This TikTok Hack Will Keep Your Clothes Smelling Fresher

These days, TikTok is the place to be for the most genius cleaning hacks that everyday people have discovered. While the social media app has a wide range of content and wasn't originally created for people to teach others how to clean, many have begun using the site to provide simple cleaning tips in short, easy-to-follow videos. These videos often end up going viral due to their popularity and the simple fact that they work. One area of the house that features often in these cleaning videos is the laundry room — more specifically, the washing machine. To keep your clothes fresh and clean, you have to first make sure your washer itself is clean.

A quick Google search will pull up numerous ways to clean your washing machine and make sure everything is running smoothly. Family Handyman points out that the washing machine should be cleaned every month with a cleaning cycle (if included in your washer) and/or a bleach cycle. You also don't want to neglect the rubber seals on the door as they attract mold. You will likely come across a variety of cleaning products to use in your washer as well, ranging from vinegar to baking soda and hydrogen peroxide. However, you may notice a lack of information around how to clean the detergent drawer — an often overlooked component. Thankfully, TikTok's Chantel Mila has come up with a life-changing detergent drawer hack that will ensure your clothes come out smelling clean after every load.

Chantel Mila is a TikTok user who habitually posts "home tips" to her account, according to her bio. Her videos tend to attract plenty of attention on the site, earning thousands of likes as soon as she posts them. In one TikTok, the mom-of-two taught her followers how to properly clean the detergent drawer of the washing machine to ensure that a dirty drawer isn't contributing to less-than-clean clothes. 

The tip involves removing the detergent drawer entirely from the machine by pressing down on the release tab (those with difficulty finding the tab can check their machine's user manual). Once the drawer is out, it should be placed in a sink full of hot water to soak. Although Mila didn't specify for how long, it should be long enough to remove any residual soap scum that may be stuck in the various compartments of the drawer. The next step is to scrub the drawer with a brush, making sure to get into every nook and cranny. Following this, the slot in the washing machine where the drawer sits should be scrubbed as well with a basic home cleaning spray and a brush. Once everything is squeaky clean, the drawer can be returned to the washer. Mila points out that this cleaning method tackles any mold, blockages, and soap residue that can contribute to clothes not smelling fresh when they come out of the washer.