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Why does the washing machine smell bad?

Bad smell from the washing machineA washing machine is one of the most important helpers in the household. Many residents of the modern world use it to wash dirty laundry. And we are used to the fact that it makes our life more convenient. But what if the machine suddenly began to smell bad? Why is there an unpleasant odor from the washing machine and how to remove it?

Most often, it appears when we do not care for our household appliances or do it wrong. Most of the rules for caring for the washing machine are indicated in the instructions that are attached to it by the manufacturer. There are also reasons that can serve to cause an unpleasant odor, which are not described in the instructions. These reasons can be eliminated by yourself. Let's take them apart.

Causes of odor in the washing machine and how to eliminate them?

Most of the reasons that the machine smells bad can be described in a few words:

  • Dirty filter.
  • Scum.
  • Drain problem.
  • Moisture in the tank.
  • Poor quality detergent.

Now let's talk about them in more detail.

It smells of the washing machine stinksWhen finished washing, try to make sure there is no water in the tank. If the drain pump is faulty or there are other problems with the drain, you can find and read the article on our website: “The washing machine does not drain”. It will describe the causes of this malfunction and methods for resolving it. And if you do not want to bother with the repair yourself, then contact the service center. Professional craftsmen will help you.

Also, the machine can smell unpleasant if it has a clogged filter. It accumulates a variety of litter, which can begin to rot and unbearably stink. As you might have guessed, in order to get rid of the stench you need to clean the filter. This is done quite simply.

There is even no need to call the master. You can deal with this in just a couple of minutes. For more information on self-cleaning the filter, you can watch the video. There you will learn about some rules for caring for the washing machine.

Video about proper care of the washing machine

If you cleaned the washing machine. And after her, she began to smell, which means that some dirt remained. And it is she who is the source of stench. You must find and delete it. Or you can start the wash at a temperature of 90 degrees “idle”, that is, without laundry. Such washing can help get rid of the stench.

Do not use the washing machine as a place to store dirty, non-washed items. These things usually smell very bad. This can also cause a smell.

When you finish washing and take out the laundry, you must leave the hatch ajar. This is done so that the moisture evaporates and erodes. It will also help you avoid odors.

Another reason for the stench to appear is the low-quality detergents that you use when washing. Be sure to pay attention to what kind of washing powder you are buying. Do not take too cheap powders of an unknown manufacturer. The same can be attributed to fabric softeners and other detergents.

It is also likely that the washing machine stopped heating water. If this nuisance occurs, but for some reason the washing machine continues to wash, then you can get a bad smelling underwear and the inside of the machine. To eliminate this cause, you should repair the machine. To do this, you can read the article: "The washing machine does not heat water." She will help you for self-repair. Or call a specialist.

Cat in the washing machineThe following reason may appear if you regularly wash in modes with a rather low temperature (30 or 40 grams). With this washing, you save electricity and protect the machine from the appearance of scale. But there are also disadvantages of these modes.This is that some things can be washed off poorly, and also inside the machine, a dirt layer may appear at the drain itself. It can emit unpleasant odors.

To clean them, let's use special tablets or powder for dishwashers. Take pieces of five tablets, throw from the inside of the machine and set the boiling mode. In the middle of washing, you must interrupt the process. If your model does not provide such a stop, then just turn off the machine and leave it with water for a couple of hours. Then turn on the wash again. This should help.

Remove scale

Also one of the reasons may be the formation of scale. This kind of trouble happens regularly with cars that are in city apartments. Typically, tap water has a lot of impurities, and in addition, quite hard. Limescale can cause your household appliances to simply fail.

In order to solve this problem, you can use several solutions:

  • Buying a quality filter is not a cheap way, but sensible. Since it will not only protect your car, but will also clean all the water entering your apartment. And clean water is the key to our health.
  • Another way is to regularly add special substances to soften the water. You can use Calgon or other brands of similar products. We do not warrant for their usefulness, but it is generally accepted that they help.
  • And the last way is a proven method of descaling with citric acid. You can remove limescale from the kettle and the washing machine using citric acid. In order to remove scale in the teapot, 1-2 teaspoons, thrown inside and boiling, will suffice. For a machine, you will need 100-200 grams of this substance and wash at a temperature of 90 degrees.
   

18 reader comments

  1. Gravatar Michael Michael:

    I really liked about citric acid))). More than once, it was necessary to change the decomposed crosses of the drum in the front-loading MCA and the drums in the front-loading MCA for customers who systematically used citric acid.

    • Gravatar Danil Danil:

      Michael, you are a short-sighted person. The best remedy is citric acid. I have been repairing for 5 years.

      • Gravatar Vasilisa Vasilisa:

        And why did my car have a terrible smell after applying lemon acid?

        • Gravatar Svetlana Svetlana:

          Mine also has a terrible smell after acid.

      • Gravatar Igor Igor:

        After citric acid, a smell appeared inside the drum, this had never happened before. I decided to use acid for prevention, but it turned out sideways.

  2. Gravatar Eugene Eugene:

    Thanks for the advice, although I'm too lazy to mess with acid, I just add kalgon, tested and effective

  3. Gravatar Vasuty Vasyuta:

    We also have a stinky stink. What to do?

  4. Gravatar Anya Anya:

    A small flaw ... before unscrewing the filter, you need to drain the water (there is a hose or a small plug next to the filter cover. You need to substitute a bucket or cup and remove the plug and drain the water), and only then unscrew the filter cover, otherwise there will be water on the floor ... neither what a rag you can’t collect! And it’s better to immediately put a rag just in case. And in the cavity for the filter you need to wipe it properly (this was not mentioned in the video either).

  5. Gravatar Anonymous Anonymous:

    It worked!

  6. Gravatar Oksana Oksana:

    After cleaning with citric acid, the machine began to stink. I did it for prevention, there was no smell before. And now it stinks of sewage.

  7. Gravatar Anastasia Anastasia:

    Different reviews, but citric acid and washing at 90 helped us - the smell is gone.

  8. Gravatar Ales Alesia:

    I bought a washing machine. I worked a year. I decided to drive away with citric acid. After that there was a terrible smell! I do not know what to do. Tell me, who eliminated such a nuisance with what?

  9. Gravatar Roman Novel:

    Also faced with a similar problem, there was a musty smell from the washing machine. Used ODORGONE HOME household odor remover, it really helped. He processed the surface inside the machine, left it for a couple of hours and the smell completely disappeared. I recommend it from personal experience!

  10. Gravatar Ella Ella:

    I repeatedly cleaned the machine with citric acid. And after that the spiral burned out. I had to change. And never again began to use a lemon. And I do not advise anyone.

  11. Gravatar Bikbulatov Bikbulatov:

    So many questions about citric acid. But would anyone say what to do and why exactly after such a cleaning does the smell appear?

  12. Gravatar Irene Irene:

    Also encountered a smell after applying lemon. The typewriter is 7 years old. I always cleaned the filter about once every three months and drove it away with a lemon. Everything was good. And then ... stink. I sin on the eco-powder that I used recently, I fell asleep according to the instructions directly into the drum. I’ve bought Faberlikovsky now, I need to pour it into the compartment. I'll see how it will be.

  13. Gravatar Anonymous Anonymous:

    After washing with citric acid, rinse three times and you will smell fresh.

  14. Gravatar Alina Alina:

    You just need to buy Bosch. 20 years of washing and no smell. And LG stole after half a year.

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