Why do the washing machine and laundry smell bad ?
Often times, the washing machine and laundry start to smell bad. Several origins are possible, of which the following are the most common:
You wash your dirty and heavily soiled laundry at too low a temperature, which does not allow bacteria to be eliminated. They settle in the drum and grow, causing bad odors.
For ecological and / or economical reasons, you only wash at low temperature, which does not sufficiently dissolve the detergent and fabric softener which leaves viscous deposits and clogs the machine.
You close the door of the machine immediately after taking out the washed laundry, not giving the drum time to air dry.
You leave your laundry in the washing machine for too long after the wash cycle. It takes on a bad smell and bacteria thrives.
The drum seals are not cleaned regularly. Garbage, laundry residue and bacteria accumulate there.
Your laundry tub is not cleaned regularly and the residue from washing products clogs it.
How to properly clean a dirty or smelly washing machine ?
Here are our simple and effective tips for properly cleaning and maintaining your washing machine. Depending on the condition of your machine, you can test several without risk.
A good vacuum cleaning
Washing at low temperature, i.e. up to 40 ° C, will not eliminate bacteria from the laundry. These settle in the machine and develop there, leaving unpleasant odors.
To overcome this, pour 1 liter of white vinegar into the drum of the machine and run an empty program at a temperature of 90 ° C. This washing sanitizes the tub of the washing machine and should be done twice a year for the proper maintenance of the machine.
Drum cleaning
If bad odors set in, soak a clean cloth in white vinegar and clean the inside of the machine's drum, the drum seal that collects waste and detergent residue, and the window. White vinegar disinfects and adds a fresh cost to your washing machine.
Leave the door open after each wash to allow the drum to dry properly.
Clean the detergent drawer
The detergent drawer collects detergent and fabric softener residues. In addition, it is constantly subjected to the humidity of the washing machine. It is not uncommon for it to smell bad and mold to appear.
Remove it and clean it with a sponge and cleaning product. To remove detergent residue, put it back and pour in 2 liters of boiling water and white vinegar. You can add a few drops of tea tree essential oil, which is an effective and natural anti-mold.
Regularly check the cleanliness of your laundry tub and remember to leave it ajar after washing to allow it to air dry well.
Clean the gaskets
Soak a clean rag in white vinegar and wipe away dirty, moldy joints to loosen laundry residue, dirt, mold and bacteria. If the mold is stubborn, scrub with a soft toothed sponge dipped in hot water, dish soap and white vinegar.
