You certainly are not alone if you have ever taken a fresh load of clothes out of the washing machine only to find out that it smells like a dirty pool on the street. It is really annoying to wash your beloved garments and have them come out smelling worse than before. I had this same horror just last Tuesday.
The excess moisture in the air is trapped within the washing machine tub since we are in the middle of the intense August monsoon, which makes it the ideal environment for mold growth. I’m going to give you my own, step-by-step instructions on How to clean a smelly washing machine drum during rainy season so your clothing can smell clean again.
The real reason your washing machine smells so bad
Before we begin cleaning, it’s important to understand the exact cause of this. Your old soap and leftover water create an ideal environment for germs to grow.
You have a heavy glass door that is specifically made to prevent leaks if you possess a front-loading machine. In addition to keeping water off your floor, the thick glass completely isolates the damp air inside the circular tub. The drum’s inside remains wet for many days as dirt accumulates along your rubber components since the rainy august air prevents the drum from drying normally. The bad smell eventually goes directly from the metal walls into your freshly laundered garments.
READ: How to keep towels fresh during rainy season
How to clean a smelly washing machine (Step-by-Step Guide)
This may be fixed without hiring a costly mechanic or purchasing chemical descaling tools. This is the exact method I use to properly clean my machine with basic household materials.
Step 1: My Baking Soda and Vinegar Wash
Make sure to unload your machine fully before continuing, and look for any loose socks that could be hidden in the rear wall. after the drum is empty, fill your soap drawer with two cups of white vinegar and immediately add half a cup of baking soda into the bottom of the tub.
Next, go to your control panel and adjust the heat dial to the highest position for your particular model. as vinegar’s acid dissolves hard water marks as the hot water flows, and the baking soda softly cleans the metal. The hidden mold creating that terrible pond smell is totally destroyed by this easy combination.
Step 2: Scrubbing your hidden rubber ring
Although the door seal is the dirtiest element of the machine, most users entirely disregard it. You may probably notice old water collecting in this hidden fold if you peel back the thick gray rubber ring around your door opening and peek inside the window.
It is rather common to observe stray hair lodged in the deep muck. to remedy this, just soak an old toothbrush in ordinary vinegar and clean the entire circle until the rubber feels smooth once again. Use a fresh cotton cloth to properly dry the area after cleaning to prevent the smell from returning the following month.
Step 3: Emptying the bottom debris filter
Your machine has a little square door in the lower front corner. Behind it is a plastic trap and this particular component gathers loose coins and moist paper before they harm the water pump.
Over time, a bad smell from rotting lint moves up into the main tub. To collect the spilled water, toss a big towel onto the ground. you may give the trap a thorough cleaning in the bathroom sink by pulling it out. before putting the clean plastic portion back into the hole strongly, remove any caught hair.
Step 4: Building the open door habit
Wet air gathers in a dark area when the machine is shut down right away after a cycle. after each wash, you have to leave the door open for a few hours. To speed up the procedure, a room fan forces fresh air through the cavity.
Within an hour, the remaining water droplets completely dry up. developing this easy habit prevents fungi from spreading.
How to save clothes that are already smelly?
Your future washing is guaranteed when you clean your machine. right now, you still have a basket full of wet clothes that smell like a swamp. The smell becomes permanently built up in the cloth if they are put through another regular wash cycle.
In your freshly cleaned drum, you have to immediately pour one cup of white vinegar over those foul-smelling clothing. For this particular rescue load, do not use your usual detergent. Start a wash with warm water. the germs that are caught in the threads are broken down by the acid. To safely dry these clothing, hang them under a fast ceiling fan as soon as the cycle is complete.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Can I use bleach to clean my tub?
You can definitely run a hot wash with half a cup of liquid bleach if you prefer store-bought cleaners. However, since combining bleach and vinegar produces dangerous gas, please keep them apart at all times. Additionally, to prevent bleach stains on your clothing, be sure to do a second empty wash with plain water to get rid of any remaining chemicals.
How often should I clean the machine in August
You should attempt to run this wash cycle every three weeks throughout the rainy months. Regular laundry keeps your clothing smelling good throughout the season, yet heavy rain makes the air far too wet to wait any longer.
Do liquid soaps cause more mold?
In fact, liquid soaps often form a slick layer on your metal walls, and mold enjoys consuming this remaining material. Try using a little less soap every load to prevent this thick waste from collecting within your machine.
