High-efficiency appliances have been all over the market in the last couple years. It’s no surprise that the laundry room is one of the most marketed changes to HE. Everyone does laundry because everyone wants clean clothes. The great thing about these HE machines is that we save quite a bit of water and energy when we use them. Saving you a few bucks a year certainly adds up over time. But just like every other washer, sometimes our HE washing machines can start to have a certain aroma about them. They can start to smell musty or moldy and they can even go so bad that they start to make your clothes stink! You’re definitely not putting your clothes in the laundry for them to come out smelling worse than they did before! How do you clean an HE washing machine? There a few things that you have to do differently when you switch to HE, but cleaning isn’t necessarily one of them.
Treating the Smell in Your HE Washing Machine
There are a lot of options out there that usually work pretty well. That is, for a couple of weeks or so. They have “cleaners” that you can pop into the washer and it will mask the smell for a few days until you have to go out and buy more for it to keep working. You can also use the old method of pouring some bleach in the wash and running an empty load. The bleach works a little better than the cleaner they have in most stores. It will last a bit longer and keep you thinking your washer is as clean as day one! However, what if I told you that there’s a way for you to clean your HE washing machine AND help clean your clothes AND soften your clothes at the SAME TIME?
Treating the Source
There’s a secret weapon in the war on smelly washers and you probably already have it in your kitchen. Vinegar! Regular old white vinegar which is great for just about everything comes in to save the day again. This time in a little bit of a different way. Instead of running your washer with a cup of vinegar here, a cup of vinegar there, check out this easy method to keep your washer smelling great. All you have to do is use your normal laundry soap like you always do, but now you’re going to add in vinegar to the bleach dispenser in your HE washer. Just pick up a gallon of vinegar and keep it next to your laundry detergent. Every time you do laundry, pour some in the bleach dispenser. Vinegar kills bacteria and will fight the smell at the source. It also helps keep your clothes clean, vibrant, and soft!
Learning how to clean an HE washing machine isn’t much work. Just because there are a few things that you have to change your laundry routine when you get an HE machine it doesn’t mean the old methods don’t work the same if they’re tweaked a little bit. Using white vinegar with every wash is a very cheap solution to your smelly washer situation! Have you ever tried using vinegar to clean your HE washing machine? Did you notice the effect it had on your clothes too? Let’s talk about it!
Linda says
June 6, 2016 at 11:00 amI have a front loader and love it – even tho I hear other people complain of musty moldy smells. Thanks for the great tip!
Scarlet says
June 9, 2016 at 3:35 pmHave had a front load HE washer for about 6 yrs. Love it but learned a hard lesson about liquid fabric softener. I’m a fabric softener junkie but switched to white vinegar after the nightmare of black oily streaks all over mine & my husband’s clothes. The repairman said it was caused by waxy residue from liquid fabric softener. Not recommended for HE washers. Vinegar keeps machine & clothes fresh & clean. They DON’T smell like vinegar I promise! Still run a tub clean cycle with bleach at least once a month also
Josie Hernandez says
April 7, 2017 at 8:23 pmI didn’t realize fabric softener could build up. Vinegar is so inexpensive, more so than softener. Plus I always add softener sheets also. Bye bye softener. Thanks.
Cindy says
June 11, 2016 at 7:02 amVinegar is magic, isn’t it? It works in so many ways. My HE front loader is getting old, and it still works great. I have learned that if I dry the gasket around the opening after the last load and leave the door open, my washer stays clean and does not smell at all. Thanks for sharing your tips!
Donna says
September 14, 2016 at 10:31 pmI moved into a new apt. and the inside of the drum was covered in mold. The maintenance guy suggested bleach, nope. Bought the pods from a hardware store to get rid of the smell, worked for a few weeks. Will try the vinegar and let you know. It’s horrible, my clothes don’t smell but my house does. Yuck.
Gina Luker says
September 15, 2016 at 12:00 pmHey Donna, give the vinegar a try! It’s good at killing bacteria and mold so hopefully it will do the trick for you!
Josie Hernandez says
April 7, 2017 at 8:25 pmMake sure you leave your washer door open after every load.
Gina Luker says
April 8, 2017 at 2:30 pmyes, helps keep it fresh smelling!
beth says
September 26, 2016 at 4:46 pmBesides drying the door and gasket when you are done, leave both the door and drawer where you put your soaps etc. ajar. I have use vinegar instead of fabric softener for years. I also periodically use the bleach with out laundry. Love my HE front loader.
Gina Luker says
September 27, 2016 at 11:25 amGreat ideas Beth, vinegar is awesome in so many ways!!
Ann says
February 9, 2017 at 12:44 pmPurchased an HE top load washing machine and dryer a year ago. In the past two months, we started noticing the mildewy smell. I have purchased and been using the cleaner. I know vinegar usually removes a bad smell but never thought of using it in the washing machine. I will definitely try this! Thanks for the advice.
Gina Luker says
February 11, 2017 at 12:08 pmYou are so welcome Ann 🙂
Norma Rolader says
December 26, 2017 at 7:15 amThank you for the great tips and information
Rachel says
December 26, 2017 at 10:15 amI use the sanitize cycle once a week and that helps too.
Gina Luker says
December 26, 2017 at 11:05 amThanks Rachel, that is a great tip 🙂
Paula Labrecque says
September 1, 2018 at 9:44 amwhat about sediments from hard water deposits. We have well water and the water turns whites brown so I can imagine what its doing to the inside of the washer.
Gina Luker says
September 3, 2018 at 11:00 amI am not sure Paula, I haven’t had that issue, sorry.
Lisa Micko says
September 16, 2018 at 11:57 pmI did have a problem 2 years ago with my front loader smelling musty! Then I started adding vinegar to every wash cycle and now I always use white vinegar in my wash along with my preferred brand of detergent, Tide. I don’t have an issue with the musty smell that others complain about! I don’t leave clothes in the washer overnight and always leave the door open also! Hope this helps!
Gina Luker says
September 17, 2018 at 10:12 amThanks for the tips Lisa, super helpful 🙂
John says
February 16, 2020 at 12:54 pmMy wife past away six months ago so I’ve been doing my laundry. I didn’t know about washers smelling so this is some good advice.
Thank you,
John
Gina Luker says
February 17, 2020 at 11:15 amI am so sorry for your loss John!