Anyone who owns a washing machine that has the odiferous smell of mildew (or other unattractive scent) understands just how unpleasant it can be. Since it is not cost-effective to get rid of the washing machine to buy a new better smelling one, it's best to understand what causes the problem, how to prevent it and how to get rid of the offending washing machine odor.
The Culprit - Poor Drainage
Most people understand that standing water in a small closed area over a period of time can give rise to an unpleasant musty odor. The solution, in most cases, is to drain the water and dry the area. Part of the reason for the musty odor is because the washing machine does not properly drain the water during the spin cycle, leaving excess water standing in the bottom of the washing machine tub.
Causes of Poor Drainage
The most common causes for poor drainage are:
- Overloaded washing machine: An overloaded washing machine does not operate as efficiently as one that is loaded to an optimal level. The excess weight puts a strain on the machine especially during the spin cycle, which prevents the machine from reaching optimal spin speed. By not achieving the optimal speed, the water is prevented from completely draining from the washing machine. Therefore, the un-drained water sits in the washing machine.
- Unevenly distributed clothes: Thefamiliar spin cycle banging is the telltale sign that the clothes are unevenly distributed, which prevents the machine from reaching optimal spin speed. As with an overloaded machine, this means that the excess water sits in the washing machine, contributing to the odor problem.
- Infrequently used front loading washing machines: Unlike top loading machines, front loaders are tightly sealed to prevent water from leaking. Once the wash is complete, closing the door serves to seal in the remaining moisture and can potentially cause the residual water to smell if the washing machine is not used frequently.
The Solutions
Preventative: Now that the most common causes have been identified, to prevent such a problem all one has to do is reduce the dirty clothes load size, ensure it is evenly distributed in the washing machine and leave the door open on front-loading machines.
Corrective: Running an empty washing machine on the hot cycle with a cup of vinegar should do the trick. However, if it doesn't, it's time for the heavy guns. Glisten, although a dishwasher product, is known to remove some of the more stubborn washing machine odor problems.
If the problem still persists after utilizing the above prevention and removal methods, it's time to seek help from a professional.
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