Where the smell comes from
Washers stay damp inside between loads. Detergent and fabric softener that don't fully rinse away leave a film, and lint and hair collect in the folds. On a front-loader, the rubber door gasket is the most common spot. On any washer, the detergent dispenser and the area under the lid or around the drum can hold grime too.
Clean it in about 15 minutes
- Wipe the door gasket on a front-loader, pulling back the folds to get the hidden spots. Pick out any hair, lint or small items.
- Pull out the detergent drawer if it removes, and rinse it in the sink.
- Run your washer's cleaning cycle, or the hottest, longest empty cycle, with a washer cleaner made for your machine. Follow the label and your owner's manual.
- Wipe the drum and door dry when it's done.
Leave the washer door or lid open after the last load of the day so it can dry out, and move wet clothes to the dryer right away. Using the right amount of detergent helps too. More soap does not mean cleaner clothes.
When it's more than a smell
Never mix cleaners, especially bleach with vinegar or ammonia. Unplug the washer before you reach into the drum or work around the drain pump filter. If the washer won't drain, leaves standing water, leaks on the floor, or the smell comes back right after a cleaning, something else is going on. Call me at (470) 999-7395 or book online for a $79 diagnostic.
