A clean washing machine is an essential factor for always having your laundry fresh and clean. If you're starting to notice a nasty smell coming from your washing machine, then it must be time to give it a good clean. Just because it is supposed to clean your clothes, it doesn't mean that it cleans itself. To stop your washing machine from smelling, you need to understand the root of the problem.
WHAT CAUSES THE UNPLEASANT SMELLS IN THE WASHING MACHINE?
A combination of mould, mildew and bacteria can cause nasty smells in your washing machine. When you put dirty clothes in your machine, a mixture of body oil, dirt, hair, and scum can get trapped in the gasket, seal and detergent dispenser. To get your appliance back to working order, we've got some simple tips and advice on how to get rid of the smell in the washing machine.
METHODS
Manual Clean
To keep our appliances in working order and prevent unpleasant smells, we must remember to give them an occasional clean. To clean the washing machine inside and out, you can remove specific components such as the detergent tray, soak it with bicarbonate of soda before wiping it down, and clean the outside with a damp cloth.
Service Wash
Once you've given removable parts a good clean, you can now move on to running a service wash. A service wash means spinning your washing machine without any items in the drum at a high temperature. With most people washing their clothes at 40°C or less, mould and bacteria can survive in the drum, which can lead to your washing machine smelling. That's why you need to regularly run a hotter service wash to deal with this problem.
Clean Your Door Seal
Mould and bacteria can live in the rubber seal around the door hole. After giving it a service wash, you can check if it needs a clean - doing this frequently can prevent any long term build-up of mould and bacteria. You may have to replace the door seal if the mould has had too long to fester and have sunk into the porous rubber of the seal.
Check standpipe
If you're still experiencing bad smells, this may mean you have a partial blockage in the standpipe. If this is the case, you can use a drain unblocker to try and clear the pipe. If you're unable to remove the blockage in the standpipe, you will have to call an engineer for repair.
If you're considering buying a new laundry appliance instead of repairing your current one, you can have a browse of our extensive range of washing machines.
HOW TO PREVENT THE SMELL FROM RETURNING
Leave the washing machine door and drawer open.
By leaving the washing machine's door open after washing, the air in the drum can circulate and prevent mould and bacteria growth. Additionally, it would be best to leave the machine's detergent drawer partly open for the same reason.
Detergent Choice
Most washing machine manufacturers will usually recommend which type of detergent is most suitable to use with your appliance so you can get the best cleaning performance. Powdered detergent, especially front loader, may generate more suds than your device can manage, so check the manual.
Washing Temperature Keep
Specific washing machines have automatic hygiene functions. This function is automatically activated by washing at higher temperatures, which provides deep cleaning of clothes while maintaining the same temperature for the entire washing cycle.
Keep The Drum Dry
As a rule of thumb, clothes should be removed as soon as possible when the cycle is over, and the door should be left open for air to circulate for fresh air. If the problem is ongoing, it might be worth purchasing a dehumidifier to help eliminate the moisture.
