Suffering From Weird Clothing Smells? Washing Machine Care And Maintenance Tips You Need To Know

Putting on a freshly laundered shirt or jacket to discover that the scent wafting up from it is not as fresh and clean as you expect is disappointing. Sour, stale, or other unpleasant odors that remain in clothing after being washed and dried are a common problem that families experience due to both improper washing techniques and poorly maintained appliances.

If you are experiencing this problem, the following tips can help you find a solution so that your family can once again experience the joys of fresh, clean-smelling clothing and linens. 

Overloading the appliance

In the effort to save time or conserve water, many families make the mistake of washing loads of laundry that are well beyond the amount recommended by the appliance manufacturer.

This often results in laundry that looks or smells unclean. When this happens, a second washing is usually needed and all the saved water and time are washed away. In addition, consistently overloading the machine can cause excessive wear on the washing machine's bearings, belts, and load balancing mechanisms, shortening their expected lifespans. 

To help avoid this, take time to read the manufacturer's instructions carefully and carefully adhere to their instructions for load size. 

Lax measuring practices

Another cause of sour smells in laundry is the use of too much detergent, softener, or additives, like whiteners and stain removers. Using too much of these products per load make it difficult for the appliance to thoroughly rinse these products from clothing, resulting in unpleasant smells, dull looking colors, and dingy whites.

To avoid this type of problem, always measure the product carefully, using the recommendations of the both the appliance and product manufacturer's instructions. 

Residue and mineral build up in the washing machine

Over use of laundry products, sometimes coupled with mineral laden water can also result in residue buildup in the components and hoses of your washing machine. These substances, along with the dirt and lint from clothing can cause the water to drain more slowly and inefficiently between cycles, often clogging the filters and screens that are designed to help rinse dirt away from the clothing during the wash cycle. 

Families who are carefully adhering to proper load sizes and using the correct amount of laundry product additives only to find that their clothing still smells bad or looks less than clean should consider having their appliance professionally cleaned and serviced by a reputable appliance service technician. 

The technician can examine the components and clear clogs that forms in the screens and hoses of the appliance to help restore proper water flow and help the washing machine operate more efficiently. Contact a service, like Aplus Appliance, for more help.