My washing machine smells

Question

My washing machine has a terrible odor and it makes my clothes stink! It is an older top loader, any thoughts on how to clean my washing machine? Thanks.

Janet Pizaro · Answer

Try running white vinegar through the machine and check for any residue of mildew.

Debi53 · Answer

Try pouring a cup of powdered dishwaser detergent and a cup of Borax into the tub of your machine. Put 1-2 cups of clorox in the dispenser. Use your longest cycle and do a second rinse. I use this formula on my white sheets and towels and they smell like they came off of a clothes line--so fresh. When you get the smell removed from your washer, leave your lid open between uses and you probably won't have any more issues.

William · Answer

Set the washer at the hottest water setting and highest load setting. Add about a quart of vinegar and four tablespoons of baking soda.  Let it agitate for about a minute to dissolve the baking soda. Stop the machine and let it sit for about an hour. The vinegar will dissolve any solid matrial and the baking soda will sanitize. After an hour, let the machine go through a wash cycle. Then fill it up again with hot water and add about a half bottle of hydrogen peroxide. Let it agitate for a minute, then sit for an hour. Then let it go through a wash cycle. Hydrogen peroxide is stronger than bleach. I use it when I wash my whites. Better clean and won't harm the fabric like bleach.

Lisa Heide · Answer

is it a front loader? If it is, it is probably the gasket,  just clean it with your favorite cleaner, make sure you get in all the folds then wipe it  dry.   Do not use bleach it can rot the gasket.

Mary Rushe · Answer

Add two cups of bread soda and run boil was. Follow up with second wash with added vinegar

Cathy · Answer

I also have this problem.  Until you get rid of the smell be sure to leave the lid open between washes.

Darlene · Answer

I had seen many of this tips on Facebook and you can also look at this link: http://www.diynatural.com/how-to-clean-a-wash...

Liz lawler · Answer

i agree with william and never close the door on the machine, front loader or top.

Mona Plunkett · Answer

I pour vinegar in my washer every so often. Let it soak a bit, then let the cycle finish out. I use a gallon to a large load size. Let it fill, soak for about 30 minutes then turn it back on and let it do it's thing. It deodorizes it, as well as clean the mineral deposits that can build up. It looks cleaner and smells fresher.

Kathleen Hartman · Answer

Fill your washer with hot water on longest wash setting. Add 4 cups of bleach. Let it agitate for a minute. Shut off. Wait one hour then let it finish cycle. Immediately fill with hot water on longest cycle and add 4 cups white vinegar. Agitate one minute. Shut off. Wait one hour then finish cycle. During wait time use a sponge dipped in the vinegar water and wipe off other parts of machine, like bleach dispenser, etc.

Sharon Crawford · Answer

I leave the door open. I also use white vinegar and baking soda in most of my white loads, helps the laundry stay white and helps the smells too!

Julie Beard · Answer

i have had the same problem as you and it drives  me crazy ....
 i use pine sol with borax vinegar  or as others have said bleach running it through  i just love my old faithfull pine sol  and  any one or all work great just as other s tips run full cycle after soaking .........never forget the houses best friend for odor  of any kind is you can make baking soda bombs with lavender or citrus  baking soda works awesome for odors !! good luck!!!

JOHNNY · Answer

START THE MACHINE, ONCE FILLD BUT PRIOR TO THE DRAIN, OP THE MACHINE, POUR IN A GFALLON OF WHITE VEGAR & SMALL BOX OF BAKING SODA  .. NOTE: THIS WILL FOAM UP IN THE MACHINE, TURN ON MACHINE TO GO THROUGH THE DRAIN CYCLE. THIS WILL FLUSH OUT & CLEAN THE  & DRAIN SYSTEM, PLUS THE INTERFT UNIT. CHEAP FIX & CLEANS OUT ANY SEDIMENT

Brenda Keeton-Fox · Answer

Borax. 1/3 cup along with your regular soap in your laundry. Your clothes will come out cleaner also.

Rita · Answer

Fill  washer at highest setting with hot water only. Add 1 gallon of vinegar and let run through regular cycle. This should remove soap build up that holds odours. Sometimes depending on washer may have to do twice. Then do this regularly according to how much laundry you  do and how the washer looks. I've done this for years and find it keeps everything clean and disinfected. Also good for pipes. Maybe also check your detergent because some have lots of filler which doesn't rinse out well. Hope this helps.   PS Also great  way for cleaning vinyl shower curtains.

Monica Talley · Answer

I would check your filter and drain hose.  Since you said it is an older top loader it might just be filled with buildup. I periodically run this cleaning method and do not have this problem anymore. First fill your washer with the hottest water on the largest load. Add one quart of bleach with NO detergent. Let agitate one minute. Turn off machine and let it sit for one hour. Immediately let the washer run through the longest wash cycle. Then fill the washer again on hottest water and longest water cycle.  Add one quart vinegar and let agitate 1 minute. Let sit one hour. Let washer process on longest cycle. Take a rag and wipe down lid and under the barrel rim. I do this twice a year and my family that visits us as the beach always comment that my beach towels always smell new. The beach towels are 5 years old. Hope this helps to keep your washer and laundry smelling clean.

Dana Hamilton · Answer

Build up of laundry soaps  and other junk will make it stink, also leaving laundry in it too long doesn't help.  Hot water and bleach on full cycle may help, as well as the vinegar and baking soda and hot water.

Sharon Fischer Passmore · Answer

Just do regular bleach loads - this works like a charm for me.

Chloe Crabtree · Answer

Here is a step by step way to clean it from right here on Hometalk: https://www.hometalk.com/posts/clean/appliances/how-to-clean-your-washing-machine-using-vinegar-and-baking-soda-21697626

My washing machine smells

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My washing machine smells

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