Believe it or not, your washing machine might smell weird because you’re using too much soap!
Our friends at Metro Appliances & More recently sent us an article about what actually causes bad smells to develop in washing machines — even newer ones. Front-loading machines, in particular, can develop bad smells if you put too much detergent into the machine. Here’s why: The new front-loading washing machines are designed to use less water and detergent (which saves you money). So if you put too much detergent into the wash, the machine isn’t putting enough water in there to wash all that soap down the drain. The leftover soap ends up as residue inside the machine, and that residue can lead to the growth of bacteria, mold and mildew — hence the bad smell. Yikes!
Up until I heard this news, I always thought that more suds in the washing machine meant cleaner, better-smelling clothes. But apparently I, and a whole lot of other moms, have been wrong about that. If you’re automatically filling the detergent cap full of soap, you may be adding way too much. Here’s a test you can do on your machine to find out if it’s got residue build-up inside:
THE TEST: If you have a front-loading washing machine, put four towels into the washer and fill it up with water. If your machine is a top-loader, put one towel into the washer. Do NOT add soap.
Fill up your machine with water only and let it begin the cycle. If you see suds, they are developing from leftover soap residue inside your machine. The suds or lack of suds will give you the verdict you’re looking for.
In addition to causing a foul smell in your washer, that leftover reside can also coat certain parts inside your machine which can lead to expensive repairs. It can also hurt the overall performance and longevity of the appliance, according to Dave Wicklund, manager of Metro Appliances & More.
When you’re measuring detergent, match the amount of detergent to the load size, and don’t be tempted to put in extra soap for extra dirty clothes. It won’t help, and it might actually be the reason why your washer gets that “not so fresh” smell.
Wicklund suggested cleaning your washing machine tub periodically with a citrus-based cleanser. There are products designed specifically for freshening up your machine, and you can find them in the same aisle with laundry detergent.
DISHWASHER ALERT: Too much detergent can also be a problem for modern dishwashers, Wicklund said. If you use too much soap, it can stay behind after the wash cycle and cause dishes to look filmy.
DRYERS, TOO! Who among us has not tossed in an extra fabric softener dryer sheet (or two or three) because we want the sheets to smell really nice? Wicklund said that dryer sheets work because the dryer heats up and liquefies the softener on the sheet. If there are too many sheets, that fabric softener can become like tar and gum up the inner workings of your dryer.
Thanks to our friends at Metro Appliances & More for the heads-up on the problems we can accidentally cause by being a little too generous with detergents. Knowing about this can save a lot of money on repair bills!
And if your appliances aren’t stinky but are kind of ancient and in need of replacement, we can’t say enough good things about the sales team at Metro. They are awesome! Lots of moms agree with us, and you can read some of their comments about the staff at Metro by clicking HERE. Call 479-750-2200 if you need to talk to someone knowledgeable about appliances or if you need directions to the HUGE Metro showroom. Happy shopping!
