Almost every housewife is faced with the problem that the washing machine smells of rotten eggs. This can happen for various reasons. More about them, as well as methods for solving the problem, will be discussed in this article.
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Causes that washing machine smells like rotten eggs
As you know, there are many reasons that washing machine smells like rotten eggs. Often this happens if too much detergent accumulates inside, or if bacteria begin to accumulate.
Dirty washing machine
Quite often, the washing machine smells like rotten eggs appear in washing machines if the device itself is very dirty. Due to the contamination of the drum of the washing machine, bacteria begin to develop. This is due to the high humidity.
This causes an unpleasant odor.
You can use a commercial cleaner to clean your washing machine. You can also make your cleaning solution.
To do this, mix 1 cup of white vinegar and 1 gallon of hot water. The prepared solution must be poured into the washing machine, and then run the normal wash cycle.
Accumulation of mold and mildew
Quite often, the washing machine smells like rotten eggs because a lot of mold and mildew have accumulated inside. This happens if the washing machine drum encounters excess moisture. To prevent the growth of mold and fungus, it is recommended that you do not close the drum door at the end of the wash.
Don’t forget to clean the door seal, which is made of rubber, with vinegar. If you have a front-load washer, this increases the likelihood of an unpleasant smell of rotten eggs. There is a drain hose in the front-load washer that moves from the device to the wall.
If the hose was installed incorrectly or clogged, water remains inside the drum. Because of this, bacteria and fungi will begin to develop more actively, which will increase the unpleasant load washer smells. To solve the problem, you need to disconnect the front load washers from the power source.
Then check the drain hose for kinks and blockages. You also need to check the correct installation of the hose. Do not forget to check if there is excessive moisture accumulation in the place of fixation with the wall.
Infection with bacteria
Very often in the washing machine, the unpleasant smell of rotten eggs is formed if the device is contaminated with bacteria. To solve the problem, you have to do a simple cleaning of the internal components. If this does not give the desired result, you have to deal with descaling.
The essence of descaling is that mineral deposits that have accumulated are removed from the washing machine. To do this, you can use ready-made descaling agents that are commercially available. You can also prepare a solution of water and vinegar.
Gas leaks
Sometimes the bad smell of rotten eggs appears if there is a natural gas leak in the home gas pipeline. After all, there are washing machines that run on natural gas. In such cases, an unpleasant odor is emitted from the machine itself.
If the washing machine is powered by electricity, an unpleasant odor may come from the home sewer line or septic tank.
Penetration of sewer gases is carried out through cracks in pipes or damage in the foundation.
If you begin to hear an unpleasant smell of gas, it is not recommended to look for a leak on your own. First, turn off the gas supply, and then call the firefighters or an employee of the local utility service. If the gas is blocked incorrectly, then there is a high probability of an explosion.
Using the wrong detergent
There are washing powders, which contain sulfur. If you use them, there may be a smell of rotten eggs. To solve the problem, powders should be used that contain a minimum amount of sulfur or sulfates.
Low temperatures
The washing machine can build up odors and smell like a rotten egg if low temperatures are combined with contaminated water. Therefore, try to use warm or hot water, and it should be clean.
Clogged sewer
If you start noticing that your washing machine smells like rotten eggs, this could indicate a clogged sewer line. This often happens if you don’t clean the lint trap regularly. This can also happen if something is stuck in the pipe. For cleaning, you have to use specialists.
How to deal with the smell of rotten eggs in the washing machine?
If you notice an unpleasant smell from the washing machine, you should not be upset. After all, you can fix everything by following the tips, which will be discussed later.
Washing machine cleaning
First of all, you need to clean the seal on the door, as well as the gasket. There are quite a lot of contaminants and bacteria in these areas. Cleaning is best done with a cloth or brush. If there are too many formations, you have to arm yourself with a cleaning solution.
Do not forget to periodically clean the dispenser where detergents are poured. These areas too often accumulate dirt and bacteria. To begin with, the dispenser must be removed, and then cleaned with a brush. Rinse it at the end.
Finally, proceed to clean the inside of the washing machine. To do this, run a wash cycle using hot water and a cup of vinegar. Items cannot be placed in the drum. Vinegar helps remove bacteria and dirt.
Filter cleaning
If you start noticing that the rotten egg washer smells, you have to clean the filter. This helps remove debris and contaminants that cause an unpleasant odor.
First, you need to disconnect the washing machine from the power source. Locate the filter at the bottom of the device. It must be removed, then washed with a warm soapy solution. Once the filter is well washed, it can be installed in place.
Checking the hoses
It is not uncommon for a rotten egg smell to come from the washing machine if the hose starts to leak.
You need to check both hoses for both cold and hot water.
If you notice a crack or leak, the hose must be replaced immediately.
Running a wash with baking soda
You need to pour some baking soda into the drum and run the wash cycle using hot water. Items cannot be uploaded. A similar method helps to fight the accumulated bacteria in the gasket or drain plug hole. These areas should be cleaned with a vinegar solution or bleach.
This helps get rid of the sources of the rotten egg smell. Baking soda helps remove residual odors.
Dry P-trap
Often washers are installed in a laundry room where there is poor ventilation. Because of this, the P-trap begins to dry. This brings back the smell of rotten eggs. To soften the P-trap, you need to pour a cup of water into the sewer.
Connecting a machine to a septic tank
Sometimes the unpleasant smell of rotten eggs begins to appear if the washing machine has been connected to a septic tank. If water flows into it, then there is a problem with the tank. Because of this, an unpleasant odor will appear. The septic tank should be checked to see if cleaning or repairs are required.
The use of bleach additives
If you are sure there are no leaks and no connection to the septic tank, you can add some chlorine bleach. This removes the bad odor. When you load the washer, add 1 cup of bleach. This keeps the washing machine quite fresh.
Using vinegar to clean
If your washing machine smells like rotten eggs, it may indicate the presence of bacteria. Therefore, it makes sense to use vinegar and water for cleaning.
Pour a cup of vinegar into the dispenser where the detergent is being added. Then start the wash by setting the mode with hot water. The drum must be empty.
The vinegar gives off vapors that help eliminate bacteria and odors. When the wash cycle is completed, you need to restart the cycle using soda. This ensures that any unpleasant odors left behind by the vinegar are removed.
If the above actions did not give a positive result, and the smell of rotten eggs remains, then the problems are caused by the washing machine.
In this case, you need to call the technician, who diagnoses and determines the cause. He also can fix it on his own.
Prevention of unpleasant odors in the washing machine
If the washing machine smells of rotten eggs, this may indicate that hydrogen sulfide gas has accumulated. Gas formation occurs when water is mixed with certain detergents. To prevent unpleasant odors, you need to follow a few tips.
First of all, you need to regularly clean the washing machine in the laundry room. This helps prevent the accumulation of dirt and soot.
It is important to choose the right laundry detergent. If the substances have a rich aroma, they contribute to the release of a large amount of hydrogen sulfide.
It is better to give preference to detergents with a mild composition. Remember that things need to be rinsed abundantly, and only after that put it in the drum.
If soap residue remains in the washing machine, it mixes with the water, which releases hydrogen sulfide gas.
It is not necessary to load the drum abundantly. The less stuff you put in the drum, the less gas is released. Therefore, try to wash more often, however, in small batches. After each use, the drum must be left open.
This improves air circulation, which causes less fungus and mold to accumulate inside. Run an empty wash cycle every month using only detergents designed for washers only. This keeps the machine clean, with a fresh scent.
If you follow the tips above, you can keep your washing machine fresh and extend its life. If the problem persists, it makes sense to call a specialist who helps diagnose and repair it.
FAQ
If the machine starts to smell like rotten eggs, numerous questions may arise.
How do I get the rotten egg smell out of my washing machine?
You need to open the washing machine door. The load washer should be small, and the use of hot water. Once the water filling starts, add some bleach (about 4 cups) to the water. Then close the lid and start the long spin mode.
How do you get rid of the sewer smell in washing machine?
When you load the washer, add half a cup of baking soda and add some white vinegar. If the smell remains, add a little bleach. In the end, load and wash only with hot water.
Why does my washing machine smell like sewage when it runs?
A lot of mold, bacteria, and dyes begin to accumulate inside the seal. Therefore, it must be cleaned regularly to prevent unpleasant odors.
Results
So, why does the washing machine smell awful? As you can see, the washing machine can smell like rotten eggs for various reasons.
You need to first identify the reason why you have a smelly washing machine, then clean the device, and prevent the resumption of an unpleasant odor.
Read Also About How To Deal With A Bad Smell From Washing Machine
I can add from my experience that the smell of rotten eggs can also appear if you wash only at low temperatures all the time. Try running a wash cycle using the hottest water (Cotton Mode) without items in the drum. This method helped me. An anti-scale agent can also really help. This is what I would recommend.