Is Your Front Loading Washer Leaving an Odor in Your Clothes?
Front Loading Washer Odor Isn’t Funny
Front Loading Washers are very efficient and that is a good thing. However, their dirty little secret is front loading washer odor. How can it be that these towels I just washed smell bad the first time I use them? It happens. Nok-Out can help remove front loading washer odor so that your laundry has no smell at all again.
Why Does This Happen?
These machines are rightfully well known to be highly efficient and can help keep your bills low. But grime, dirt, dead skin flakes, organic matter and the like may not be washed away completely and may become a food source for microbes. Those microbes then start to stink and pass that stink along to your towels, shirts and other clothes.
Another odor source is – mold. There is a folded rubbery seal around the door that holds water in the machine. It also is a place where moisture gets stuck and doesn’t drain away like it should. It only takes a few days before a wet place begins to grow mold. That mold is another source of laundry odor. The good news is, Nok-Out will get rid of front loading washer odor. Once you learn how to handle this, you can get rid of laundry odor permanently and your towels can be odor free again.
Clean the Filter
First, front loaders have a small screen that filters debris from the wash water. This debris stays wet. It is a prime place for microbes to live and grow and they can be really stinky! In my machine, there is a small access panel on the front, lower left. Open the door, have a towel handy and turn the knob to remove this little screen. Take it to the sink and give it a good cleaning, then spray it with Nok-Out. Before re-inserting the screen, spray some Nok-Out up into that assembly as well. The manufacturer of my machine recommends that this screen be cleaned every month. You may need to clean yours more frequently. Just this one step is often sufficient to get rid of front loading washer odor.
Procedures to Keep Your Machine Odor Free
1. Clean your washing machine weekly by spraying the interior tub with a fine spray of Nok-Out. Let it drip, or run down the sides of the tub. Wipe with a clean cloth. .
The door seals require special attention. They have an unusual fold that you can’t see easily. fold the seal back until you can see the little drain holes. Make sure these drain holes are not blocked. If they are, then you need to find a way to unblock these holes and allow water to drain. This is where mold tends to grow most frequently and thus, is a primary source of odor. At the end of every wash session, make sure you clean and dry this area so there is no moisture to allow mold to grow.
2. At the end of every wash session, leave the door and dispenser drawers open to help the interior dry thoroughly. Again, a dry machine cannot grow mold.
3. You can also rotate the machine drum regularly to capture any left-over items, or pieces of plastic, etc. Who knows what is in the pockets of your wonderful son?.
4. Never leave wet laundry in the machine overnight! Just don’t do it.
5. Less is more. Use the minimum amount of detergent that the manufacturer recommends. Excess detergent that does not get washed away is a food source for microbial growth – and thus odor.
6. Spray Nok-Out around the drum of your machine at the end of every wash session.
Leave the door open to allow it to dry.
Odor Free Laundry
The odor problem in these expensive front loading machines is unfortunate. But with a bit of understanding of how and why odors develop, you can implement a regular program of using Nok-Out to eliminate laundry odor. Follow the procedures above to keep your machine odor free. You may also wan t to apply Nok-Out to the wash cycle as well. Read about that here. With Nok-Out, you can get rid of front loading washer odor permanently.
Questions?
If you have any questions regarding how to apply Nok-Out, or SNiPER® check out our How To Articles or, call Ted Price toll free at 866.551.1927.