the
washington
post
.
thursday,
may
26
,
2022
DC
2
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ON THE COVER
Seb Agresti/Illustration for The
Washington PostLOCAL LIVING
BY JEANNE HUBER
Q: W hen we use our washing
machine, a GE top-loader that we
bought in 2015, there is a terrible
sewage smell. It’s not inside the
machine, but in the basement air.
We have tried several ways to fix
the problem, including snaking
the vents on the roof, replacing
the one-way valve into the sink
drain and sealing off the pipe
into the septic system with foam
insulation. But the smell persists.
Any suggestions?
RestonA: T he solution may have more
to do with how you care for your
washer than with your plumbing.
Both top- and front-loading
machines can develop smells
when soap scum, mineral
deposits and grime build up on
surfaces that stay damp for a
long time, creating an ideal
environment for mildew and
bacteria. Sewer smells, or “egg
smells,” are more likely when
most washes are done with cool
water, because that isn’t as
efficient as hot water in rinsing
away soap scum, which is food
for the bacteria that cause the
smells. Periodically running a
hot-water cycle can reduce the
chances of having a problem, but
once smells develop, thorough
cleaning is the solution.
GE recommends using hot,
soapy water and a soft cloth to
clean the door and, on front-
loaders, the gasket around the
door. If there is stubborn
buildup, it suggests using white
vinegar and an old toothbrush,
never harsh chemicals or steel
wool. And get into all the folds of
the gasket. Use a swab, an old
toothbrush or other tool to
remove gunk at the bottom of the
gasket, so it doesn’t block the
drain holes on the inside bottom
edge of the seal.
Residue will also probably
build up on soap and softener
dispensers, so clean those, too.
The fabric softener dispenser on
some GE top-loaders is on top of
the agitator. After lifting it out,
separate the dispenser cup from
the cover by grasping the top and
pushing down on the cup.
Instructions should be in the
manual, which can typically be
found on a manufacturer’s
website. For GE, go to the “owner
support” page of
geappliances.com , then click
“appliance manuals” and enter
your model number.To clean a detergent dispenser,
soak it in warm water and scrub
with an old toothbrush. For a
softener dispenser, GE
recommends soaking it in a
solution of^1 / 4 c up heavy-duty
liquid detergent, one cup bleach
and one gallon warm water.
To clean the drum and parts
you cannot see or reach, GE
recommends using a washing-
machine cleaner, such as Cerama
Bryte washer cleaner ($8.60 for a
16-ounce bottle from
geapplianceparts.com ).
Washing-machine cleaners are
formulated to remove mineral
deposits, so they are acidic. As an
alternative, GE suggests cleaning
the washer with ingredients you
might already have. Into the soap
dispenser, pour a mixture of(^1) / 4 c up water and (^1) / 4 c up baking
soda, and into the empty
washing machine, pour two cups
of white vinegar. Then run a hot
wash cycle.
People with front-loaders have
one other place to clean: a
compartment at the base of the
machine where water collects
around a filter that protects the
pump. The combination of
stagnant water, lint and grime
trapped by the filter can lead to
an unpleasant smell, especially if
fresh laundry water hasn’t been
pushed through the filter
recently. Check the manual for
how to clean this. Some Samsung
models, for example, have a filter
door on the front of the machine
about an inch from the floor.
Inside is a short hose with a plug
at the end that pulls out. Once
the plug is removed, the hose
drains the stagnant, smelly
water. Then a bigger plug can be
twisted and pulled out, revealing
the filter, which can be washed
off.
If smells persist even after
thorough cleaning, check one
more area before calling a
professional. The drain pipe or
standpipe that the hose empties
into might be partially plugged.
Remove and rinse the hose.
(Check YouTube for how-to
videos. There’s one from the
repairclinic.com channel titled
“GE Top-Load Washer Drain
Hose Replacement.”) And try
pouring a combination of white
vinegar and baking soda down
the standpipe. You might also try
disassembling and cleaning the
P-trap below the standpipe.
If none of this works, it’s time
to call an appliance repair
company that works on GE
washers. And if that doesn’t
work, call a plumber.
Once you find and fix the
problem that’s leading to the
smells, minimize the chances of
experiencing a repeat. Avoid
using more detergent than
recommended, cut back on fabric
softeners and occasionally run a
wash cycle on hot. You should
also leave the washer door open
for at least 20 minutes after the
last load of the day, so the
interior can dry out.
Have a problem in your home?
Send questions to
[email protected]. Put “How
To” in the subject line, tell us where
you live and try to include a photo.
HOW TO
Eliminating odors related to your washing machine
READER PHOTO
Both top- and front-
loading machines can
develop smells when
soap scum, mineral
deposits and grime
build up on surfaces
that stay damp for a
long time, creating an
ideal environment for
mildew and bacteria.
A reader wants to
know how to get rid of
a sewage smell.