Why Does My Washing Machine Smell Like Mildew?
Real Simple answers your questions.
Charles MastersQ. Why does my front-loading washing machine smell like mildew?
Kelly Mearns
Westerly, Rhode Island
A. You’re probably using too much soap.
“Front-loading machines use a third of the water that top loaders do,” says Harry Grubbs, the owner of Mr. Appliance, a repair
company in Houston. “If you throw in the same heaping capful of detergent that you would use with a top loader, there won’t
be enough water to absorb all the suds.” Soapy residue will then stick to the rubber rim of the door, where it can spawn mildew.
The first line of defense is to use a high-efficiency (HE) detergent, which is effective in small doses and made specifically
for front loaders. Next, “check to see if your machine is level,” says James C. Dolbeare Sr., the president of AAA Appliance
Service Center, in Chicago. If the floorboards under the machine have warped, it might not be draining properly. A repairman
can place antishake pads under the machine to prevent shifting. Another possible culprit: liquid fabric softener. Its waxy
base adheres to the outer tub, which “makes it a breeding ground for mildew,” says Grubbs. If you use softener, add the smallest
recommended amount, he suggests.
To get rid of the mildew odor, run an empty machine on the hottest setting with bleach or Affresh ($8, homedepot.com), a cleaner that deodorizes a washer’s interior. And after each load of laundry, leave the door ajar to allow the interior
to dry.
More Q&As
- Does Washing Clothes in Cold Water Really Get Them Clean?
- Does New Clothing Need Laundering?
- How Do I Get a Musty Smell Out of My Books?
- See more Ask Real Simple questions
Ask a Question
Got a practical dilemma? Send an e-mail to askrealsimple@realsimple.com.
Your submission to RealSimple.com, including contact information, gives us the right to modify, use, distribute, reproduce,
publish and display the submission indefinitely in all media, means, and forms without any payment to you. You hereby represent
that you haven't copied the content from a book, magazine, newspaper, or other commercial source. Your submission to RealSimple.com,
and your use of the website are subject to Real Simple's Privacy Policy and Terms of Service.
(For questions about your subscription, please visit the Customer Service Help Desk.)
