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Your washing machine used to leave your clothes very clean and fragrant, but recently, even after washing, the clothes still have a foul smell and even seem dirtier than before. Why is that happening?
1. Why is my washing machine getting dirtier with each wash?
Your washing machine used to leave your clothes very clean and fragrant, but recently, even after washing, the clothes still have a foul smell and even seem dirtier than before. Why is that happening?
Clogged detergent tray
One common reason your washing machine isn't cleaning clothes properly is that the path from the detergent tray to the machine drum is blocked. This means that only a small amount of detergent actually reaches the drum, the rest of it gets stuck at the blockage in the pipes.
Did you know that you don't actually need to put detergent or fabric softener in the detergent tray? You can put the detergent directly into the machine drum, pour it onto your clothes, or buy detergent pods and place them in the drum before starting the wash cycle.
You can check by putting detergent directly into the machine drum to wash and see if the clothes are clean, also you can remove the detergent tray from the machine for cleaning, and check the drainpipes for blockages.
You should use less detergent - too much detergent will cause buildup inside the machine.
Damaged or dirty fabric filter bag
Every top-loading washing machine has a fabric bag used to filter cotton or fabric fibers from clothes during washing, it prevents these fibers from getting into the water pipes and causing blockages, it also filters out dirt residue to prevent them from sticking to already cleaned clothes.
This bag acts like a garbage filter for your washing machine, if this filter bag gets damaged or dirty, dirt and fabric fibers from each wash won't be properly filtered out, sticking to your freshly cleaned clothes making them dirtier. You should remove this bag from the washing machine, empty out the trash in it, use a brush to clean the bag thoroughly, and then reinstall it.
Dirty washing machine
If you want to know how to clean your washing machine, check the manufacturer's instructions. Some washing machine warranties may become void if you use washing machine cleaner or other residue-removing products.
Cleaning powder packets for washing machines are available at most major supermarkets and many other stores, as well as being widely available on Shopee, Lazada. If your washing machine user manual says you can use these to clean your machine, follow the instructions in this article.
Note, washing machine cleaning powder packets are chemicals so they may have a strong detergent smell. After the machine completes the cleaning cycle, run another cycle by pouring some lemon water into the machine and putting the lemon peel in the washing drum, the lemon will help freshen up and clean your washing machine. You should clean your washing machine regularly, about every 1-1.5 months, corresponding to about 30-40 washes.
Improper use of the washing machine
Check if you're overloading the washing machine by putting too many clothes in? Overloading will result in less effective cleaning, and may even cause the belt to break and the washing machine to stop spinning. Never put more than 3/4 of the washing drum. Also, check if you've used the correct washing program? In eco-wash mode, with low temperature and short washing cycle, although suitable for most clothes (and more environmentally friendly), some heavily soiled or smelly clothes need to be washed longer. You can increase the temperature when washing dirty clothes, but also need to carefully check if any items are sensitive to high temperatures.
Forgetting paper or bills in clothing pockets
The habit of putting paper and bills in clothing pockets and then forgetting and taking them to wash is quite common among many people. The washing machine drum at high speed will crush all the paper that has been soaked in water into many pieces. The consequence of these forgotten times is that the washing drum is filled with paper shreds and, obviously, the clothes and trousers are also filled with paper. So, check the clothing pockets carefully before putting them in the washing machine.
