Directions for Cleaning a Smelly Washer

Continuous Control Methods:

Keep the door open after using the washing machine:

This “drying out” is the least effective of the options. Water can be trapped in machine in locations where it will not dry out. (See “How a High Efficiency HE washer works” link above for more of an explanation.) But, it can work in some instances where the machine is used often and the volume of water used weekly is enough to flush out the growth before mold and mildew can grow to to a level where the odors become objectionable. It is free.

Nu Fresh Directions:

Add one ounce (one scoop) of Nu Fresh to any load of laundry washed in hot or warm water once a week (preferably the first load of the week) to help control odors of mold and mildew.

Nu Fresh works by penetrating the mold or mildew deposits and then killing it. It takes time for Nu Fresh to penetrate. Mainly this is the period of time of the wash cycle. However, it will continue to attack lower levels of the build up a little more after the wash cycle ends.

After the odor of the Mold and Mildew is controlled in the machine, there will continue to be a detergent / softener film available for future growth. With continued use of Nu Fresh, some of the chemicals will diffuse into the detergent film where they will act as a barrier to future growth.

Nu Fresh will work in cold water. However, the diffusion into the film layer will be slower and more loads using Nu Fresh will be required for control of odors.

Also, it would be more effective to use Nu Fresh with more loads per week that use hot or warm water, than to use a large amount (more than 2 oz) to “shock” the system. Nu Fresh does not work that way. Every time Nu Fresh is used, it penetrates a little more and kills off a little more. Longer contact time (more loads) is more effective than strong concentrations. Do a pre-soak and a wash cycle with Nu Fresh in each dispenser to give a really long contact time if necessary.

Don’t use more than 2 oz at any one time.

Periodic Shock Treatment Methods

These are the directions for the periodic shock treatments sugessted by the machine manufacturers:

Chlorine treatment directions:

Add 1 to 2 cups of liquid bleach to directly to the tub without any laundry in the tub. Run the longest, hottest cycle available on your machine.

Chlorine acts by “burning” the cell walls of the mold or mildew. The cells rupture and they die. This method only affects the very top surface of the mold or mildew build-up. It must be repeated as needed. It requires an extra, large, hot and empty load .

Baking soda and vinegar treatment directions:

No, you don’t add them at the same time or you will get the “foaming volcano” effect seen in so many elementary chemistry classes. But it could be entertaining!!!

Add 1 to 2 cups of baking soda directly to the empty tub. Add the vinegar to the final rinse or softener dispenser without any laundry in the tub. Run the longest, hottest cycle available on your machine.Baking soda will increase the pH (slightly caustic) and vinegar will decrease the pH (slightly acidic). This may affect the growth of mold and mildew. Once again, this method only affects the very top layers of the mold or mildew build-up. It must be repeated as needed. It requires an extra, large, hot and empty load .

It has been suggested to me that the baking soda does not do much. It is the vinegar that does the cleaning. However, it was also suggested that it will take at least 1 or 2 quarts of vinegar to be effective. This actually makes more sense than the baking soda combination.

Commercial Products:

If the inexpensive methods do not work, there are other products that are said to work. Two I know of are: Affresh made by Whirlpool (they recognize the problem) and Pure Washer from smellywasher.com. These are more expensive than the basic methods.

Everyone uses a different combination of detergent and softener. Everyone uses different amounts. All of the makes and models of machines have different internal designs. So, no one method is the "correct" method to control the odors.

Nu Fresh can be effective controlling odors if the other methods do not work for you.

So, why in the world am I giving you the basic treatment information if it could cut into the sales of Nu Fresh?

Well, I am an ardent environmentalist. I want the new high efficiency washing machines to be successful.

These HE machines drastically cut back on water and electricity use. .

Besides, I think you will come around to Nu Fresh eventually. After you have to rewash a few loads of clothes because the mold and mildew have come back before you got around to the next shock treatment . You may be interested in continuously controlling the growth......

Nu Fresh will get mold and mildew odors out of clothing or any other washable materials if the other methods have not been successful.

Nu Fresh, LLC * P.O.Box 272581* Fort Collins, CO * 80527