If you've ever caught whiff of a stale, musty smell in your clothing or washer's drum while transferring your laundry to your dryer, we've got some news: a dirty washing machine is likely to blame. Even though you rely on your washer to clean towels, clothes and linens, it also needs to be cleaned from time to time so that it can do its job well. It's not just about odor: Leftover laundry detergent, fabric softener and soil stuck to the dispenser, inner parts and washtub can deposit on clothes, leaving behind marks and stains. Mold and mildew deposits can form in the rubber door gasket on front load washers if water is allowed to puddle there. For these reasons alone, you should deep clean your washing machine once a month and take these simple steps after each load to help keep it fresh and clean.