Our traditional expectations for a washing machine are clean, laundered items that smell fresh.
Our preference is given to fragrant powders and rinses that are pleasant to our smell, but sometimes it happens that all our efforts are in vain: a nasty smell suddenly comes from the washing machine.
It happens that it is felt only from the device itself, but sometimes, in especially neglected situations, the smell of mustiness is also felt in freshly washed things. What happened to your washer and what to do now?
Tips for removing bad odors from your washing machine
When an unpleasant smell after washing also comes from the laundry, this situation will have to be corrected manually, i.e. rinse the laundry in the basin air conditioned. But with your "washing assistant" you need to carefully deal with. There are quite a few factors, the presence of which ensures the appearance of a heavy smell in the washing machine.
Washing machine mistakes that cause stench in the washing machine
The most common reason and the most trivial.The washing machine simply "suffocates" because immediately after washing the hostess closes the hatch. Remember, the washing machine needs a certain amount of time to evaporate moisture. Therefore, at the end of washing, the door of the washing machine should remain open for a couple of hours.
It is important to remember that after each wash there is a need to wipe the rubber seal: water remains in its folds, and often small debris. Such a mixture can lead to the appearance of not only a bad smell, but also to the appearance of mold, the most common black!
With a powerful “growth” of mold deep into the rubber, a rubber seal will need to be replaced. But the mold on the surface of the cuff is easily removed if you wash it with dishwashing detergent.
Never turn your washing machine into a laundry basket.
Just imagine: there is high humidity inside the washing machine (first of all, when the washing machine was not dried well after washing), and you throw dirty things into it.
9 less likely reasons why your washing machine smells
The following causes of a musty smell are less common than operational errors, but still have a place to be:
- Fiasco with change powder or air conditioner. Sometimes the cause of an unpleasant smell is a new detergent, especially if it was not of the best quality. Sticky lumps on the walls of the washing machine: over time, the product acquires the smell of not fragrances, but some kind of rotten meat.
-
Terrible stink in the tank? Too much detergent or fabric softener. The reason for the smell here is almost identical to that in the first case. The excess sticks to the walls of the washing machine tank and after a while begins to exude a fetid “aroma”.
- Clogged detergent drawer. Remember that even very good detergents, which are poured into the tray in the required amount, can leave a barely noticeable film on the walls of the cuvette. Gradually, the layer becomes thicker, and as a result, mold spots often appear. It is not difficult to prevent such a nuisance: it is enough to remove the tray once a month and thoroughly rinse it under running warm water.
- Clogged channel for the supply of detergents. Layers of detergent with moldy patches can appear both on the tray and further downstream, namely in the duct for washing powder and conditioner. Remove the tray and point the included flashlight at it: if you find mold spots, this means that it is necessary to carry out a mechanical cleaning. This can be done independently, armed with a small brush, or you can give the authority to carry out such a procedure to a specialist. Please note: the most common cause of problems with the detergent supply channel is the heavy contamination of the tray. Therefore, in order to prevent such a nuisance, you just need to carefully monitor the cleanliness of your “assistant” tray.
- Clogged drain filter. During normal operation, the function of the drain filter is to trap debris to avoid clogging the sewer. In it you can find lost buttons, coins, small parts of children's toys, as well as large pile, pieces of thread. The drain filter needs to be cleaned at least once every six months! Otherwise, the “good” stopped by him on the way to the sewerage will begin to turn sour, rot and, as a result, exude a “fragrant aroma”. In addition, a clogged filter can cause difficult or completely “blocked” outflow of water from the washing machine.
- There is water left in the tub of the washing machine. There is very little of it, and you may not see it, but after some time it will begin to “fade out”. This can be aggravated if you close the door of the washing machine during its “rest”. In such a situation, the cause may be the incorrect connection of the device to the sewer, or, if this has not happened before, the problem lies in the failure of the drain pump. In this case, it is preferable to seek qualified help.
- An old drain hose can be the cause of an unpleasant odor. On its walls, especially if the product is not better quality, all sorts of debris and detergent residues often stick, which are then involved in the process of decay, and as a result, cause stench. You can try to “reanimate” such a hose, i.e. clean: for this you need to “drive” an empty washing machine at maximum temperature. When you have carried out such a procedure, but the smell still remains, then a hose replacement is required.
- Plaque on the heating element can become a source of an unpleasant odor.
Causes of an unpleasant smell in the washing machine This plaque is formed from washing powder, villi, litter, as well as impurities found in tap water. Such a “cocktail” sticks very strongly to the heating element. In such situations, when the washing machine is rarely used or washing is carried out at a low temperature, such a plaque acquires an unpleasant odor. Sometimes such a “fragrance” can also be at a high washing temperature - in such cases, a burning smell can be felt. To prevent such a smell, it is necessary to periodically use citric acid or special products to clean washing machines. It will help clean the heating element from plaque (“lemon” can be used by turning on the wash with an empty drum at a temperature of 90 ° C). Read the instructions for your washer, if it says that the use of chlorine-containing bleaches is allowed, then you can turn on the wasted wash at 90-95 ° C with a substance containing chlorine.
- Another reason may be problems with communications in your home. That is, the cause of the stench may not be a washing machine, but a sewer. In this state of affairs, the smell will flow not only from the washing machine, but also from other sources connected to the sewer.
At the end of this article, I would like to draw the attention of users of washing machines: be sure to read the rules of the attached instructions and, of course, follow them! The key to a long service life of your equipment is careful and correct operation.
Remember, ventilate, wipe, clean washing machine, following the manufacturer’s instructions, and as a result, your assistant will delight you with good work and the aromas of the “Alpine mountains”, “fresh frosty morning”, and not the stench of the swamp.
If the cause could not be eliminated, leave a request to the master
