My Washing Machine Started Stinking

Opened my washer last Tuesday and got hit with this nasty mildew smell. Clothes weren't smelling fresh anymore either. Realized I hadn't cleaned the darn thing since I bought it three years ago. Oops.

YouTube DIY Disaster

Grabbed vinegar and baking soda like every tutorial said. Poured them into the detergent tray, ran a hot cycle. Smell disappeared... for two days. Came back worse than before. Felt like throwing money down the drain with all those pantry supplies.

Called my first repair shop: Lady said "depends on your model" and quoted $90-$120 without even seeing it. Felt too vague.

Tried big appliance chains: One wanted $160 just to show up! Another offered "maintenance packages" for $300/year. Nope.

How I Got Real Pricing Fast

Changed tactics:

• Texted neighbor who cleans appliances on weekends - she does standard cleans for $60 cash
• Checked community Facebook group - found three locals charging $65-$80 with photos of their work
• Finally called the shop that fixed my dryer last year - honest dude said $75 flat rate

The Actual Cleaning Process

Ended up going with my neighbor. Watched her work:

1. Popped off the detergent tray - mold city under there!
2. Fished out coins and hairbands from the filter (gross)
3. Scrubbed the rubber seal with some magic blue gel
4. Ran empty cycle with industrial tablet that fizzed like Alka-Seltzer

Took her 45 minutes. Machine smells brand new now.

What It Really Costs

Learned pricing depends on:

• Location - big cities charge way more
• Urgency - same-day appointments cost extra
• Model - fancy front-loaders cost more than basic top-loaders

Fair price? $50-$85 if you find local technicians. Big companies? They'll rip you off blind.

My Takeaway

Don't waste time with vinegar tricks or corporate hotlines. Ask around locally first. That mildew smell? Gone. My clothes smell actual clean now. Worth every penny of that $60.