When we think of washing machines, we think of clean, fresh-smelling clothes. Laundry is supposed to have a comforting aroma—one that’s so well-loved that there are even colognes designed to mimic its scent. But what do you do when your front-load washer, well... stinks? Before you resign yourself to a musty, mildewy, sour-scented existence, consider this: Your washer probably isn’t defective—it just needs some TLC. A few simple steps could help eliminate that stench forever. That’s right, my friends: It’s all smooth, fresh-smelling sailing from here on out. Grab your hampers, keep your heads high, and scrub stinky clothes from your life for good. We took an in-depth look at the relative performance of front- and top-load washers, and found that front-loaders are superior in virtually every way. That came as no surprise, since front-loaders are designed not only to be more efficient, but also to be gentler on clothes while cleaning them better. But it's that efficiency part that can cause some headaches when it comes to smell.

See, high-efficiency front-loaders use a lot less water than their top-load counterparts, since they fill just the bottom of the wash tub with water. Since the drum rotates on a horizontal axis, your clothes tumble through the water, eliminating the need to fill the tub up all the way. That's all fine and dandy if you use high-efficiency detergents, but when you douse your laundry with the wrong kinds of soap and softeners, the smaller amount of water can’t fully rinse them away. The drum ends up getting coated with a layer of soap scum, which is itself peppered with debris and dirt from your clothing. In the heat and damp of your washer, this scum makes a happy home for mildew, bacteria, and mold. The stinky situation is compounded by the fact that front-load washers use a rubber door gasket to keep water from leaking out. Dirt, soap, and bits of fabric can get trapped under the gasket, creating yet another breeding ground for nasty smells. A smelly washer is no fun, so let’s hit that foul odor where it hurts.

Your first inclination may be to reach for the bleach, but we prefer to use something a little gentler. Popsugar suggests mixing 1/4 cup of baking soda with an equivalent amount of water. Add this solution to your machine’s detergent container. Pour two cups of white vinegar into the drum, then run a normal cycle at high heat—without any clothes, of course. The baking soda and vinegar should break up any residue stuck to your drum and kill any mold that might be present. They’ll also help remove any foul odors. If stubborn spots remain, attack them with the rough side of a kitchen sponge and a mixture of one part white vinegar, one part water. Ta-dah, good as new! You can repeat this cleaning method once a month for maintenance if you’d like, or try some other odor prevention techniques. Your washer is finally free of nasty odors, and you want to keep it that way. If you own a front-loader, you should always use detergents made for high-efficiency machines.

Normal detergents simply produce more suds than your front-loader can handle; less suds means less scum for stinky lifeforms to cling to. Liquid fabric softener is also off-limits for front-loading washing machines, so do yourself a favor and ditch it. Once you’ve got the soap situation under control, it’s time to make sure the drum doesn’t stay damp for long periods of time. digital door lock vancouverAlways remove your laundry promptly after the cycle ends, and be sure to leave the door open when it’s not in use, so the moisture can escape.garage door repairs louisville ky You can also run a fan in the room where your washer lives to improve airflow, and consider investing in a dehumidifier. garage door installation joliet il

Remember: You don't want bacteria or mold to feel at home here, and nothing invites bad smells quite like wet, stagnant heat. Even with the correct detergent and anti-humidity efforts, there's no guarantee your washer drum won't develop some mold-friendly buildup. The rubber seal around the doors is especially problematic, so you should regularly remove any debris you see trapped in the gasket and wipe it down with a cleaning solution made of one part white vinegar and one part water.auto glass repair middletown nj Finally, be sure to dispose of any lint that may have accumulated in your machine’s drain trap filter. used patio sets for sale ottawaOnce a week should do the trick.car window repair bradenton fl

This article was originally published on November 19, 2014, but has been significantly updated with new information and step-by-step instructions.Is your washing machine growing hidden mold? Lawsuits now accuse the top companies of making defective machines. We're talking about some of the most popular models from the most popular companies: front-loading washing machines that grow mold where you can't even see it, causing your clothes to reek, and bacteria to grow. custom french doors orlandoNow there are accusations that at least one of the companies knew about the problem for years, but sold the machines anyway.Click here to email Rossen Reports In 2005, Midwestern mom Maggie O'Brien bought a brand-new Whirlpool front-loader washing machine, price tag $1,000. "It was new technology and less water and less detergent," she told us. "You thought, 'I'm getting a great deal here'?"

"I really did," Maggie said. But just months later, her clothes started to reek. "It smelled like a sock had been left in an old gym bag," Maggie said. "That's the smell it was." Experts say it was mold, growing and spreading inside what Maggie called "the thousand-dollar machine that's supposed to be washing my clothes." In fact, there are many complaints of mold in popular front-loaders built until the late 2000s, from Whirlpool, Kenmore, Bosch and LG. Angry customers are now venting about the issue in YouTube videos. "You end up with a funky smell that you can't get rid of," a woman says in one of them. Consumers are suing the companies, calling it fraud. Jonathan Selbin is the lawyer suing Whirlpool over its popular Duet models sold from 2001 to 2008, many of them still in homes today. He said the issue affects "millions" of people. "Why do front-loading washing machines have this problem versus top-loaders?" we asked him. "On a top-loader, nature takes care of the problem for you;

the moist air rises out of the machine," Selbin explained. But on a front-loader, he said, "You've got a sealed environment, and so the water and the moisture stays in here. It's a very humid environment ... and it breeds mold." Selbin says Whirlpool even knew about the defect for years. A 2004 internal memo shows the company identified the problem and was trying to fix it, the company's lead engineer saying that while mold can exist in any washer, their front-load machines are the "ideal environment for molds ... we are fooling ourselves if we think we can eliminate mold...." But the lawsuit says Whirlpool kept selling the machines anyway. "Boy, that makes me angry," Maggie O'Brien said. Whirlpool even markets a product to fix it, called "Affresh": tablets that clean the machine. But consumers have to pay for it. "I think it's outrageous," Selbin said. "A company sells a defective product and then they sell you a fix for that product." The companies say customers are the ones causing the mold by misusing the machine or not maintaining it, and that only a very small percentage of people have a problem, Whirlpool telling us the lawsuits are without merit.

But Maggie O'Brien says she's been hung out to dry, because Whirlpool never gave her a refund, and she had to buy a new washing machine — a top-loader this time. "You want your money back?" we asked her.And everyone else to get their money back." Here's the good news: All of these companies have made design changes that experts say have eliminated the mold issue in the newest machines. If you want to know if your washing machine is affected, consult the list below. So what can you do if you have a smelly machine? If you don't want to go out to buy a new machine, the companies say there are things you can do to minimize the mold. Here's the takeaway: Leave the door propped open when you're not using it; that way air is getting in. (Be careful if you have small kids; it's dangerous if they climb in.) Also, run a bleach cycles once in a while; that cleans the machine. And wipe down the entire machine after every use; that means right inside the door and inside the bin.