subject: The Smell That Binds [print this page] There are many reasons why your washing machine produces a musty smell. These reasons could range from poor drainage to organic materials getting stuck in between ducts. Of all these reasons, however, nothing poses much threat as the formation of mildew and mold.
As unbelievable as it may sound, mold and mildew formation can actually cause a number of health problems such as respiratory disorders. Mold and mildew are also known to incite allergic reactions even in people who have no known allergic reactions before.
Under the microscope, mold looks like a ball containing tiny roots ad branches. Because of its size, killing a mold can be a hard thing to do. The only way you can stop their growth and ultimately kill them is to withhold water from them. Mold and mildew have been tagged as the cause of some debilitating respiratory conditions such as Rhinitis, Pneumonitis and bleeding lungs. It has also been proven to be the cause of the lung problem known as the Aspergillosis and Aspergilloma. They are also known to interact with other organic materials to form toxic and carcinogenic substances such as Aflatoxin.
With all the health risks that mold and mildew present, it is only proper that you make sure that the mildew smell washing machine usually has is not a sign of mold formation. Since mold and mildew can be too tiny for the naked eye to see, you can work around this by always wiping your machine dry after every use. It would also help if you run a few cycles of water with white vinegar in your washing machine to help kill and remove any mold and mildew.
You can also choose to run cycles of water with mild bleach in them if your washing machine smells. In order to save you time, you can do this while washing off dirt from your white clothes. This will help to make not only your tub clean but also your clothes.
If your washing machine smells of mold and mildew even after you have run cycles of water containing vinegar or bleach and after you have completely wiped it dry, you might need to check on the ducts and drainage pipes for any mold formation. Keep in mind that mold and mildew thrive best in dark, moist places.
