not clean a large part of the basket. In this circumstance, it will be necessary to add the missing water manually.
Like? Once the aforementioned vacuum cleaning has started, you will have to wait for the water to load phase; pour at least two water liters into the detergent compartment once the water is finished. Once the water has been introduced, you can proceed with the insertion of apple cider vinegar or the bicarbonate and carry out the vacuum washing to the end.
This procedure will ensure an accurate cleaning of all basket parts, including those that generally remain untouched by the water.
Top loading washing machine
These washing machines present a different but equally annoying problem: often, they do not drain all the water used during washing, greatly increasing the possibility that stagnant water creates bad smells.
To thoroughly clean and disinfect a washing machine of this type, you must start a vacuum washing cycle, which will be interrupted when the water has reached half the basket.
At that point, add half a bottle of vinegar directly to the basket and leave the washing program suspended for at least an hour. After this ” soaking time, “we can restart the washing program.
A few more precautions
We have seen how to clean a washing machine that stinks to keep it efficient and in perfect condition, ensuring a fragrant and spotless laundry. Once you have cleaned our washing machine, remember to repeat the operation constantly: if complete cleaning is recommended at least once every six months, vacuum cleaning with coarse salt, vinegar, or baking soda every month.
The natural remedies work very well, but if you prefer, you can use bleach instead of pure or diluted in water to be inserted in the soap tray during the emptying phase. In the case of the top-loading washing machine, the half bottle of vinegar can be replaced with a cup of bleach and poured into the suspended washing basket.
At least once a year, it is still advisable to leave the ” natural ” way and use specific products for cleaning the washing machine: today, there are all types and prices on the market. Moreover, they are often suggested by the same manufacturer of our washing machine.
If we have limescale problems, on the other hand, and the stench problem occurs more frequently, we can use apple cider vinegar, which is slightly more acidic than white and apple cider vinegar. It will be sufficient to eliminate limescale but will not ruin the components of the washing machine.
Two glasses of cider vinegar will be enough to eliminate the limestone residues. Before a vacuum wash, one must be added to the soap pan and directly to the basket.