The purpose of the article is to explain to the reader how to get rid of the smell in the washing machine. Simple powders and rinses can sometimes not cope with this problem. Therefore, conventional cleaning products and special household chemicals are used to clean the household appliance. The sooner the source of the unpleasant odor is found and eliminated, the better. If you do not immediately solve the problem, you will have to constantly rinse out the washed clothes, which will smell bad.
Reasons for appearance
The washing machine is an ideal breeding ground for harmful bacteria, as heat and moisture are constantly generated in the unit. The main reasons that provoke such a problem include the following factors:
- The appearance of a fetid odor indicates that the equipment has not been subjected to routine inspection and cleaning for a long time.
- Closing the washer door at the end of the washing process results in the drum not having time to dry. Therefore, it is necessaryleave it open for at least a few hours.
- A nasty smell from the washing machine may appear due to the fact that small debris or water remains on the folds of the rubber sealing ring (another name is the cuff), which is located on the unit door. Black mold often appears in this area. To prevent this from happening, you need to periodically wipe the sides of the drum and the rubber cuff with a dry terry towel.
- Using poor quality powders or conditioners. Cheap detergents can remain on the drum, hoses, filters and clothes.
- A clogged drain filter is often the cause of an unpleasant odor. It is necessary to clean said part occasionally as it catches large debris and prevents blockages.
- An unwashed detergent drawer is a common cause of bad smells coming from a washing machine. To fix the problem, thoroughly rinse the indicated element.
Having discovered the cause of an unpleasant odor, you need to choose how to solve this problem. Option two:
- clean the elements of the washing machine;
- replace obsolete parts.
Before resorting to the second option, you must try to clean the contaminated items to eliminate the nasty smell. Next, popular tools used by housewives for these purposes will be considered.
Citric acid
Powder particles adhere to the heating element, forming a thick layerscale. Also, the reason for this can be hard water, which contains various s alts and organic particles deposited on the heating element. As a result, an unpleasant smell emanating from the washing machine appears. To eliminate it, citric acid is often used. Thanks to this substance, it will also be possible to eliminate scale.
Housewives came up with a good way to get rid of the smell from the washing machine using citric acid:
- Pour 150–200 grams of the mentioned substance into the powder compartment or drum of the device.
- Select the "boil" program or simply set the long wash mode at a temperature of at least 90 ° C.
- Wait for the end of the "wash" stage and additionally turn on the rinse.
- Wipe the rubber cuff and drum walls with a clean cloth. If scale particles remain inside, remove them with a damp towel and check for debris in the drain filter.
- Leave the door open for a few hours.
Sometimes hard deposits break off in pieces during the washing process. If a buzzing sound is heard during draining, turn off the appliance and remove scale particles from the drum. After that, you can start washing again. For preventive purposes, this procedure must be carried out every four months. But in this case, you need to use 2 tbsp. spoons of citric acid.
Baking soda
This tool will help in the fight against a vile smell. Usually soda is used to eliminate black mold that has appeared on parts.household device. In addition, the substance perfectly removes fungal plaque. There is an optimal method on how to clean the smell of a washing machine with ordinary baking soda:
- Prepare the cleaning mixture in this way: mix the substance with warm water in a ratio of 1:1.
- Apply the prepared solution to the areas of the device that are most prone to mold and mildew. According to housewives, this includes cuffs, a drum and a compartment for detergents. Leave the cleaning mixture on for 30 minutes for best results.
- After the specified time, clean the treated parts with a soft sponge. Wipe hard-to-reach places with a toothbrush.
If there is no soda, 3% copper sulfate is used instead. In this case, 30 g of this substance will be required for 1 liter of water.
Table vinegar
This all-in-one product will help you get rid of bad smells from your washing machine. The method for cleaning the appliance with 9% vinegar includes the following steps:
- Pour about 200 ml of product into the tray instead of powder.
- Select long wash at 90°C or more.
- When the device is finished, you need to additionally clean the individual parts with a sponge.
- Wipe the machine with dry wipes.
- Unscrew and rinse the drain pump filter thoroughly.
- To dissipate the strong vinegar flavor, do not close the appliance door.
This procedure should not be performed more than once every six months, because due to the constantacid will damage the rubber parts of the device.
Household chemicals
If conventional remedies did not help eliminate the nasty odor, you will have to use special preparations to solve this problem. If the reader has a question about how to clean the washing machine from the smell, it is recommended to use the following household chemicals for this purpose:
- Frau Schmidt Lemon Scent.
- Calgon Cleaner fights odors.
- Antiscale Scrubman.
Before using such drugs, you need to carefully study the instructions on the package. You can not combine several types of cleaners, and you need to work with household chemicals with gloves and a respirator. In addition, dishwasher tablets and laundry bleaches (for example, the classic "Whiteness") will help eliminate the smell. These products are not particularly effective for severe pollution, so they are usually used as a preventive measure.
How to remove the smell of gasoline: the best way
You can not immediately wash clothes that are soaked in this caustic mixture: you must first rinse things in warm water and only then throw them into the drum of the device. Ignoring this requirement, a sharp gasoline aroma will appear, which is not an easy task to eliminate. However, this problem can be solved with the help of vinegar and soda. Housewives know how to clean the washing machine from the smell of gasoline with the indicated means:
- Put foodsoda into the powder compartment.
- Turn on the program, the temperature regime of which is 30 °C. The main thing is that the drum is empty.
- Repeat the process, but with the addition of 9% vinegar.
- Perform the final wash at low temperature without the use of cleaners.
- Check after 24 hours if the smell of gasoline has disappeared. To complete this step, you need to wash unwanted clothes.
Chlorine - a radical remedy to eliminate pungent odors
If none of the methods helped to remove the unpleasant odor, then you will have to use this remedy. You should know: it should be used only as a last resort. The instructions that come with household appliances should indicate whether it is allowed to use chlorine-containing preparations in this model of washing machine. New hoses made of plastic are unlikely to deteriorate.
Before you remove the smell from the washing machine with bleach, you need to dilute the product in the proportions that should be indicated on the package. Permissible washing temperature - 30 °C. Rubber parts must be wiped with soda diluted in warm water. At the end of the cleaning process, leave the appliance door open and check the room in which the washing machine is installed.
Recommendations
According to the reviews of housewives, you must follow the following tips to prevent the appearance of an unpleasant odor:
- A magnetic softener should be installed under the inlet hose or water pipewater, the purpose of which is to split s alts into ions.
- It is advisable to clean several times a month.
- To prevent an unpleasant odor, you should immediately remove the clothes from the washing machine, and not wait until the water drains from them.
- It is necessary to regularly check the connection of the drain hose to the sewer. The slightest violation of the structure due to mechanical impact will cause a nasty smell.
- The powder drawer needs to be cleaned periodically.
- Don't leave dirty things in the drum.
Conclusion
The article discussed the best methods on how to remove the smell from the washing machine. In this case, both traditional means and chemical preparations are useful. The parts of the household appliance must be cleaned and washed periodically. Thanks to preventive measures, you do not have to resort to radical methods or even replace damaged parts. Regular care will prevent bad odors and prolong the life of household appliances.
