Cleaning the washing machine
Short answer: Run an empty program at 90 degrees once a month and wipe the rubber seal dry after every wash. That removes the smell that otherwise ends up in your clothes. The rest is about letting the machine dry out and cleaning the detergent drawer now and then.
Why the machine smells
Low wash temperatures and liquid detergent leave a film of grease and soap in the drum and the hoses. Bacteria and mould grow in that film, and they are what you smell. The smell is not in the clothes from the start. It comes from the machine and is handed on to the laundry every time you wash.
The film you cannot see
The film sits where you rarely look: behind the rubber seal, in the detergent drawer and inside the hoses. It gets thicker the more often you wash at a low temperature. That is a sensible habit for saving power, but the machine then needs regular cleaning to balance it, or the film keeps growing.
The monthly clean
Run an empty boil program at 90 degrees with no laundry in the drum. The high temperature dissolves the film of grease and soap that lower programs leave behind. If you want some help, add a cup of vinegar or a washing machine cleaner. It takes no time to start, and you can do something else meanwhile.
Vinegar or machine cleaner
Both vinegar and a washing machine cleaner can be used in the empty program, but you do not need both. Pour the vinegar into the drum or the drawer, or follow the directions on the cleaner. Always read the machine manual first, so you know that what you use suits your particular machine and your water.
The two minutes after every wash
Wipe the rubber seal with a cloth once the laundry is out. Pull it back a little and wipe around the fold where the water collects. It takes two minutes and is the habit that makes the biggest difference. Moisture trapped in a tight machine is the main cause of smell, so a little drying after each wash goes a long way.
Leave the door ajar
After washing and wiping, leave the door ajar so air can get in and moisture can get out. A closed machine holds on to damp air and gives mould good conditions. The same goes for the detergent drawer, which can stay slightly open. Then the drum is dry the next time you use it, and the smell does not take hold.
The detergent drawer once a quarter
The detergent drawer collects leftover detergent that turns into a sticky, damp mass. Take it out once a quarter and rinse it under warm water. Use an old toothbrush for the corners if something is stuck, and put it back once it is dry. A clean drawer means the detergent reaches the water properly and not in a lump.
When clothes smell after washing
If clothes smell sour when they come out, the machine is usually the cause, not the clothes. Run the monthly clean and wash again. That goes for bamboo towels and bamboo bedding too, where damp can settle if they are left in a wet machine. Take them out straight away and hang them up to dry.
Make it a habit
Put the clean in the calendar once a month and make wiping the seal a fixed part of emptying the machine. Then you never need a big deep clean. The same goes for bamboo clothing for women: clean laundry comes out of a clean machine. Small habits take little time and give clothes without a smell.
Frequently asked questions
How often should the detergent drawer be cleaned
Once a quarter. Take it out and rinse it under warm water, and use a brush for the corners where detergent and grease collect. Let it dry before you put it back in the machine.
Does it help against clothes that smell after washing
Yes, a dirty machine is the most common cause when clothes smell sour after a wash. Clean the machine, wipe the seal dry and leave the door ajar, and the smell usually stays away.
Does 90 degrees damage the machine
No. It is built for it, and it does the machine good once a month. Run the program empty with no laundry, and check the manual for your model if you are unsure about the hot program.
You can find the full range at Bamboo-Clothing.com.
