Does your front-load washing machine smell? Are your clothes really getting clean? Is there mold around the door seal? Is your front-load washer slow to drain? 

Front-load washers are quite popular right now. However, they require a little more TLC than our mother’s old top-load washer we grew up with. Front-load washers by nature seal very tightly when you close the door, obviously to keep the water from leaking out. If the door is kept closed when the unit is not in use the seal can develop mold in the crevasses of the door seal. Stagnant dirty water will sit in the seal and develop a bad odor as well as mold. There are a few ways to prevent this. 

1. Limit the use of liquid fabric softener. 
2. Use the correct laundry detergent in limited amounts and if your machine requires the HE designated detergent use only HE detergent. One to two tablespoons of detergent are more than enough to wash a 12 lb. load of laundry. 
3. Wipe the seal with a clean dry rag after each use. 
4. Leave the door propped open when not in use. This will allow air to circulate through the machine and help reduce mold build-up as well as bad odors. 
5. Occasionally run a cup or two of white vinegar through the unit. You can also use any of the name-brand washer cleaning tablets that are available at box stores or online.

Most top-load washers have a filter that needs to be cleaned monthly. Newer front-load washers have an access door to get to the filter. Some older models have no door, and you will need to call a service provider. Other machines have a half panel you can take off to access the filter. You will need a shallow bowl or pan. Open the door and you will see a small hose with a stopper in it. Extend the hose out and remove the stopper. Units vary on the amount of water you will get so have a bucket nearby to dump the pan into. When no more water comes out you are ready to clean the filter. The filter unscrews, pull the filter out, and lay it in the shallow pan you were using to drain the water. You can tap out any large debris then take the filter to a sink and clean it thoroughly. You will be surprised at what you may find. Replace the clean filter, plug the tube, and place tube back in the opening, then close the door or replace the panel and you are ready to wash away! Doing these simple things, can extend the life of your machine and save money on costly service calls. Your clothes will smell fresher, and feel better and you won’t have a stinky machine in your laundry room!

Enjoy Life, Hug your Family, And God Bless Chillicothe