How to Get Rid of Washer Odor

Like anything else in a home, even the washing machine can get dirty. When your washing machine becomes dirty, it can create an unpleasant smell that gets all over your clothing and can make clothes seem dirtier after being washed. Odors in the washing machine are usually the result of mold and mildew, which accumulate if standing water is left in the machine. Removing these unpleasant smells from your washer, and ultimately from your apparel, is easy to do with the right information.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• White vinegar

1. Fill the empty washing machine with two gallons of white vinegar.

2. Set the water temperature to hot, and turn the machine on.

3. Allow the cycle to run for 8 to 10 minutes to agitate the vinegar and water around.

4. Turn the machine off while it is still full of water.

5. Allow the vinegar and water to sit in the machine overnight.

6. Turn the washer back on in the morning, and allow it to finish the cycle.

7. Run the washing machine through a complete cycle with hot water to further rinse the machine out.

Tips & Warnings

• If odors persist, remove the back panel of the washing machine and visually inspect for standing water, which indicates a leak or frayed rubber.
• Call a professional to fix internal issues within the washing machine.

References

• Vinegar
• Washing Machine Odor

Who Can Help Sponsored

• Don’t cry over spilt anything! Outsmart stains with over 85 stain solutions from Tide and people like you.