Okay, so my washing machine started smelling like a wet dog left in a swamp. Seriously nasty. Time to nuke that funk without harsh chemicals. Grabbed this bottle of powder cleaner labeled "chemical-free" from under my sink – had it for months, forgot I bought it.

First thing: unplugged the washer completely. Safety first, always. Then I yanked out everything inside – detergent drawer, lint filter, the rubber ring around the door. That rubber part? Gross. Slimy black gunk hiding in the folds. Used an old toothbrush and hot water to scrub it raw. Took forever.

Next, dumped the whole cleaner packet straight into the empty drum. Slammed the door shut. Selected the hottest water setting – like "volcano mode" hot. Set it to the longest cycle, extra rinse option. Hit start.

While it ran, I soaked the detergent drawer in the sink with baking soda and vinegar. That crusty blue detergent residue just melted off. Rinsed it real good. The cycle took about two hours. When it finished, I cracked the door open... and wow. That weird mildew smell? Gone. Just smelled like... nothing. Clean nothing.

Final step: wiped down the whole outside with a vinegar-water mix. Left the door open to air dry. Easy peasy.

What worked:

• Scrubbing the rubber seal FIRST – that's where the stink hides
• Using scorching hot water – melts the gunk better
• Running an extra rinse cycle to flush all the loosened crud out

Mistake I made last time:

Didn’t clean the damn filter. Big mistake. This time I pulled out enough lint to build a small rodent nest. Lesson learned: check every hole and crevice.

Whole thing took maybe three hours including scrub time. Smells like new now. Clothes actually come out fresher too. Pro tip: do this every three months unless you wanna sniff demon armpit smell every laundry day.