Maintaining a washing machine and avoiding smells

In short: Regular care keeps a washing machine clean and odour-free: leave the door open, rinse the detergent drawer, clean the lint filter and run a hot wash now and then.

In more detail: Low wash temperatures and liquid detergent leave residues in which biofilm and bacteria form. That causes a musty smell.

In detail

• Door and rubber seal: Leave open after washing and wipe the seal so it dries.
• Detergent drawer: Take it out and clean with warm water and a brush.
• Lint filter: Open every few months and remove lint, coins and hairpins. Catch the water.
• Hot wash: Once a month run a 60 °C wash with heavy-duty detergent and no laundry.
• Descaling: In hard water use descaler or citric acid, dose detergent according to water hardness (stromverbrauch-im-haushalt-senken).