Do you leave your washing machine door open between uses?

[HouseWonders]

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?!

Lord this is fascinating - in the 20 years i have had a washing machine have only cleaned the drawer out once in a blue moon. My door is closed 95 per cent of the time. never had a smelly washing machine nor mould grow on inside. Was also kept in garage for most of those 20 years

Door open, wipe out the water from the seal, empty the drawer and leave open. Looks and smells good even at just over 10 years old.

Door open, drawer out and upside down in cylinder, every night.

This is inaccurate. Bio liquids contain as many enzymes as bio powders do.

The simple reason is that liquid detergents do not contain the sort of bleaches that work safely on clothes because they are unstable in liquids. Powder detergents do contain bleaches, and it is these bleaches that will remove bacteria and most importantly MOULDS that cause the smell in the washing machine sump. You can clean a washing machine with a non-bio powder on a hot wash. You do not need to use a bio powder because the enzymes are inactivated and destroyed at high temps anyway. Fairy non-bio powder is stuffed full of bleaches and is very effective at cleaning washing machines as well as keeping sheets white.

For the same reason all liquids will fade clothes less than powders do. Powders will whiten whites more effectively than liquids will. Enzymes in bio detergents can only remove grease and proteins and do so very effectively. They cannot whiten however.

Yes I usually leave it open overnight.

I wipe the seal and get rid if any water in side the door seal or it perishes the rubber. Every time i use it. I leave the door ajar.

I use powder also

I leave it open, and I take the drawer out to rinse. I don't put the drawer back in until the next wash. I don't get any mould in the drawer space, and machine never smells.

Yes I leave it open. I don't wipe down or open the detergent drawer, just the door. No smells or mould.

Yes, I leave the door open every time. The only houses where I know the washing machine door is shut between washes have stinky clothes and a stinky washing machine.

I don't intend ever moving, but if I do, I would only choose to live somewhere where the washing machine door could be left open without annoying me. Currently this is because it's in a utility room out of my way, and previously it's been in a walk-in cupboard (and leaving the washer door open but the cupboard door closed was good enough). I wouldn't buy a built in machine for this reason.

Yes and the draw open a bit,

Yes, it's never fully closed unless it's on. I leave it wide open as often as i can without tripping over it.

I always leave mine open or it would smell

I always leave the door and detergent drawer open after a load has been on

Wow! Seems pretty clear now that I should be leaving it open

I do one 60 wash a week, and a load most days. I probably run a hot cleaning cycle once a month, but it starts smelling before then, and I just scratch my head wondering what's causing it as I close the door again.

I'll start to do that from today (although like others my WM is in the kitchen, and I'm not sure how long my 18mo will allow it stay open without filling it with toys... But I will try!

Huh, no we close ours, but it's never been smelly at all; and I'm annoyingly sensitive to smells. We do use powder though and I sometimes run a 90 cycle.

Our dishwasher, on the other hand, seems to get smelly no matter how obsessively I clean the filter and run cleaning things through it😩

Mine is integrated and in an awkward position so never leave to door open. I never really clean any of it either other than chucking in a dishwasher tablet every now and then.

I only use biological washing powered and wash towels/bedding on a hot cycle regularly.

The bad smell is caused by bacteria. You are doing the right thing by doing a 60℃ wash weekly. Put a slurp of household disinfectant in the fabric softener compartment for the last wash of the day. Residual water held in the machine will then contain a smidgeon of it and reduce bacteria.
Avoid fabric softener if you can, use powder detergent, remove the dispenser drawer completely and wipe the cavity dry to prevent mould growing there. Leave the door ajar as much as you can. mop up the puddle of water that is left at the bottom of the door seal.

Yes, absolutely.

Regular hot washes (60-90 degrees) in amongst cold washes. Powder only. Wipe inside door and seal at the end of the washing day. No fabric softener.

Yes I have left it and the soap drawer open for quite a while now

Yes, I have always left it ajar in between wash loads. I never shut it because any residual water inside would go stagnant and smelly.

I also use bio powder whatever sort of wash I am doing. No smells.

Yes but I hate it sitting open as it takes over our tiny kitchen and I constantly trip over it

I always do for this reason, drawer too

and I just scratch my head wondering what's causing it as I close the door again.

I also leave the soap dispenser drawer open. That can get full of mould. Pull yours out & have a look at the inside above where the soap drawer sits.

Yes. After each wash we take the drawer out and dump in the drum, dry the seal and leave the door open. Wash towels on hot wash each week and occasionally do a drum clean. Always use powder.

Basically obsessed with avoiding mould!