It’s not just your detergent that gives your clothes their fresh, clean smell. Your washer plays a part, too, so it’s important to keep it clean and give it the care it deserves. Ultimately, if your washer drum is dirty, it doesn’t matter how good your detergent is.
If your washer starts to smell, it’s probably due to a buildup of odour-causing residues left behind from laundry soils, detergents and hard-water minerals stuck in the drum. Dirt removed from clothes can stick around in the drum after washing and create a bacterial breeding ground.
In this dark, warm and damp environment, these residues not only make your washer smell unpleasant, but also can transfer these odours onto your clothes.
- Wipe your washer clean every month with soapy water, taking care to clean the inside of the drum as well.
- Pick Tide’s Washing Machine Cleaner, and simply pour it into the drum. It fights residues and gets to the source of the odours that come from a smelly washer.
- Run your washer on a hot, empty cycle with Tide Washing Machine Cleaner.
- Extra tip: For cleaner laundry, avoid overloading your washer.
More Tips for a Clean Washer
- Clean clothes start with a clean washer, so keep yours smelling great by simply leaving the door and dispenser drawer slightly open when not in use. This lets them dry out and stops that damp smell from forming.
- Remove your clothes from the machine immediately after the wash. If they’re left to sit in the damp drum, then unwanted smells could start to appear. If you cannot take them out immediately, try to do so within 2 hours for best results.
- Sometimes, you need to pay the machine a bit more attention, and it may be necessary to thoroughly clean the washer. The rubber door seal can easily pick up residues in your washer from laundry soils, detergents and hard water minerals, so give it a good wipe down every now and again. It's also a good idea to check the filter, water-supply hose and other parts for any buildup. Remove these deposits and residues, and you can give your washer a new life.
The
correct dosage of detergent helps to protect your machine, too.