I was so excited about a front loading washing machine when we first got one. That is until I found out the hard way about the smells that can happen if you don’t open the door once in a while. Now the door is found open more often then not, avoiding one of my least favorite words…MOIST! (ew!)
Another little quick tip is to re-use dryer sheets and or cut them in half to double your value.
ps. Thanks for all the feedback yesterday. Next week will be Rotisserie Chicken Week!
Oh the smell. We also have a front loader and after dealing with musty smelling towels for about 2 weeks, I FINALLY figured out that it was the washer…you know, the thing that was supposed to make them smell all fresh and clean? Anyway, since then, I leave the door open about 2 inches after every load. I also leave the dispenser drawer pulled out (it has a tendency to stay damp in there and grow mold-EWWWWW!) and give it a clorox bath about every couple of months. This helps A LOT!
Thanks for sharing! People everywhere (with stinky washers!) are singing your praises today
-Sarai (from Three Simple Girls)
I'm glad mine wasn't the only one with the smell… PPPPPP-UUUUUUU! I tell you the first time I went throught the playroom to get to the laundry room I didn't know what the heck it was. Our door is always ajar now as well.
However I LOVE my front loader and will never go back.
Moist is a lifelong non-favorite word among me and my sisters. I hear your "moist" and raise you a "panties" – hate that word even more.
i am all for the recipes. i loved the week you did fast meals. we make the chile releno and ravioli lasagna a lot. keep the recipes coming.
Great tips!
PS
I saw the "picnic cups" in person this weekend. Everyone in the car laughed!
Argh…laundry.
I do our family of five's laundry in a mini stackable apartment size washer and dryer.
Don't even ask how many loads it takes to do a days worth of dirty clothes.
I know….better than a laundromat, but really makes me miss my old set back in Nashville.
I am going to re-use our dryer sheets…brilliant!
I love your tips…and I am now going to search for the chili releno recipe…where bouts would I find that?
….and I am way excited for the Rotisserie chicken week! I by one a week, there is always a way to use them.
I always leave the door open when I don't have clothes in there. I love your idea of dryer sheets. I always feel so guilty throwing one away after I've used it only once. Thanks for the tip!
I always leave the door open on mine, and rip the dryer sheets in half. I don't do good with smells.
Hi, I found you on Make and Takes today, and I thought I'd say thanks for this lil tip. I was thinking I'd have to throw my front loader out the window. Can't even wait to get home from work now and open 'er up. Cheers!
Hahahahah! I hate that "m" word too. And I don't have a front loader, but sooo wish I did.
Ha, Ha Ha! I just found you through House of Smiths and I just spit my coffee out all over the computer because OMgosh I hate the "M" word. Maybe it's a girl thing hating that word!
Now I'm a follower! I'd love for you to come on over and visit my blog at http://1funkywoman.blogspot.com
Megan
I too learned the hard way about the smells with my first front loader. Now I keep the door open when not in use and try to wipe under the rubber seal often and use Vinegar in the fabric softener spot for towels ALL the time and often on other things as well. The vinegar helps to make sure all the soap is out of the towels and also is just a better softener. Since using the dryer sheets tend to coat them and make them less absorbent.
Dryer sheets are also good to pop into your vacuum cleaner ,,, either the bag, or the area outside the bag. It keeps the air that comes out of the cleaner as one is vacuuming, fresh. No more musty smells, especially if there are animals in the house.
As for keeping towels, etc smelling fresh; use white vinegar & baking soda in the machine. The baking soda softens the water & makes the washing powder more efficient too. Hang towels, or anything else that’s thick, out in the sun to dry as much as possible. The sun also helps as antibacterial.