| A modern clothes washing machine can suffer from | | | | work in the morning. |
| odors or mildew. It may build to the point where the | | | | If your washing machine is a front-loading style the |
| odors seem to overwhelm all other aspect of the | | | | possibility of odors is something about which you |
| clothes washing experience. The causes can be | | | | must be aware. Moisture can accumulate at both the |
| varied but generally are due to moisture build-up | | | | inside surface of the door and the interior. To |
| within the clothes tub. | | | | alleviate this problem dry off the inside surfaces of |
| Since the washing machine itself operates full of | | | | the door with a clean cloth as soon as your washing |
| water the presence of moisture is typical. The | | | | is finished. If possible, leave the door slightly open |
| problems usually begin either when the water is not | | | | after your washing is completed. This allows warm |
| removed at the end of the cycle by the drain | | | | room air to enter the machine while the machine sits |
| system, or for some other reason, excess water | | | | idle. |
| accumulates inside the tub. | | | | Also, gently wipe off the rubber seal at the front of |
| If the drain system is suspected test the clothes | | | | the washing machine. It often has grooves, ridges, or |
| immediately after the cycle has ended. The 'cheek | | | | small crevices in its surface where water can |
| method' works well. Remove a towel from your | | | | accumulate. Be aware that along with the wash |
| completed load of washing. Place it against your | | | | water will be a small amount of detergent. If allowed |
| cheek. The towel should feel cool against your cheek | | | | to accumulate it can become sour and heighten the |
| without feeling wet. If the towel feels wet place it | | | | bad smell. This is especially possible for anyone with |
| back into the washing machine and re-spin the load. If | | | | sloppy washing habits. |
| a second spin removes more moisture then your | | | | A final note about front-loading washers is in regard |
| washing machine is not reaching its maximum spin | | | | to liquid fabric softeners. If used full strength they |
| speed. | | | | may be involved in the odor problem. When used full |
| Associated with the slow spin speed is overloading of | | | | strength it can become deposited in the detergent |
| the washer. To test for overloading wait until your | | | | dispenser or the front door seal. Once deposited the |
| normal load has completed and come to a full stop. | | | | softener can become sticky, allowing lint and dirt |
| Then remove two or three items and restart the | | | | from the clothes to adhere to these surfaces. This |
| cycle from the rinse position. Let the washing | | | | washing debris can then cause a smell if left to build |
| machine fill with water, and go completely through | | | | up. |
| the rinse, drain, and spin cycles. Again let the machine | | | | At full strength from the bottle their concentration |
| complete the cycle and come to a full stop. If the | | | | may be too high for the small quantity of water used |
| clothes are now properly spun, suspect overloading. | | | | within a front loader. Liquid fabric softeners should be |
| There are many things that can affect the spin | | | | diluted before placed into these washers. The |
| speed. The most common is an unbalanced load. An | | | | recommended mixture is six parts of water to every |
| unbalanced load will not allow the tub to reach the | | | | one part of softener. To regulate your liquid fabric |
| maximum spin speed. It's usually accompanied by the | | | | softener, keep a pre-mixed amount in a secondary |
| washing machine either jumping, or being noisy. If this | | | | bottle. When fabric softener is required pour it into |
| is allowed to continue moisture will remain inside the | | | | the washing machine from the pre-mixed rather than |
| tub at cycle's end. This will cause the machine to | | | | the original bottle. |
| smell musty and can eventually lead to the presence | | | | If your clothes washing machine presently has an |
| of mildew. | | | | odor use some of the above methods to isolate the |
| All washing machines must come to maximum spin | | | | cause. If cleaning the problem area is unsuccessful |
| speed to remove the moisture from the clothes. | | | | you may need to take further action. Many |
| Although the drain pump will remove the majority of | | | | consumer websites suggest multiple applications of |
| water, it is the spinning that removes the moisture | | | | hot water and a cup of white vinegar. This may be |
| from the clothing. If for any reason the maximum | | | | helpful. My experience has shown this method is |
| spin speed is not reached the moisture within the | | | | more preventative than corrective. For washing |
| clothing will tend to redeposit itself inside the washing | | | | machine odours we generally recommend the use of |
| machine. This is common for people who allow the | | | | a strong washing machine cleaner. One of the most |
| wet clothes to sit inside the machine long after the | | | | affective is Glisten. Another one is called Ysano. Both |
| wash cycle has been completed. This simple act | | | | can be purchased at most appliance parts stores. At |
| often leads to odors or mildew. For this reason avoid | | | | a price of approximately $10 it is well worth the |
| washing right before bedtime, or before going to | | | | investment. |