Sometimes the washing machine smells bad and even impregnates our clothes with bad odors. This inconvenience is usually due to the humidity that accumulates in the corners of the device. But don’t worry, you won’t have to change your washing machine. These natural tips will help you clean your washing machine so that it no longer smells bad.
Moisture trapped in the washing machine, mould or even lime deposits are responsible for bad odours in the washing machine that also affect clothes. It is then necessary to clean the washing machine to eliminate bacteria and bad odours.
How to clean a smelly washing machine?
Clean the drum
Thoroughly clean and disinfect the drum of your washing machine with white vinegar. To do this, pour 1 litre of white vinegar into the drum and run an empty wash cycle at 90°C, without detergent.
Vinegar is a very popular multi-purpose product for cleaning washing machines. It can be used to clean, degrease and also descale the drum, thanks to its disinfectant properties and its anti-limescale action.
If you notice that mould is very embedded in your washing machine, pour 3 litres of white vinegar into the drum, and add 20 drops of tea tree essential oil. The latter has an effective anti-fungal action to combat mould. Then run the empty machine for a short cycle at 60°C.
You can also use baking soda to clean your washing machine drum and neutralize bad odors. To do this, pour 1 cup of baking soda into the detergent drawer or directly into the drum and run a short, slightly warm empty cycle.
Clean the joint
Clean the drum seal with an old toothbrush soaked in white vinegar to remove detergent residue and dirt. Then wipe it with a microfiber cloth. If you notice that there is still dirt embedded in it, sprinkle some baking soda on a sponge soaked in white vinegar and wipe it along the drum seal.
Clean the filter
When poorly maintained, the filter stores lime and dirt, and this is what gives clothes a bad smell. That is why it is important to disinfect it. To do this, simply remove the filter and clean the dirt and residue lodged there with a soft-bristled toothbrush. Then all that remains is to put it back in place.
Clean the detergent drawer
Remove the tray and place it in a bowl filled with hot water to loosen the dirt. Then, run a sponge soaked in white vinegar through the detergent drawer, making sure to get into the corners. If there is any stubborn dirt left, you can put a little black soap on a sponge and clean the tray again. You can also use an old toothbrush to remove dirt from hard-to-reach corners.
Now that your washing machine is clean and free of bad odors, it is time to take care of the clothes that have been impregnated with the bad odors from your appliance.
To do this, simply iron the clothes in the washing machine. If you notice that the bad smells on your clothes are a bit strong, consider adding a cup of white vinegar and a few drops of lavender or lemon essential oil to the fabric softener compartment. In addition to neutralizing the bad smells on your clothes and perfuming them with a beautiful scent, this tip will soften them. In fact, white vinegar is used as a natural fabric softener , because it dissolves the lime contained in the water and therefore softens the clothes.
How to avoid bad smells from clothes and the washing machine?
After using your washing machine, keep the door open to allow ventilation and prevent the accumulation of moisture that causes mold and bad odors.
As for clothes, make sure you take them straight out of the drum once the wash cycle is over. In fact, keeping wet clothes inside the washing machine encourages the proliferation of bacteria and mould, which causes bad smells both in the clothes and in the washing machine. Finally, only put clothes away if they are completely dry, otherwise you will find yourself with smelly clothes again.
This way, you can maintain your washing machine to preserve its performance and find clean, fresh-smelling clothes after each wash.
