It often happens that a musty or moldy smell develops in your washing machine and dryer. Fortunately, this phenomenon is not serious, and a few adjustments allow it to be easily overcome.

First of all, we would like to remind you of the importance of proper maintenance of your washing machine and dryer. It is essential to pay attention to these appliances for their lifespan and especially your safety. Let’s discuss the reasons for the bad smell from washing machine and dryer and how you can remove them!

How to Remove Bad Smell from the Washing Machine?

1. A Washing Machine Needs Ventilation

After washing, the tub of the washing machine remains wet for several hours. With a temperature of 30° to 40°, these are ideal conditions for developing bacteria and mold responsible for the bad smell of the laundry after washing. To avoid this phenomenon, all you have to do is leave the machine door open for 2 to 3 hours after each wash. This will allow the water to dry out, and bacteria will not settle.

2. The Correct Dosage of Detergents

When the laundry smells bad after washing, we tell ourselves that we have not used enough detergent or fabric softener. Therefore, we add a dose for the next cycle, which is how we foul a machine and contribute to the development of bacteria! The excess product attaches to the tank’s walls and forms an impermeable layer that bacteria will colonize. The cold washes contribute to this phenomenon because the water at 30° is ineffective in killing microorganisms. Fortunately, this process is reversible with a thorough cleaning of the washing machine.

3. A Good Cleaning is Essential

• Remove any dirt that has slipped into the drum seal with a damp cloth dampened with vinegar water.
• If the filter is accessible, disassemble it and wash it thoroughly with soapy water before replacing it.
• Check that water is not rising from the wastewater outlet. If the bad odor is coming from there, pour a mixture of baking soda and vinegar to clean the pipe’s inside.
• Run an empty wash cycle. Set your washing machine on a 90° program and pour 3 liters of white vinegar into the drum. This should sanitize your appliance’s tub.

4. Deodorize Laundry

Now that the machine is clean, the laundry that smells bad after washing must be rewashed. To do this, run your regular wash program and add a small glass of baking soda to the laundry tub. Your favorite clothes should come out clean and fresh!

In the future, remember to leave your washing machine on for a few hours after each cycle and, every six months or so, do a 90 ° vacuum wash with 3 liters of white vinegar to prevent the problem of bad-smelling laundry does not reappear.

5. Maintain your washing machine daily

Most bad smells from washing machines come from a build-up of detergent, fabric softener, textile fibers and impurities at the gaskets, drum or detergent drawer. By adopting good habits to clean your washing machine daily, you can be sure that these little problems will only be bad memories:

• Use the correct amount of product and add a little white vinegar to each wash.
• Inspect the inside of the window and remove any clumps of hair or textile fibers that may form there
• Wipe the seam with a sponge after each wash
• Dust the air vents and the back of the appliance
• Polish the machine cover with a soft, slightly damp cloth

How to Remove Bad Smell from the Dryer?

Not very pleasant to have to put clean laundry in a dryer that smells bad. Don’t worry! It will all soon be a bad memory!

1. Clean the Filter

The first thing to do is to make sure that it is in good condition and cleaned after each use. It is imperative to remove the fluff from the dedicated filter, for example.

2. Clean the Seals

It is common for mold to appear if you do not regularly clean your door seal. This is because the moisture in your dryer can turn into mold if there is stagnation or if you close the door of your appliance too quickly after it is no longer in use. So remember to wipe the sponge and especially to leave the door open until the seal is dry.

3. Replace the Filter

A bad smell in a dryer can also be related to a punctured filter. If the lint filter has a hole, it lets out dirt or fibers that have no place elsewhere and generates bad odors. You must replace the fluff filter.

When using your appliance for the first time, you can feel certain smells of burnt plastic. Don’t worry; it should happen 2 or 3 times. On the other hand, if this were to last or your dryer is not new, it may be due to stray tissue pieces lodged too close to the device’s resistance.

4. Clean the Condenser

Often, tumble dryers are equipped with an indicator light to let you know when you need to rinse the condenser. You must therefore remove it and then pass it underwater. For safety, we recommend that you let it dry before putting it back in your device.

To ensure that you dry off with complete peace of mind, you should remember to do this cleaning once a month. If none of these manipulations allowed you to find a healthy smell when you launch your washing machine or dryer, it would be necessary to call in a professional. Mold might have taken hold of your appliances and spread through every corner. Call 911 Restoration of Philadelphia, experts at mold inspection and removal who will determine the origin of the problem and implement the right solution!