How to Get Rid of Odor From a Front Load Washer
Front-loading washing machines are common in Europe and gaining popularity in the United States. Some users may experience odors coming from within their front loading washer, typically caused by mold and mildew. This is sometimes a sign of a drainage problem, aggravated by the washer's horizontal construction. Odors can be avoided through proper product usage along with regular cleaning and drying of the machine. Existing odors can be eliminated easily. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- High efficiency (HE) laundry detergent
- Fabric softener sheets
- Towel, rag or paper towels
- White vinegar
Instructions
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Switch to fabric softener sheets and a high efficiency (HE) laundry detergent (also known as concentrated detergents). Liquid fabric softener leaves a residue on which odor-causing mold and mildew may grow; sheets do not. Standard detergent produces more suds than high efficiency detergents, and suds decrease the efficacy of the washer's drainage system. This creates the humid environment mold needs.
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Remove clothing as soon as the washing cycle is finished. Use a rag or paper towel to dry the inside of the front loading washer. The washer's horizontal-oriented wash tub might leave pools of water within the appliance.
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Leave the washer door open when the washer is not in use. This increases air circulation, helping to dispel humid air in the washer cavity. Front-loading washers employ an air and watertight seal, unlike many top-loading washers.
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Run the front-loading washer's self-cleaning cycle, if the washer model includes this feature, every four weeks. The cleaning cycle circulates hot water through the washer's system and helps clean its tubing and drainage outlets, where material that can contribute to odors collects.
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Use vinegar to clean the washer if if your washer does not have a self-cleaning cycle. Add 2 to 3 cups of plain white vinegar to your washer's dispenser cup. Run a hot water cycle. The white vinegar sterilizes and cleans the washer, neutralizing odors along the way.
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Tips & Warnings
Commercial washer odor-remover solutions and sprays are available in the household department in most general retail stores.
Some front-loading washers are the subject of a pending (as of late 2009) class-action lawsuit brought in U.S. courts. The lawsuit alleges a machine defect traps water within the machine, creating odors. Contact the washer's manufacturer to see if your washer model is part of the suit.
