How Do I Get the Mildew Smell Out of My Laundry Room?
There are several solutions for the mildew smells coming out of your laundry room, such as oxiclean cure, proper ventilation, air fresheners, baking soda cure, vinegar cure, and so on.
How Do I Get the Mildew Smell Out of My Laundry Room?
You might find yourself crazy trying to figure out where the weird occasional mildew smell keeps coming from. Or maybe you go to your laundry room to wash a new pile of clothes only to discover that there is already another batch of clothes, stinking up the whole place.
Odors that carry from your washing machine which makes your laundry room smell disgusting are commonly caused by a combination of contaminants such as mold, mildew, and bacteria.
Top loading washing machine smells like mildew
Some washing machines tend to smell bad due to their design. Also, leaving the washer lid closed when not in use does not allow air to circulate and dry out the moisture lingering in the tub surface. The mixture of air and moisture becomes stagnant and creates an odor. Consistent dampness in the air prevents the washer from completely drying in between loads, causing musty odors and mildew.
Follow the instructions below to prevent your washing machine from smelling like mildew.
- When the washer is not in use, putting the lid up/open for better air circulation will help prevent odor. Fill the washer with hot water and set it at regular speed and the longest wash cycle.
- Add 3/4 cup of a water softening additive. You can also use baking soda or vinegar.
- Wait for the washer to complete an entire wash and rinse cycle.
- Repeat the entire process if the odor persists.
My washing machine smells of stagnant water
The drain hose or the pump connected to your washing machine may be clogged or broken. A broken lid switch or belt could also be the reason behind the dilemma. Also, the hose being jammed can trigger the situation. no matter what the reason is, always make sure to drain the clogged water from the washing machine before any work or maintenance.
Pour 1/2 cup of baking soda into 2 cups of white distilled vinegar. Set your machine to the hottest setting and begin a wash cycle. As the water rises, add the baking soda and vinegar mixture. Let the machine run for a full cycle. Repeat the process with a cold water cycle to complete the process.
Washing machine smells worse after cleaning
Make sure you use cleaners suitable to the surfaces you are working with and follow all safety labels. Also, there might be plumbing issues. Odor can be caused by a bad drainage system from the washer which results in the dirty water becoming smelly inside the machine and it causes bacteria in the water and the bacteria to grow as it makes an ideal ground for bacterias.
Mildew in laundry room
Mildew is a form of fungus. It is identified by its closely related counterpart, mold, largely by its color. Molds appear in many shades of black, blue, red, and green, whereas mildew is white.
Washing and drying clothes cause humidity in the air. The heat from the appliances makes the air warm. Warm and humid make the perfect environment for mold to grow. Such conditions can make your clean laundry room to become an ideal environment for unhealthy mold growth.
The fungus can quickly spread through the rest of the house if you don’t take necessary actions right away.
Use necessary protections
First things first, suit up properly with disposable work clothes, nitrile rubber gloves, face mask, and wrap-around eye goggles. You don’t want to get any infection from the mold or fungus.
Locate the source of Moisture
Examine the affected areas thoroughly. Check for leaks behind the washing machine, especially wet spots under appliances, and look for dampness in walls. If you can find out the moisture source, we recommend that you repair it before you start the cleanup. If not, call a water damage remediation company to deal with both repairs and mold removal.
Disinfect the affected surfaces
Wash the non-porous surfaces with bleach and water. This simple mixture kills mold as you clean. Repeat the process with a second scrub to remove any lingering fungal growth. Finally, rinse and wipe with clean cloth.
If you have drywall or wood cabinets don’t use bleach. Clean and disinfect porous materials with an anti-fungal product instead. Rinse and wipe clean when done.
Dry the whole area
After you’re done with cleaning and disinfecting your room, dry the whole room thoroughly. Set up fans in different corners of the laundry room and open up the windows.
How to get rid of laundry room smell
You can use many ways to deodorize your laundry room. You can use a laundry hamper, citrus spray, air freshener, proper ventilation, and many more.
Using a citrus spray is one of the best ways to deodorize your laundry room. You can make this with orange, lemon, lime, and grapefruit peels, which are packed with odor-fighting agents. Boil the peels and simmer for one hour with low heat. Add water as needed. Strain liquid into a bowl and pour into a clean spray bottle. Spritz this around your laundry room for a fresh aromatic fragrance.
Proper ventilation is very important to get rid of damp air. Open up all of your windows and doors of your laundry room to get fresh air inside. Leave the lids open so odors don’t jam inside.
This goes without any saying- do not forget any wet laundry in your washing machine. It can lead to a moldy smell and stink up the whole place. In case if it happens, mix warm water and bleach and wipe down the inside of the machine with a wet cloth.
You can use some coffee beans to absorb the smell. Put some coffee beans in a small bowl and put them in a corner. You don’t need to replace those for about a month.
FAQ
Q: My room Smells Musty But No Mold
Ans: If you’ve done checking every corner of your house but find no mold, but you notice still there’s some musty smell coming out of nowhere. Laundry Drains & Front Load Washers may be the reason behind it.
Washing machines are used very frequently and with the use of water, this can be a key place for musty odors to develop gradually over time. Front load washers, in particular, are known for their tendency to retain water in the different nooks and crannies in the device that can result in a growth place of mold and bacteria in that area which can produce a musty smell.
Conclusion
Getting rid of the mildew smell from the towel or the laundry room is not a big deal. Tackling laundry room odors starts with the very core of the problem – the dirty washing machine. After all, even the most powerful laundry detergent can’t fully do its job if it’s battling musty smells from a machine that’s overdue for a cleaning. When properly maintained, front load washing machines can become your ultimate weapon against those unpleasant odors.
Don’t overlook the impact of damp clothes and wet laundry left neglected in the room either. Remember, a pile of wet clothes can quickly become a breeding ground for mildew, making your laundry room smells even worse. Implementing a habit of immediately drying wet clothes can go a long way in keeping your laundry room smelling fresh.
Moreover, using the right laundry detergent and adopting simple practices such as leaving the door of your washing machine open when not in use can significantly reduce laundry room odor. So, it’s not just about the short-term solutions. To truly banish that mildew smell, it’s about making a long-term commitment to cleanliness, maintenance, and fresh-smelling laundry.
