For many households, the washing machine is one appliance that's impossible to live without. Used multiple times a week, it's essential for keeping your clothes, towels and sheets clean and fresh.

Add Yahoo as a preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Quick question: Is your washing machine starting to smell worse than the sweaty leggings you throw in there? If the answer is yes, ...

Baffled? Here's a hint: This often-overlooked feature is essential for keeping your clothes clean. Ever heard of washing machine baffles? Me neither, but apparently you have to clean them or they’ll ...

A little maintenance goes a long way toward fresher laundry. Even if you have your laundry routine down to a science, you might not even know that your washing machine has a lint trap—much less that ...

Even if we do laundry almost every day, it’s easy to forget that the washing machine itself needs regular cleaning, too. Detergent residue, lint, and even mold can build up inside, creating odor and ...

Conflicting opinions abound regarding the safety and efficacy of using mouthwash as a washing machine cleaner and ...

For months, my husband and I couldn’t figure out where the mysterious stains on our clothes were coming from. That was, until I discovered our old washing machine was to blame. By the time we replaced ...

Lindsey Ellefson is Lifehacker’s Features Editor. She currently covers study and productivity hacks, as well as household and digital decluttering, and oversees the freelancers on the sex and ...

We independently review everything we recommend. When you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. Learn more› By Andrea Barnes Andrea Barnes is a writer covering large cleaning appliances.

Dr. Elizabeth Yuko is a bioethicist and adjunct professor of ethics at Fordham University. She has written for The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Atlantic, Rolling Stone, CNN & Playboy.