How to Remove a Musty Smell From a Front-Load Washer

Wash front-loader machines every three months

Water cannot drain out completely from front-loader washers because the circular tubs lie on their sides. This leaves enough moisture for mold and mildew to form if you do not take preventative measures. Washing the tub with bleach can eliminate musty smells from a front-loading washing machine.

Things You'll Need

• Bucket
• Chlorine bleach
• White vinegar
• Cotton cloth

Instructions

1. Place a bucket under the drain pump filter. Water accumulates in the filter over time and it could be the main source of the musty smell in the washer. This filter is usually in front of the washer, toward the bottom of the machine.

2. Open the filter and wait for the water to drain out of it. When the filter is empty, pull it out and wipe it clean with a dry cloth. Replace the filter.

3. Wash the tub with bleach. In "Talking Dirty Laundry with the Queen of Clean," Linda Cobb recommends pouring 1 qt. of chlorine bleach into the machine's tub after you have filled it with hot water. Select a wash setting with the longest cycle. Do not put detergent or laundry into the tub. At the end of the wash, add 1 qt. of white vinegar to the tub and run the cycle again.

4. Wipe the tub with a cloth at the end of the wash cycle to remove moisture. Also wipe the interior of the door, its seals and gaskets. Leave the door open so the tub and door can dry thoroughly. Repeat these steps every three months.

References

• "Talking Dirty Laundry With The Queen Of Clean;" Linda Cobb; Pocket, 2001