How to get rid of unpleasant odor from the washing machine?

When using a washing machine, we expect clean laundry that smells fresh. We buy products intended for washing clothes in order to get a pleasant aroma as a result. But sometimes we have to face the problem of a nasty smell.

An unpleasant smell in a washing machine can cause a lot of discomfort to its owner. In order to eliminate it as quickly as possible, it is necessary to understand the cause of its appearance. Most likely, the machine was not properly maintained, so it is worth understanding the operating rules in order to prevent the appearance of a stench in the future. If the equipment is used strictly according to the instructions, preventive cleaning is carried out regularly, perhaps an important detail was missed. Therefore, it is worth considering the possible causes and finding the place from which the bad fragrance comes.

Causes of an unpleasant smell

A common cause of a bad aroma is improper operation.The washing machine has hard-to-reach sections in which water stagnates, where bacteria, mold, and fungus begin to multiply. The accumulation of unfavorable microorganisms contributes to the appearance of a musty aroma.

Therefore, first of all, it is necessary to ensure proper care of the equipment in order to encounter the problem of unpleasant odor as little as possible.

Main reasons:

A trivial but common reason is closing the door immediately after finishing washing. It is necessary to wait time for the moisture to evaporate (about 3 hours) and only then close the lid.
Storing stale clothes in a drum. It’s a bad idea to collect dirty clothes for several days and start washing only when the machine is full. The humidity inside increases, plus dirty laundry is a great place for bacteria to multiply.
Often the washing process takes place at a low temperature of 30-40 degrees, which promotes the formation of mold.
Use of poor quality chemicals. When the powder is unable to dissolve, the particles remain inside the equipment and a coating forms.
Using household chemicals for washing in excess of the amount prescribed in the instructions. Excess product will contribute to an unpleasant odor.
The powder compartment is dirty and needs to be cleaned regularly.
The washing machine has stopped properly draining the water completely; the liquid that stagnates inside has a rotten smell.
Retention of moisture in the cuff due to stagnant water. After washing, it should be dried thoroughly.
The channel intended for supplying detergents is dirty.
Water remains in the washing mashine after use; most likely, the equipment is not connected to the sewer correctly.
After the laundry is washed, it does not come out of the drum for a long time. Humidity increases, resulting in a musty aroma.

Causes of odor from washing equipment drains

If you smell a strong sewer smell, there could be a variety of reasons for this; it's possible that the drain hose is actually getting water from the sewer, but this is rare. If the problem is in the pipes, the only solution is to replace them, which is extremely difficult to do in a multi-story building. It will take a lot of effort for utilities to make repairs.

To prevent the smell from the sewer from penetrating into the equipment, it must be connected correctly and according to the instructions; if the drain hose is connected incorrectly, then any actions to get rid of the unpleasant odor will be pointless.

Common causes of sewer odor:

Water stagnates in the drain hoses, drum or other places.
Faulty old sewerage in the house, rusty pipes - this contributes to the formation of a musty aroma.
Accumulation of scale and small debris on the heating element, especially when clothes are washed at a minimum temperature of 30-40 degrees.
The drain pump is clogged with small debris.
The supply hose has expired and small debris and powder residues collect on its walls.

Where do bacteria most often accumulate on a washing machine?

It is necessary to eliminate the bad smell as soon as possible and find the place where it accumulates. Bacteria and fungus can begin to accumulate in any part of the washing machine, but more often they appear in certain places:

Department dedicated to chemistry. It is enough to pull it out and rinse thoroughly with hot water using chlorine-containing products or laundry soap.
The rubber cuff is responsible for the tightness of the drum when the door is closed. Residues of detergents remain on its surface due to the large number of folds and hard-to-reach holes. Mustiness and fungus appear. Therefore, it is important to clean the cuffs from dirt, looking into hard-to-reach places, bending the edges using detergents.
The bottom of the drum, a small amount of water remains in it. Cleaning it is quite easy because there is direct access. To get rid of the unpleasant odor, the surface is washed using special means or traditional methods are used. Then turn on the wash at high temperature.
The sewer system can become clogged from time to time. This problem is more difficult to deal with. If a rotten odor comes from sewer pipes, then the only right solution is to replace them. But first, you should try using special chemicals designed for cleaning pipes.
Filter and hose for draining water. Every time you use the equipment, dirty water flows through the hose, leaving a residue there that creates a bad odor. To fix the problem without removing the hose, you need to pour descaling agent into the powder compartment and run the mode at high temperature. This option is suitable if there is no noticeable blockage, otherwise you will have to remove the hose. The equipment is disconnected from the network, the water supply is turned off and the hose is carefully removed, which must be rinsed with hot water and then returned to its place.
The heating element is an important part of the washing machine; most often scale forms on it. It is necessary to clean it regularly using specialized or folk remedies.
The drain filter is a common cause of a disgusting odor.It is usually located at the bottom of the washing machine, closed with a plug. Its intended purpose is to collect small particles and debris. Due to humidity, the garbage begins to mold. Therefore, the filter must be cleaned regularly. The protective plug is removed, the stagnant liquid is poured out of the machine, the filter is thoroughly cleaned and washed out.

To prevent unpleasant odors from appearing in the equipment, during operation it is important to carry out preventive cleaning of places where there is an increased accumulation of bacteria.

Using folk remedies to eliminate odor

Folk remedies are often used to eliminate unpleasant odors in the washing machine; they are always at hand and quite effective. They cope with problems of dampness, moldiness, rotten smell and can be used as preventative measures.

Using hot water

Hot water is the easiest method and should be tried first. Intensive washing is activated at a temperature of 90 degrees. Helps get rid of bacteria that have taken a liking to the washing machine.

Vinegar

Vinegar in combination with hot water can solve the problem of unpleasant odor. Eliminates mold, dirt and scale on equipment parts, and deposits inside the drain hose. Despite the aggressiveness of the product, in the future it will not affect the quality of the equipment. Cleaning using this product should be carried out no more than once every 6 months. Vinegar can damage rubber parts. How to use:

about 300 ml of vinegar is used;
poured into the detergent compartment;
run a long wash at a temperature of 90 degrees after the start of washing;
stop the process and leave for a couple of hours, then resume washing;
remove and wash the filters;
rinse again.

Soda

Soda is more suitable for use for preventive purposes; it can prevent the appearance of scale and mold. The amount of the substance largely depends on the severity of the aroma; the stronger the unpleasant odor, the more soda you will need. How to use:

mix soda and water one to one;
treat the washing machine parts with the resulting solution, paying special attention to problem areas;
pour 200 g of soda into the powder compartment;
start washing at 90 degrees;
After completion, rinse additionally.

Copper sulfate

The most effective way if you need to get rid of fungus. Effectively cleans equipment from dirt, killing bad odors. You should know that copper sulfate is quite caustic, so you should use it extremely carefully. How to use:

dilute one and a half tablespoons of copper sulfate in a liter of water;
Wipe the inside of the machine with the solution and leave for a day;
the remaining product is poured into the drum;
Long-term washing is activated at maximum temperature.

Lemon acid

Quite an effective method for getting rid of terrible odors. For prevention, use no more than 4 times a year. If you have to use citric acid often, you should reduce its amount. Mode of application:

pour citric acid into the powder compartment;
wash at high temperature for a long time;
if the smell is very strong, you should pause the wash and leave for a certain time, then continue washing;
then wipe the rubber part and the drum dry, leave the door ajar.

Chlorine

Chlorine has a high disinfectant effect, so it is ideal for combating bacteria, mold, and fungus. But a rather aggressive method can cause irreparable damage to the parts of the washing machine. It also evaporates into the air, which may cause an allergic reaction. Therefore, it is important to ensure intensive air exchange in the room when using bleach. How to use:

pour 100 ml of chlorine-containing detergent into the detergent compartment;
start washing at 90 degrees;
then wipe the rubber and drum dry;
leave the door open for ventilation.

Using chemicals to remove odor

When there is a strong musty smell coming from your washing machine, you need to use chemicals to solve the problem. It is worth using rather aggressive means; they have a powerful composition that is guaranteed to get rid of fungus and unpleasant odor, because folk remedies cannot cope if the problem is serious. But you should not abuse chemicals. They must be used strictly following the instructions so as not to damage the washing machine:

White. Chlorine-based bleach works great for removing bad odors. Fills into the powder or conditioner compartment. The machine turns on at high temperature, but the drum is empty.
Specialized products that can be purchased at a household chemical store. The seller will help you choose the most suitable one for your equipment. They are also poured into the powder compartment. Then the intensive wash mode at high temperature is turned on.The advantage of such products is that, in addition to getting rid of the musty smell, they protect the parts of the washing machine, preventing scale from forming.

They have a number of advantages over traditional methods. Eliminate the problem in the shortest possible time with high efficiency. There are a large number of professional tools. They can be universal or narrowly focused to solve a specific problem, which is worth considering before purchasing. Each product has precise instructions that must be followed to achieve maximum results. The following tools can be used:

"Kalgon". Able to protect the washing machine from scale, reduces water hardness;
"Master Glitter." The operating principle is similar to Calgon, but a more budget option;
Attack. Special washing powder, the action of which is aimed at eliminating unpleasant odors;
Odorone. The highly concentrated product quickly removes musty odors and is perfect for cleaning rubber cuffs;
FrishActive. Used to remove scale and prevent its occurrence in the future.

Prevention of unpleasant odors

It is easier to prevent the appearance of a musty aroma in equipment than to remove it. To avoid unpleasant odors from your washing machine, you should follow certain preventive measures:

Before washing, check the pockets to ensure that debris does not clog the washing machine.
After finishing washing, leave the door open for a couple of hours, this way the moisture from the drum will evaporate.
Do not leave dirty clothes in the drum for a long period.
Wash at high temperatures, preferably 60-90 degrees.
If possible, turn on the extra rinse mode.
Wipe the rubber cuff from moisture.
Remove the compartment for household chemicals, wipe and dry as often as possible.
Clean the drain filter regularly.
Use high quality laundry detergents.

Add detergents in the specified quantities, this will help to avoid residues from settling on the walls. Then a favorable environment for the development of bacteria will not be formed. Do a preventive wash at least once every six months, without using household chemicals at high temperatures. The use of dishwasher tablets is excellent for preventing the formation of plaque. They quickly remove plaque, disinfect and fight unpleasant odors.

Proper operation of the equipment is a big part of success; the machine will last a long time and will not produce unpleasant odors. Therefore, it is necessary to periodically wash and dry the favorite places where bacteria and mold accumulate, then the laundry will always smell fresh after washing.

It is possible to get rid of an unpleasant odor in a washing machine using both home remedies and specialized chemicals. The main thing is to understand the reason and find the source of all troubles. There are many reasons leading to this problem. To avoid the appearance of a musty aroma, it is better to ensure proper operation of the equipment and proper care.