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Housekeeping

Find cleaning advice from other Mumsnetters on our Housekeeping forum.

Original poster

Do you leave your washing machine door open between uses?

105 replies

HouseWonders · 23/05/2023 14:19

I've just seen something about this on another thread...

I never leave my washer door open, nor did my Mam so I've just never seen it be done. But it seems that no matter how after I run my washer on a cleaning cycle, or clean the seal etc it just never smells great, and lately my clothes are sometimes stinky when they come it too.

Is this why?!

OP posts:
evtheria · 23/05/2023 14:41

Ours is in our tiny galley-style kitchen, so I try to to leave it (and the detergent drawer!) open but invariably someone else ends up closing it as they pass through.

EversoDisorganised · 23/05/2023 14:44

Yes, always leave it slightly ajar but other people do close it sometimes. Don't leave the drawer open as that would be in the way (WM is in the kitchen) but we only ever use powder detergent and it stays spotless. I do a maintenance wash at 90° with soda crystals every now and then. No smells.

TropicalMoon · 23/05/2023 14:45

I leave it slightly ajar, we have a small kitchen & if it’s left wide open , we will end up tripping over it!

CakeBeautifulCake · 23/05/2023 14:45

My washer door and detergent drawer is always left open to dry out after it's been used.

spiderlight · 23/05/2023 14:47

I do for a bit, but not for ages. My mum always left it open for several hours, but ours has a habit of slowly swinging to 90 degrees and then our very shortsighted dog walks into it.

stuffnthings · 23/05/2023 14:52

Agree the majority, leave it open, thankfully it's not in the way, and have never had a problem with smells/mould. I run a cleaner through every couple of months, only because the water is quite hard.

FluffyHamster · 23/05/2023 15:02

user1498572889 · 23/05/2023 14:36

Yes i leave the door open and i take the soap drawer out. Using liquid detergent on low temp washes for a long time causes bacteria to grow and this is what smells. Do a regular 90 deg wash with bio powder. This will kill the bacteria.

Oh, this is interesting! What is it about liquid detergent that makes it smell?
We switched to liquid detergent a few months ago and have had this problem, but after I did a high temp white wash with bio powder it seemed to disappear for a while.

33goingon64 · 23/05/2023 15:05

Yes. And the drawer. DH closes them and I open them again. It's a fun game.

Hedjwitch · 23/05/2023 15:06

Yes always

Hopingforno2in2023 · 23/05/2023 15:07

Yes I do and I give it a thorough clean once a month. Doesn’t smell.

HappiDaze · 23/05/2023 15:11

No I always keep the door shut and have never had any mould at all on my current machine approx 8 yrs old

I do this because previous machines did get a bit of mould and I did keep the doors open thinking it was helpful. Clearly it's wasn't

Postmanpatscatisfab · 23/05/2023 15:12

Yes, it stops encouraging bacteria to grow - so no smells.

HappiDaze · 23/05/2023 15:13

I made sure I do a weekly wash on 60 though to kill bacteria

Wavescrashingonthebeach · 23/05/2023 15:15

I leave it open an inch or so to air out. Small kitchen so can't leave wide open and also toddler will start putting random objects in there if he notices its open. Whenever I remember I wipe excess moisture from the folds of the seal.
Make sure you are doing the odd hot wash to clean the machine.

MammaTo · 23/05/2023 15:18

Yes leave the door and the drawer open in between uses

GeraltsBathtub · 23/05/2023 15:19

Yes for around a day to dry out. I don’t leave it open all the time though because it’s in the way. I don’t have problems with mould/smell and I never run it above 30 degrees. I do use vinegar instead of fabric softener though which probably also helps.

uncomfortablydumb53 · 23/05/2023 15:20

Yes, fully open after use then ajar

AxolotlOnions · 23/05/2023 15:21

I never clean my washing machine unless it smells and it only smells if I shut the door.

AnnWithoutAnnie · 23/05/2023 15:21

I leave the door ajar. But then I accidentally close it & have to reopen it. I think it looks untidy and without even
thinking about it, I keep
closing it.

I never put dirty clothes, cloths or anything in it until im ready to turn it on & I always take the washing straight out, it's never left for hours after finishing.

I always wash on 40°

it never seems to smell (touch wood)

user1498572889 · 23/05/2023 15:24

@FluffyHamster
There are no machine care enzymes in liquid detergent. When you wash on low temp washes the body grease comes out of the clothes but it does not dissolve so it sticks around in the machine bacteria grows and then you get the smell. The bio in biological powder breaks down the grease and on a hot wash flushes it away. If this has been an issue for a long time you may never get rid of the smell. I have taken drums out of machines and the grey sludge in between the inner and outer drum has set like concrete.

DrMarciaFieldstone · 23/05/2023 15:26

Left open for a few hours after a wash, and cleaned about once a month

hesaidshesaidtheysaid · 23/05/2023 15:26

Yep, door and drawer. I take the drawer out and tip out any excess water first

CanYouSeeMeNow · 23/05/2023 15:27

YouNeverSeeTheRealMe · 23/05/2023 14:30

I leave the door slightly open, and I wipe around the door and seal.

I do this too, wipe the seal and door.
I don't use my drawer though so never open it or leave it open. It doesn't get mouldy or smelly.

MrsTerryPratchett · 23/05/2023 15:30

Yes. And use powder not liquid.

I'm usually the total slattern on here so this is weird...

MrsTerryPratchett · 23/05/2023 15:31

33goingon64 · 23/05/2023 15:05

Yes. And the drawer. DH closes them and I open them again. It's a fun game.

Us too. Keeps the marriage alive. Grin

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