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Key Takeaways
- All washing machines have a flexible seal around the door to help prevent leaks.
- The seal traps water, soil, and product residue after each wash, which can lead to mold and mildew growth.
- Cleaning the seal monthly keeps it mildew-free and prevents odors in the washer and on your clothes.
If you catch a whiff of musty odor from your clean laundry, it’s time to check the seal on your washing machine door. The flexible seal around the door might have water and residue trapped inside, causing odors on everything that gets passed through.
Learn more about what’s causing the odor and how to clean your washing machine seal so the problem doesn’t continue
The One Part of Your Washing Machine You’re Forgetting to Clean
The Spruce / Jason Donnelly
Call it a seal, gasket, or door boot, but we’re talking about the flexible piece of rubber around the lid of a top-loading washer or the door of a front-loading washing machine. The seal is there to help prevent leaks during the washer’s cleaning cycles.
When the washer is in use, water, laundry product residue, and body soil land in the folds of the seal. If the seal is not allowed to dry thoroughly after each laundry session and cleaned at least monthly, the warm, humid environment inside the washer is the perfect breeding ground for mildew and mold to form.
How to Clean Your Washing Machine’s Seal
- Mix a solution of 1 part warm water and 1 part distilled white vinegar in a small bowl. Dip a microfiber cloth or sponge in the solution.
- Use the dampened cloth or sponge to thoroughly wipe around edges, seams, folds, and all sides of the rubber seal. Use your fingers to gently stretch the seal to reach hidden crevices.
- Dip an old toothbrush or small, nylon-bristle bottle brush in the vinegar solution to reach tight spots.
- Use a dry microfiber towel to remove the cleaning solution, ensuring the seal is completely dry.
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How to Maintain a Washing Machine
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Every washing machine should have an overall cleaning at least every three months to remove trapped body soil, laundry product residue, and water mineral buildup. If you wash heavily soiled or greasy clothes, clean your washer monthly to remove odors and prevent soil from redepositing on your laundry.
Start with an empty washer. If you have dispenser drawer(s), consult your washer’s online manual on how to remove them.
Fill a sink or bucket with hot water and allow the drawer components to soak for 10 minutes to remove traces of accumulated products. Rinse well. Dip a small soft-bristled brush in a 1:1 water and vinegar or water and chlorine bleach solution to clean the drawer opening on the washer to remove residue and any mold. Replace the dispenser drawer.
Clean the door and seal as recommended above. Finally, use a commercial washer cleaner, 2 cups of distilled white vinegar, or 1 cup of chlorine bleach and hot water for a complete cleaning. Add your selected cleaner directly to the washer drum. Many washers have a cleaning cycle or use the longest wash cycle, and be sure hot water is selected.
While the washer is running a cleaning cycle, wipe down the outside of the machine to remove dust and grime. When the cycle is complete, open the door and dry the door seal. Leaving the door open, open the dispenser drawer, and allow the machine to air dry.
4 Other Things That Make Clothes Mildewy
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It’s not just a moldy washing machine seal that can leave clothes smelling sour or like mildew. Here are some other common culprits.
Tossing Wet Items in the Hamper
Leaving wet or damp items like gym wear or towels in the hamper for several days gives mildew fungus plenty of time to grow and cause odor. If you can’t wash wet things right away, hang them to air dry before adding them to the hamper.
Storing Damp Clothes
Whether the clothes are freshly washed or damp from rain, storing them in a dark closet or drawer can cause mildew growth. This applies to shoes and boots as well as clothes.
Keep in mind that mildew spreads from one garment to the next, especially if there are stains from food. Allow laundry, shoes, and clothes to dry completely before you store them.
Leaving Towels in a Heap
Add plenty of towel bars to your bathroom so damp towels can be spread out smoothly to dry more quickly. Even if you hang them up from a hook, the bunched-up fabric can take too long to dry and allow mildew to form. Use your bathroom exhaust fan to speed drying.
Leaving Dry Cleaning in the Plastic Bag
Dry cleaning is a misnomer because there is a liquid cleaning solution used in the process. Garments may still be damp when the cleaner puts a plastic bag over them to protect them until you can get home. Always remove the thin plastic bag immediately when you get home so the fabric can breathe and dry completely.
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