When it comes to choosing the best washing machine in today’s scenario, most of us would prefer to go for a fully automatic front load washing machine because as per the word of mouth, front load washing machines have the best washing mechanism. But these modern domestic helping hands are still not perfect. They also lack at some points.
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When we think of a washing machine, we think of clean, gently washed, fresh smelling clothes. But what do you do when your washing machine STINKS?
Repairing and replacing a part are two expensive options choose. In that case, people find it more cost effective to buy a new washing machine instead of putting a lot of money to repair the old one again and again.
We can cheat these situations as we just have to put some efforts in taking care of our mate. A simple maintenance on a regular basis can ensure the smooth operation of your front-load machine. Here are few tips and tricks to keep your front loader healthy and scrub stinky clothes from your life for good:
1) Use Correct Detergent: Selection of a detergent highly matters to the life and proper functioning of your washing machine for a longer period.
– Use the detergents which are specially made for high efficient washing machines which limit the amount of soap residue left behind. And always use the small amount of it. Because excessive use of detergent could produce a lot more suds and over the time a thick layer can be formed on the hose and drum, which turns into a breeding ground for molds.
– Skip using liquid fabric softeners, but still if you are using it, use very less amount of it because these high-efficiency machines consume very less water. Less fabric softener means less residue and less residue means less mold accumulation. The dryer sheet equally softens your clothes like artificial softeners and also helps in reducing the mold issue. So overall it’s a win-win situation.
– We will recommend you to use powder detergents over the liquid ones for lesser suds.
2) In & After Wash Cautions:
– Select the appropriate washing spin speed as per your washing load. Higher spin speed then the load volume will result in more wear and tear in machine’s internal parts.
– To avoid bad smell and mildew remove washed clothes immediately after completing the wash cycle.
– Leave the door ajar after wash so that it dries out fast. Less moisture ensures lesser chances to produce molds and mildew.
3) Weekly Cleaning Sessions:
– Clean the gasket- “a large air tight rubber which stops water leakage from the door of your front loader”, and inside of drum regularly with 1/2:1/2 water and vinegar solution.
– Use Q-tips or buds to clean the fabric hair from the narrow & hard-to-clean areas.
– Also, clean the dispenser once in a while to make sure no soapy residue in it.
4) Monthly Cleaning Sessions: Once in a month an intense cleaning of your washing machine is a necessary to deodorize it.
– Pour white distilled vinegar into the dispenser in place of your regular detergent powder and one cup of baking soda into the drum. Run a normal cycle at high heat that too without clothes in it. But in exceptional cases, you can replace vinegar with bleach and perform the same process with it. By using this method you can surely get a deeper cleaning all along the inside of the washing machine.
– We would suggest you to prefer vinegar to deodorize your machine which is little gentler than the bleach.
– Cleaning of drain pump filter is also required after every few weeks or whenever you notice any problem with water drainage like wet clothes after final spin, unusual pause, and excessive vibrations during the cycle.
So think twice before resigning your washing machine. Probably its washer is not defective, it’s just you need to be little careful to make sure you’re cleaning it regularly and thankfully, it’s not hard to get rid of the mold and stench permanently.
And if the case has already become the worse, sell your old washing machine for cash to ZeroWaste responsibly.
Note: This post was originally published in June 2016 and has been completely revamped and updated for accuracy and comprehensiveness.