Getting rid of musty smell in the washing machine

Why does the washing machine smell bad?

Some time after purchasing a washing machine, people encounter a problem - a putrid, unpleasant odor begins to emanate from the unit. A bad odor may appear in just a couple of months or after a few years, but it is almost impossible to completely avoid its occurrence.

The common cause is always excessive use of the machine combined with improper care of it. There are several factors that can contribute to the problem.

• Using low quality powders and bleaches. In addition to the fact that such products themselves may have an unpleasant aroma, they often leave persistent marks on the walls of the unit.
• Using the washing machine as a basket for dirty laundry. If you put soiled clothes in the drum of the unit for several days, and start washing only when the machine is full, then an unpleasant smell will appear very quickly - the clothes inside the drum will “sour.”
• Contamination and clogging of heating elements, pump and other internal parts. During use, small debris, thread fragments, and pet hair constantly collect on the parts of the washing machine. Over time, this dirt begins to naturally decompose and emit an unpleasant odor.
• Wash in cool water. If you constantly wash things at a temperature of 40 ° C and below, then deposits on the walls of the drum and on internal parts will appear faster, while hot water itself helps clean the washing machine, but cold water does not.
• Late removal of washed items from the washing machine. If wet clothes are left in the machine for a long time after washing, conditions of high humidity are created in the drum, and accordingly, a musty smell quickly appears.

One of the main factors in the appearance of an unpleasant odor from the washing machine after washing is insufficient ventilation of the drum. If the door is always closed, the humidity inside the unit is very different from the humidity in the room.

Important! It is under the influence of this factor that the smell of mold and mold directly on the internal parts arise in the washing machine; mold grows and multiplies quickly in warm, damp conditions in the absence of ventilation.

Adviсe

A few tips from experienced craftsmen will speed up the process of removing unpleasant odors from the washing machine:

1. A clogged drain corrugated hose that could not be cleaned the first time requires replacement.
2. A baking soda paste (the powder is diluted with water into a thick paste) will help to quickly clean the rubber cuff from black deposits and unpleasant odors.
3. An effective remedy in the fight against unpleasant odors of mold and mildew is copper sulfate. For cleaning, use a solution prepared at the rate of 1.5 tbsp. copper sulfate per liter of clean water. Wipe the cuffs with a rag soaked in the prepared mixture. Additionally, a solution of copper sulfate is poured into the drum, after which the wash is started at a water temperature of 95°C.

When cleaning the washing machine, do not forget about personal protective equipment - rubber gloves and a respirator.

You will find a lot of useful and important information about removing various unpleasant odors from objects and surfaces in this section.

How to clean various elements of a washing machine

The washing machine drum is only one of the internal parts. At first glance, it seems that you can remove the smell by simply thoroughly wiping the inside of the washing machine. But after this procedure, people often find that the situation has not changed at all.

Other parts of the unit can also be sources of a bad rotten smell, namely:

• a tray into which washing powder is poured;
• heating element inside the machine, subject to scale formation;
• drain hose and its filter, which collects small debris.

To completely remove the musty aroma, you need to clean all of the listed elements.

How to clean a washing machine from the smell from the tray

The source of the unpleasant odor very often becomes a tray into which powder is poured and bleach is poured. Over time, particles of detergents settle on its walls; in conditions of constant humidity and pollution, even mold can appear.

To wash the washing machine from odors and remove unpleasant odors, just pull out the tray; usually manufacturers make it removable; you can remove the part in one motion without the use of special tools. The tray is thoroughly rinsed with hot water, and contaminated areas are cleaned with an old toothbrush. Laundry soap or any product containing chlorine will help remove the smell.

After cleaning, you will need to dry the tray naturally or wipe it thoroughly with paper napkins, and then put it back in place.

How to remove smell from a washing machine from the intake hole

The receiving hole in the washing machine is the recess in which the powder tray is located. Over time, dirt and unpleasant odors can accumulate in this place, for example, the fungus very quickly spreads to the walls of the receiving hole from the walls of the contaminated tray.

Cleaning the hole is very simple; first of all, you need to remove and thoroughly wash the tray itself. After this, use a damp cloth or a small brush to treat the recess in which it was fixed; for high-quality cleaning, you can use laundry soap or chlorine-containing products. Then the receiving hole must be wiped dry with a clean cloth and the clean, dried tray must be installed back.

How to eliminate the smell from a cuff in a washing machine

The cuff of the unit, which ensures the tightness of the drum when the door is closed, is especially susceptible to the accumulation of unpleasant odors. First of all, the cuff is made of rubber, so residues of dirt and detergents settle on its surface very easily, and fungus spreads quickly. In addition, due to its structure, the cuff has many folds and hard-to-reach places; they are not cleaned naturally during the rinsing process.

To clean the cuff from dirt and remove the musty smell from the washing machine during washing, you must:

• moisten a rag in a soapy solution and thoroughly wipe the outer side of the rubber band on the hatch opening;
• bend the edges of the cuff and remove the dirt under them, this is where small debris usually accumulates and mold occurs;
• wipe the rubber in all recesses around the entire circumference of the hatch;
• soak a rag in a solution containing chlorine or other strong detergents and thoroughly rinse the entire cuff again;
• Close the hatch of the machine for half an hour and wait until the cleaning agent shows maximum effectiveness.

After this, it is recommended to run the machine without laundry in the rinsing mode so that the hot water thoroughly rinses the drum and elastic band, this will allow you to remove the remnants of used cleaning products without extra effort.

How to remove smell from a washing machine with a hose

To remove unpleasant smells from your washing machine, you often have to remove the drain hose. With each cycle of operation of the device, dirty water with the remains of small debris passes through the hose. Over time, dirt accumulates on the inner walls of the hose and forms a dense coating, which is the source of the unpleasant odor.

There are 2 ways to thoroughly clean the drain hose and remove the musty smell that appears.

• Without removing the hose. If there are no signs of noticeable blockage during operation of the machine, and the problem is only a swampy smell, the drain hose does not need to be removed. It is enough to start an empty machine at high water temperatures - you must first add a special cleaning agent to remove deposits into the powder tray. Powders, solutions and gels from well-known manufacturers do not harm the hose itself or the rubber gaskets inside the machine, but they effectively dissolve deposits on the walls and even small rotted debris.
• With hose removed. If there is reason to suspect that the hose is seriously clogged, it should be removed for cleaning. To do this, the machine is first completely disconnected from the network, then the water supply is turned off - completely in the entire apartment or using a special valve only in the washing machine. Then the hose is carefully disconnected from the back wall of the unit; first you need to place a basin to drain the remaining water. The hose is cleaned using a soft Kevlar cable and washed several times with hot water to remove plaque and stench, and then put back in place and the machine is reconnected to the sewerage system and the electrical network.

Advice! To clean the drain hose without removing it, not only special products are well suited, but also ordinary baking soda; it should be poured into the tray in an amount of 150 g.

How to clean a washing machine from odor from the filter

The drain filter is usually located on the side or rear cover of the machine at the bottom under a plug. It is designed specifically to collect and retain all small debris from clothing. Since in conditions of constant humidity the garbage begins to rot, it is quite natural that over time a strong unpleasant odor will appear.

To remove the rotten smell from the washing machine, the filter needs to be cleaned. To do this, remove the plug on the back or side wall, unscrew the filter plug and place a previously prepared basin; quite a lot of retained water can pour out of the machine. The filter is cleaned of debris, thoroughly washed in hot water with soap or other household products, and then rinsed and screwed back on.

Attention! Since the direct purpose of the filter is to collect debris during the washing process and draining the water, over time the part will inevitably become contaminated again. Therefore, it is impossible to remove the smell of sewage from the washing machine once and for all; cleaning the filter will need to be repeated once every 2 months.

Cleaning the washing machine from the smell from the drum

Despite the fact that it can be quite difficult to remove a rotten smell from a washing machine, and it can come from several places, most often the strongest aroma comes from the drum of the unit. Cleaning the drum is easy - you don’t need to disassemble the machine to access it.

To remove the musty aroma, simply wipe the surface of the drum with a damp cloth soaked in one of the cleaning products. Both chemical solutions and powders, as well as folk remedies, are suitable for cleaning.

After cleaning, it is recommended to run the machine in the wash without laundry at high temperatures - this will remove any remaining cleaning products. However, they do not do this right away; first it is recommended to leave the cleaning agent for 30-40 minutes so that it has a full effect on the walls of the drum.

How to remove the smell of kerosene?

If rags that smell of kerosene get into the drum, the fumes cannot be removed using conventional methods. This product, like gasoline, is obtained through petroleum distillation. To remove its persistent odor, you will need to degrease all the insides of the machine: you need to destroy the oil molecules and then the problem will be solved. To implement the plan, stock up on:

• Degreaser - citrus. You can also use car degreaser. Dish detergent will also work.
• Washing powder.
• Baking soda or vinegar.

Procedure:

1. Take one of the degreasers and pour into the washing machine as much as indicated by the manufacturer. Before use, make sure that the degreaser can be poured into the machine.
2. Fill the drum with hot water.
3. Throw a few unwanted rags into the drum. While the drum is spinning, the rags will wipe the inside of the drum.
4. Turn on the wash - full cycle.
5. If the amber is strong, it is recommended to stop the device after just a few minutes of operation. Let the degreaser act longer on the oil molecules. After an hour or two, turn on the start again.
6. When the wash is finished, take out the washed rags. Smell around the device. If there is still a smell of kerosene, repeat all the steps, and so on until the problem is resolved.
7. If your clothes become saturated with kerosene odors, immediately remove them and sprinkle baking soda on top. Later, when washing, you can add 250 g of table vinegar to the water.
8. Hang the washed clothes outside to dry, let them ventilate until the fumes completely disappear.

If you have run several cycles and there is no result - things still smell, start cleaning the internal parts of the device using mechanical methods. Take degreasers and clean by hand.

How to get rid of smell from a washing machine using folk remedies

You can remove a rotten aroma from a washing machine not only with aggressive household chemicals. Homemade budget products also give an excellent effect, since they effectively dissolve dirt and plaque on the internal parts of the machine.

How to remove unpleasant odor from a washing machine with soda

Baking soda is one of the best home remedies to remove unpleasant odors. It is very cheap, and is not inferior in effectiveness to expensive solutions and powders.

We recommend reading: Baking soda: beneficial properties, uses, how to take

To remove odors from your washing machine and remove the stench with baking soda, you need to:

• pour half a pack of baking soda into the tray;
• set the temperature in the unit settings to no more than 30 °C and run an “empty” wash;
• at the end of the washing cycle, pour a glass of vinegar into the powder tray and this time set the temperature to 60 degrees;
• run the “empty” wash a third time, again at 30 °C, and without using any cleaning agents.

After thorough cleaning, the unit door must be left wide open for good ventilation for at least 3 hours. Cleaning with soda not only completely removes unwanted odors, but also thoroughly disinfects the washing machine from the inside.

How to clean a washing machine from smelling with citric acid

An excellent natural solution for removing odor from your washing machine is citric acid. It quickly removes not only soft, but also hard deposits on the internal parts of the machine, and also helps to reliably remove even strong unpleasant odors.

The folk remedy is used like this:

• lemon powder is poured into the tray in the amount of 50 g; if desired, you can add the same amount of product directly to the drum;
• in the unit settings, set the highest possible temperature;
• start an “empty wash”.

Citric acid is a very powerful natural solvent and antiseptic, so usually only 1 wash cycle is enough to completely clean the washing machine of the swamp smell. The procedure does not present any difficulties, so it is recommended to carry it out for preventive purposes once every 2 months.

How to remove unpleasant smell from a washing machine with vinegar

An effective washing machine odor remover such as table vinegar helps remove the swamp aroma from the unit. Use it as follows:

• vinegar is diluted with water in equal proportions and poured into the machine tray;
• the washing temperature is set to maximum;
• turn on the additional rinse mode after washing;
• The machine is started in “idle” mode with an empty drum.

Intensive washing with vinegar with an empty drum allows you to remove unwanted odors in just 1 working cycle of the machine. However, after washing, the unit will need to be ventilated for several hours so that the acrid smell of vinegar does not remain in the drum.

How to eliminate with special compounds?

If cleaning with improvised means does not lead to the desired result, special household chemicals will help . TOP 5 most effective professional compositions:

Tiret gel

The detergent for washing machines will clean from:

• unpleasant odors,
• soap scum,
• minor blockages.

Safe for metal and plastic surfaces. The gel is effective even if there is water in the washing machine drum. The average cost is 380 rubles. (500 ml bottle).

Doctor TEN antibacterial

Professional product for removing scale and unpleasant odors in automatic washing machines. With regular use, it stops the development of mold and mildew (the main sources of unpleasant odors in the washing machine).

Doctor TEN Treatment:

• disinfects surfaces,
• removes scale, thereby extending the life of the household appliance.

The average cost is 115 rubles. (pack of 200 g).

Chistolan Automatic

Washing machine care product. Provides reliable protection against scale, prevents the appearance of mold and unpleasant odors. Chistolan can be used in any washing mode, both with dry powders and liquid detergents. The average cost is 50 rubles. (pack of 500 g).

Refine

Protection for washing machines. Regular use of the product:

• prevents the formation of lime deposits,
• softens water
• disinfects the internal surfaces of the washing machine.

The average cost is 55 rubles. (pack 750 g).

Cleaner Dr. Beckmann with activated carbon

Qualitatively cleans household appliances from the inside from:

• mud,
• lime deposits,
• unpleasant odors.

Activated carbon formula releases stubborn dirt and soap deposits from even hard-to-reach areas. The product is safe for rubber seals. Average cost 330 rub. (capacity 250 ml).

Cleaning with professional products is carried out in strict accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions, at the highest possible water temperature and double rinse mode.

Removing odor from a washing machine using household chemicals

If the sewer smell coming from the washing machine is very strong, then folk remedies may not remove it. In this case, it is worth using specialized aggressive substances that have a more powerful composition and help to reliably remove fungus and bad odors.

• White. The famous chlorine bleach can be used not only when washing heavily soiled substances, but also to remove bad odors from the machine. Whiteness is poured into the bleach or powder compartment and the intensive wash mode is turned on at high temperature. The drum of the unit must remain empty.
• Specialized cleaning and deodorizing agent. Products such as Calgon, FrischActiv, Alfagon and others help to remove odor well. They are also poured into the powder compartment, and then the water temperature is set to high and a “idle” wash is started.

Important! The advantage of specialized products is their complex effect; they not only remove unpleasant odors, but also protect the internal parts of the unit from the appearance of scale.

Preventing unpleasant odors from washing machines

It is easier to prevent foreign odors in the washing machine than to try to remove them. To prevent a rotten aroma from appearing in principle, it is enough to follow simple rules for using the machine.

• Do not use the unit drum for storing dirty laundry.
• Remove washed items from the drum immediately after finishing washing.
• Do not keep the hatch door constantly closed; the drum should be ventilated more often.
• Try to wash things more often at high temperatures; washing in cool water provokes the appearance of an odor, which will then be difficult to remove.

It is also recommended to regularly clean the drain hose and tray of the washing unit from dirt, and wipe the inside of the drum. Once every couple of months, you can run an “empty” wash with traditional cleaning products or specialized solutions simply for prevention.

Heavily soiled items that emit a strong, unpleasant aroma are best first soaked and rinsed by hand in a basin. Putting them in the machine wash straight away can create an unpleasant odor that will be difficult to remove.