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[KrisNY]

Every once in a while, the washing machine gets a smell to it- It's usually when I do a load of laundry and forget it in there for a couple of days (silly me , I know) it smells mildewy.
Do you every just run the machine with bleach or detergent in it with no clothes? Kind of to clean it out?
I just started to do this.

[DianaR]

I usually just run the wash all over again, laundry detergent and all.

I am careful to check the clothing as I move it to the drier, though.  IF there are already little black stains on any of the items, I toss the item out.

Of course, I only left wet clothing in a washing machine, long enough to actually see the mildew, once when I was a teen.  I haven't done it since!

[antkmom]

Kris~ I do this every so often.  I usually don't forget clothes in the machine because I do laundry every day.  I have done this when a pen get in the washer or my kids work clothes have been in there.  Then I run threw some bleach water just to clean it out.

[aru123]

I never done this kind of things.....

[Moondance]

If you can use those dryer sheets in your dryer, and the clothing hasn't been left for too long in the washer, you can often simply finish the laundry as you normally would.

[anuch60]

Just be careful and see that you do remove the clothes once the cleaning is done. See if you can leave the door open. Also use an air freshener if things are really bad.

[KrisNY]

Luckily I don't do it often either. I do usually run the washer with only bleach in it at least once a month. I keep the lid down at all times so the cat won't get in there by mistake. So it's not always the freshest smell.

I'm big on smells- so I don't think the fabric softener sheet would hide the stinky mildew smell from leaving them in there.

[knight]

Yes, I faced the same problem before. The best option is to use solvent and run the washing machines without clothes. Most of the solvents comes with a flower odor so the washing machine won't smell bad.

[Dee1]

Vinegar, I use vinegar once a month in mine, I pour about half a cup full into the drum and run it on the hottest cycle on the machine, if it's really bad I use more vinegar, washing powder can really smell when it goes hard and it's great for killing this smell too as well as damp smell.

[kelsey1999]

Either bleach ran through it to get rid of those smelly bits or white vinegar as this strips all the old washing powder out.

[bubble]

I have only ever left the washing in the machine once overnight, and you are right, the stench was just awful.

I have never done it again.

Just wipe the inside of the drum with a clean cloth now and again. I tend to get a build up of grease inside the drum because of my husbands work clothes.

Never thought of using vinegar though, that is a good idea!

[jandi]

Every once in a while, the washing machine gets a smell to it- It's usually when I do a load of laundry and forget it in there for a couple of days (silly me , I know) it smells mildewy.
Do you every just run the machine with bleach or detergent in it with no clothes? Kind of to clean it out?
I just started to do this.

Actually I wash the machine manually-- meaning I scrub it myself with soap and water. But i think your idea is great. I'll try that out one of these days.

[puffie224]

Yes I currently do this occasionally, to just clean it out. I also may throw some sort of pine in there, but baking soda usually works best for me.

[KrisNY]

Vinegar  Why didn't I think of it- I use it in the coffee maker to clean it out every couple of months. I will try it in the washing machine once a month. I can't believe how many things you can use vinegar for!

[ludy]

well i had experienced that ..but not often ..what i do is that i click on the clean tub button in the washing machine with of course with a detergent on it..with no clothes on it of course just water and soap..