Have you ever tried trying to get rid of that musty smell that seems to linger in your washing machine for a long time now? Isn’t it sickening to wear clothes that reek of too much odor even if you’ve washed them thoroughly in your washer? Have you ever become tired of cleaning your washing machine over and over again in the hope of finding the smelly culprit? Cleaning your washing machine shouldn’t be a tiring chore and here’s exactly how you do it.

First, let’s give you a backgrounder. The inside tub of your washer is constantly subjected to dirty water, mineral deposits, washer detergents, and fabric conditioners, which ultimately cause the smelly odor in the machine. As in dish washers, a washing machine can get dirty as well even though it’s meant to clean things like your clothes. Although most dirt and grime are washed out with water, the rest of the residues are left behind and you actually need to remove them manually by yourself.

Whenever you put in your clothes for washing in the machine, hard water and detergents build up and accumulate in the most hard-to-reach spots of your washer like the interior of the tub, inside the pump and in the openings of the hose. This accumulation reduces the ability of your washer to perform the washing cycle properly and in fact, can even cause your clothes to wear faster due to abrasion.

To remove the odor from washing machine for good, you need to run a cycle of hot water along with two cups of vinegar or lemon lime to loosen up the soap and grime. Unscrew the receptacle of the washer’s fabric softener and soak that in hot water and detergent as well. You need to also clean the bleach dispenser using a spray cleaner and paper towel. Further, remember to clean the top rim of the wash bucket since it’s up and under the tub where dirt can be unnoticed quite easily.

While running the washer empty on a hot water cycle once again, check for leaks on the washer hoses. These water hoses may leak or burst and it’s a good preventive measure to check these hoses from time to time for any sign of weakness or wear. While this may not be related to the odor washing machine may have, it is recommended to replace the hoses every five years to ascertain the longevity of the washer.

Finally, when you’re done soaking the fabric softener receptacle, replace and polish it up using vinegar and a clean cloth towel. Your washing machine will look better in no time at all and you’ll surely bid the washing machine odor goodbye for good!