Are you lucky enough to have a washer and dryer on board your RV? I love ours, but it took some getting used to. Here are a few tips to cut down the wash/dry time and stop the stink!
One of the biggest complaints I hear about combo and stacking washers and dryers in RVs is the length of time it takes to wash and dry.
The next most common complaint is the smell. Washers, both top and front loading, can easily develop an odor, even more so in the confined space of an RV.
Washer
Here are a couple of things I have learned the hard way… or at least the smelly way!
- Dry the washer out after each use
- Open the detergent drawer and let it air out; wipe out if water has pooled.
- Crack the washer door. I throw a towel over the door to keep it open slightly.
- Dry out the gaskets thoroughly. Pay particular attention to the area where the water pools.
- Wipe out the area where the gasket meets the metal. That can be a stinky harbinger of mold.
- Use a washer freshener when, or if, a smell develops. I like Affresh over some other brands as it does not fill the entire RV with scent. It is available on Amazon.
- When traveling, close the washer door, but when stopped remember to crack it open again.
- Cut washing time by experimenting with different cycles. I discovered that a 30-minute wash was as good as the one hour 20-minute one when the clothes were not very dirty.
Dryer
A dryer can take much longer to dry items than an at-home dryer. It is running on 120 volts versus the usual 240 volts at home
- A number of washers have an extra spin cycle. While it adds extra time to the wash, it can cut drying time considerably.
- An RV dryer is small. Untangle clothes while in the dryer cycle. That helps even out drying.
- Hold the door open! I was constantly hitting my head when loading and unloading the stack dryer. This rather simplistic bungee cord stopped the bang!
Do you have any other RV washer or dryer tips? Please leave them in the comments below.
##FT2.61
Don’t forget that the washer has a lint trap just like the dryer does. Check it and clean that out every few months. That could a be a source of the stink.
Wow, never heard of this, where is the the lint trap in the washer?
I’ll answer since he may not have his responses button on. At the bottom of your washer is a plate/panel that runs across the washer left to right. It comes off if you gently pry. Behind it, is a round “plug” ours is on the right…this twists out and has a screen. Warning…put towels down before removing as it can hold/release water when you pull it out. Ours is always clean so I guess our poor old cloths are thread bare and make no lint. Good luck.
If you want to communicate with people when you post..you have to click the little bell otherwise you don’t see peoples response to your comment…why I answered your question.
I don’t put anything in the dispenser drawer of my front load washer. I use laundry sheets that I toss in with the clothes. This keeps my unit from getting all filled with goop. The sheets also take up much less space.
I use the tub clean cycle. 1 cup of bleach and run tub clean. This removes soap scum and sanitizes the washer. I don’t use liquid fabric softener either, it builds up scum. Use drier sheets..No more smell or mold. I do leave door open to air it out and wipe up puddles..
Remember to check with campground before using the washer. Many do not allow it for various reasons.
We started using washer sheets (Earth Breeze) several months ago, which saves on weight and space, not to mention plastic waste. We also use spiked rubber balls in our dryer to keep clothes soft and separated.
The last “load” I do is to put about a 1/2 cup of full strength OdoBan in and add extra in the softener compartment, then run on hottest temp possible. OdoBan sanitizes hard surfaces and prevents any stink. Then do as recommended: door and detergent compartment left open. Never had a problem with stink even tho’ I’m too lazy to wipe down all the gaskets/seals.
My dealer wired my dryer for 240 so it dries just as it would if I was in a house – my RV is 50-amp. You might check to see if yours can be wired 240 as well.