How to Clean Your Front Loader Washing Machine

Like all things that have anything to do with water, if you are not keeping your washing machine clean and dry, the smells will come- and let me tell you those smells won’t be pretty. Just like stripping your laundry, your washing machine needs to be deep cleaned too. Over time, washing machines build up sludge from detergents, fabric softeners, and different fibers from our clothing. This sludge then gets trapped in a warm, damp machine.
With these 5 simple steps you will be able to get rid of that yucky smell that sometimes comes with a front loading washing machine.
You will need the following supplies to get this job done:
- Vinegar
- Baking soda
- Water
- Towel for wiping off grime
- Sponge
- Start by mixing 1/4 cup of baking soda with 1/4 cup of water.
- Add this solution to your machine’s detergent container.
- Next you will need to pour two cups of white vinegar directly into the drum.
- You will run a normal cycle at high heat.
The baking soda and vinegar will break up that sludge stuck to your drum.
It will also kill any mold. And no mold means, no more yucky smells.
Once your cycle has completed you will now wipe out the drum to remove any moisture. Grab the detergent dispenser and clean the tray and any attachments. You may have to refer to your owner’s manual to see how to pull these trays out to clean.
Once you have cleaned and dried the detergent dispenser replace it directly back into your machine carefully.
When your cleaning cycle has completed and you have also given it a good wipe with a soft cloth to remove any excess moisture you are done cleaning your washer!
To clean the gasket I like using a sponge for this step of cleaning my smelly front loading washing machine. Grab your sponge and add a touch of vinegar to it and scrub, scrub, scrub.
You may have to rinse your sponge and reapply vinegar a few times during this process till you get all the grim and junk out especially if you have an animal that sheds a lot of hair!
This step can actually be done daily but it is also important when doing your monthly cleaning of your washer. Not only is it important to wipe down the inside but be sure to focus on wiping down the outside as well. When wiping down the glass of the door that faces the inside of the drum you are removing moisture that could possibly be trapped inside a closed washer for days at a time.
This last step is the most important. It is simple, leave the door open. You want to do this not only after your monthly cleaning but after every wash cycle
Leaving your door open after every wash helps the moisture evaporate quickly. This will help in keeping those unflattering smells from returning
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Comments
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Carole Muncy on Apr 04, 2023
I'm 67 years old- I have never had any odor or buildup in any of my washers. Never "cleaned"them out. Asked my 90 year old mother who still works her farm and does her own laundry (swears by Tide for the last 70 years) and she has never heard of an odor problem in a washer or dryer for that matter. I have a feeling this is one of those made up problems.
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Donna Daniels on Apr 09, 2023
Hi Carole! I have to agree! I have never noticed any ongoing nasty smells but once in awhile it gets a mild musty smell so I'm gonna try it just for the heck of it. I live in Florida and have an outside laundry room so during rainy season things do get damp. But what I really wanted to say is that your mom sounds awesome! You are so lucky to still have her at that age! Bless you both!
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Cumbriacrafts with louise on Apr 10, 2023
I fully agree with Donna.
Carole and your mum sounds awsome
Bless ☺
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Barbara on May 01, 2023
If you have a front load washer it will be smelly if you don't leave the door open and you also have to clean it regularly. This is not a problem with the top load washers we all used to have. It is a big problem with front load washers. Especially with the big rubber gasket inside. It always breaks my nails cleaning that part.
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Linda on Apr 10, 2023
I absolutely agree with you ,my front loader has a hose in the bottom left side that I have to use to drain excess water that accumulates in washer. I always wipe down the gasket with a towel after washing along with glass door inside and out. I leave door open for rest of day to keep moisture out. No joke here.
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