Home Garden

A Way to Clean the Washer When Towels Smell Bad

When freshly laundered towels smell bad, it's usually an indicator that your washing machine needs a thorough cleaning. Mildew, mold or residue from detergent can build up inside the washing machine and leave a sour smell on your towels and laundry. Clean your washing machine with common household products to kill odor-causing mold and bacteria. With the right technique, you can restore a fresh, clean smell to your washing machine and laundry.

Things You'll Need

  • Chlorine bleach
  • White vinegar
  • Ammonia
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Instructions

    • 1

      Remove any items from the washing machine.

    • 2

      Pour 2 cups of white vinegar, 1 cup of chlorine bleach or 1 cup of sudsy ammonia in the washing machine.

    • 3

      Set the washer to the largest load setting with the hottest water. Allow the wash cycle to complete.

    • 4

      Wipe the seal around the washing machine door or lid with bleach, ammonia or white vinegar on a damp cloth. If possible, clean beneath the seal to remove trapped buildup and mildew. Use the same cleaner that you used to clean inside the washing machine.

    • 5

      Leave the door or lid open to ventilate the washing machine.