Not to brag, but my laundry room is pretty stunning. And what I mean by stunning is that there is a stench emanating from my washer that knocks you backwards when you open it lately. That’s not quite the stunning I’m going for. Nothing I’ve tried has fixed it so far. I’m sure there’s some sort of vinegary recipe out there; please feel free to point me in the right direction.
But I’ll shut up about my wash-o-smell so we can gaze upon this truly stunning laundry room instead. From Lisa at DeGeer Interiors, who is giving me laundry room envy all up in here. Just fabulous looking. I bet it smells nice too.
29 Comments
Anonymous
January 8, 2013 at 2:39 PMHow to clean your top-loader: http://www.onegoodthingbyjillee.com/2012/04/how-to-clean-your-top-loader-washing.html
How to clean your front-loader: http://www.onegoodthingbyjillee.com/2012/02/how-to-fix-smelly-washing-machine.html
Good luck 🙂
Michelle
January 8, 2013 at 5:58 PMBEautiful! ANd I second the switch to powder detergent. I switched and have no more smelly issues.
Tracy W
January 8, 2013 at 6:12 PMI switched to HE powder detergent and after the first couple of loads I havent had any mildew-y smells since! The liquid detergent was getting trapped in the rubber seal and making that terrible smell.
Anonymous
January 8, 2013 at 6:53 PMEver since I started using Tide pods the ‘stench’ went away in my front loader. You can use Affresh about once a month to do almost accomplish the same thing, but the pod appears to be a more permanent solution.
Our Life at 31-derful!
January 8, 2013 at 2:53 PMAssuming you have a HE front loader from the smell…..You can usually get rid of the smell by running the sanitze cycle with no clothes or soap. There us also a product called RePHresh that changes the PH balance. Finally, make sure that you aren’t using too much soap (which a repair person told me is the root of the problem)
Kate H
January 8, 2013 at 2:54 PMLooks good!!!
http://charmemodeblog.blogspot.com/
Sherron
January 8, 2013 at 2:58 PMI think that just getting rid of the wall paper would have made the space better- they went above and beyond that and made the space look fabulous! It is beautiful!
catpal52
January 8, 2013 at 2:59 PMWe have a front loader and were told to leave the door open after running it so it dries out.
DeeDee
January 8, 2013 at 3:52 PMI just posted about cleaning your washer here: http://ourcloverhouse.blogspot.com/2013/01/cleaning-he-washer-with-household.html
Good luck girlie!
Amanda
January 8, 2013 at 3:57 PMI swear by Odoban for getting rid of ANY smell. You can buy it by the gallon at Home Depot or Sams Club. I read the first comments links, though and I have to say, I’m going to wash my washer today! Good luck and I love that laundry room, too!
pwatters
January 8, 2013 at 4:10 PMI leave the front door open, like catpal52, but I also leave the detergent dispenser open, when the machine’s not in use. I periodically take the dispenser out completely (like if we’re going away) and will sometimes spray the inside with bleach cleaner.
Audrey @ Neverending Decorating
January 8, 2013 at 4:16 PMWow! Love that laundry room, I can’t wait to get mine started!!!
Angie@BlueberryLane
January 8, 2013 at 4:19 PMWow, beautiful!
Shari @ My Cottage of Bliss
January 8, 2013 at 4:35 PMDo you have a front load washer…and use liquid soap and/or liquid fabric softener? The all-too-common complaint of front load washers developing mold, mildew and funky smells is what made me drag my feet for close to 2 years before I finally broke down and bought a FL washer. I did a ton of research before buying one and from everything I have read, liquid laundry products (liquid soaps AND fabric softeners) seem to play a major role in contributing to the smelly FL washer problems. Apparently, the oils these liquid products contain are not adequately washed away because of the energy-saving low water levels. The oily film left behind on the washer’s internal parts is thought to be enough to trap moisture and in turn, cause mold and mildew and unpleasant smells that can even permeate your clothes.
I never use fabric softener (just occasionally white vinegar). I only use 1-2 tablespoons of powdered laundry soap per load, and for the past 4 months, I have been making my own. This blogger ( http://giraffe-legs.blogspot.com/2012/09/homemade-laundry-soap-with-surprising.html ) wrote an eye-opening post on how her smelly washer problem went away after she switched from liquid soap to a homemade powdered version. Additionally, I never leave wet clothes in the washer. Whenever I think about it, I check the folds of the gasket for hair, threads, lint or anything that can possibly trap moisture. After I finish doing laundry, I don’t generally bother to wipe the door seal/gasket dry but I do always leave the washer door wide open (not just cracked) and open the detergent dispenser so they can dry out. If your laundry room doesn’t get very good air circulation, you might want to consider purchasing a little washer fan that easily installs on the back air vent of your washer. It circulates air through the interior to dry it out. (I have no affiliation with this company–I’ve just read good reviews about the product. I’m actually considering getting one myself as a preventative measure when the newest model comes out later this month.) Here’s the link:
Erin @ The Impatient Gardener
January 8, 2013 at 4:44 PMThat’s a lovely laundry room. I would be happy with just having walls (rather than studs).
Shari @ My Cottage of Bliss
January 8, 2013 at 4:46 PMActually, here’s the proper link for the washer fan:
https://washerfan.com/
If anyone is interested, this is the link for one of the positive reviews I read:
http://housewares.about.com/od/majorappliances/fr/Washerfan-Fix-For-Front-Load-Mold-Review.htm
Also, you can go to YouTube and find videos on how to check FL washer interiors for mold, and cleaning methods.
Peggy
January 8, 2013 at 4:47 PMWhat Shari said.
Ariela Haro von Mogel
January 8, 2013 at 5:09 PMWow! I think that’s a little too beautiful for a laundry room! But I guess it makes you actually want to do your laundry. 🙂 I plan to do my (super disgusting) laundry room into something fabulous. These people have inspired me.
Rob McDonald Family
January 8, 2013 at 5:31 PMOkay, I’m a nerd and watched the whole video on washerfan.com about black mold growing in the tube of your washer. Maybe that’s your problem. The tube is $13 to replace and an easy installment (says the site owner). The fan will set you back $70 but maybe worth it…I think I will try. Our Whirlpool Duets are going strong even after 10 years and 4 kids, but I have noticed that smell lately.
See…now you don’t have to sit through the whole video!
aussiebeachgirl
January 9, 2013 at 1:45 AMGood old Bicarbonate of Soda works a treat. Visit the Arm & Hammer website for more details, or just put in an online search for eliminating smells in washers. Oh and another thing…if you have a front loader, keep the door OPEN after washes, and make sure it’s completely dry inside and especially around the rubber rim before you shut the door! Cheers, Hx
suzyq
January 8, 2013 at 7:22 PMThat is one gorgeous laundry room!
Wow!!!
Becky@DoodleBugOnline
January 8, 2013 at 8:14 PMBahaha! That laundry room is WAYYY nicer than my Kitchen! Ha!
LadySaotome
January 8, 2013 at 8:35 PMI also just leave the door open a crack & that has eliminated the funky smell. 🙂
Amie
January 9, 2013 at 5:32 AMwoooooooow.
Arie and Tamara
January 9, 2013 at 1:54 AMI used to have the same problem with the funky smell. And then all the towels and cloths smelled funky with use too. It was so embarrasing to have company use my towels!
I got my machine cleaned up by using the hot water/bleach/vinegar method. But I didn’t want to do that on a regular basis as bleach is bad for a septic system, and it dries out your machine’s gaskets and seals causing cracks over time. My solution? A little scoop of Oxi-Clean powder in every single load. I even use liquid soap still, and my machine is always clean and I never have smells.
Worked with my top-loader, and my newer front-loader.
SolaceMama
January 9, 2013 at 5:31 AMMy washer had the nastiest smell. We messed and ,essed and vinegared and lemoned and on it went. Then we discovered JUST before returning it that the back legs were too low so the water was not all draining out properly. It was gone in a load or two. Never came back.
Anonymous
January 9, 2013 at 2:25 PMI really liked the navy gingham walls in the “Before” picture.
Doug Kaeli & Paisley
January 10, 2013 at 3:34 AMApparently somewhere in the washer you can drain old water! I think the bottom front panal
Doug Kaeli & Paisley
January 10, 2013 at 3:34 AMApparently somewhere in the washer you can drain old water! I think the bottom front panal