Doing laundry is a necessary household evil that we must all do. Have you noticed, however, that your freshly washed and dried clothing sometimes leaves off a musty smell? You certainly aren’t alone, and this is something I experienced for a long time until I found a practical solution to eliminate this. By following a few simple steps, you can have clean clothes every time.
The problem and why it happens
It happens to everyone
Just like you want clean mirrors and clean floors in your home, you also want clean clothes. Unfortunately, you may sometimes notice a stale scent on your favorite clothes right after they come out of the dryer. When this issue started happening in my home, I conducted various trials and errors to resolve it. My first thought was that I was using the wrong detergent or fabric softener. I changed each of these three times over the course of a few months with no success. Next, thought adding an extra rinse cycle might resolve the situation, then I alternated between hot and cold water. Finally, I decided to use more detergent than the recommended amount. Besides having clothes with different fragrances than I was accustomed to, the unpleasant smell persisted.
At a loss, I decided to conduct an online investigation and finally discovered the problem: our washing machines aren’t self-cleaning. Instead, I found that detergent residue, fabric softener, and mineral deposits accumulate in areas we can’t see, such as the washing machine drum, gaskets, and even the detergent drawer. Combined with trapped moisture, this can all lead to a buildup of bacteria and mildew.
The trick
Clean the washer … naturally
I finally figured out how to clean the washing machine and eliminate the musty odors on my clothes; I used baking soda and white vinegar to get the job done. These two ingredients, probably already in your home, do a terrific job of killing bacteria and removing nasty residue. Better still, they are both natural ingredients, meaning no chemicals are involved.
To clean your machine, it must be empty. From there, add a cup of baking soda. Not only does it work well as a deodorizer, but it also does a great job of breaking down mineral deposits and other items. With the baking soda in place, run a hot washing cycle.
Once this cycle finishes, add at least two cups of white vinegar to your machine. Then, again, run a hot cycle without anything else in the drum. White vinegar, which has numerous practical uses in the home, can disinfect and also remove any residues that the baking soda may not have removed.
Once these two cycles are completed, I would also suggest using a combination of water and white vinegar to wipe down the rubber edges, corners, and crevices outside the washing machine drum where grime tends to accumulate. Do this on front- and top-loading machines.
There’s one final step I suggest: also make sure the door on your washing machine is open when not in use. The circulating air will help dry the inside, making it less likely for bacteria to thrive and cause problems.
Your work is done. The next load should smell fresh, just as the detergent maker intended.
How often should you do this?
Once a month is best
I immediately noticed a difference in the smell of my clothes after using a mixture of white vinegar and baking soda. My towels smelled so much better and appeared fluffier. My white undershirts and workout clothes, types of clothing that really pick up sweat, just seemed crispier.
From now on, I plan on doing the baking soda and vinegar routine once a month. To remember this, I plan to do it on the first Saturday morning of each month or sometime close to the first day of the month. This interval should be enough time so that residues don’t begin to build up to the level where the musty smells return.
Other steps you should take
More to keep in mind
Besides cleaning my washing machine monthly, I also decided to make three changes to my regular washing and drying routine. First, I use only the amount of detergent the manufacturer recommends and nothing more. Don’t add more (or less); there’s no reason you should. Additionally, I’m being a little more conscientious about the amount of laundry to add to a load. Don’t overload the machine since clothes need room to move around the drum.
Finally, I suggest removing the laundry from the washing machine promptly. Mildew will begin to build up on your clothes the longer they remain there, even if you clean the machine as recommended. Move the clothes to the dryer as soon as possible and only take them out when they are completely dry and ready to be worn again.
Get cleaning
Cleaning your washing machine monthly with baking soda and white vinegar can help keep your clothing smelling fresher. The inexpensive and non-harmful solution enables you to eliminate hidden residue while killing bacteria and stopping mildew growth. It delivers successful results every time.
