HELOISE Tips sought for cleaning smelly clothes washer

Dear Heloise: My clothes washer stinks. What can I do about it? Paul from Alaska
A washing machine is not supposed to stink. First, check the owner's manual (if you can't find it, check the manufacturer's Web site for a copy you can print or for where you can get one), or call the manufacturer's toll-free number to see if there are instructions to get rid of this smelly problem.
Also, here's a Heloise solution to try: Put the water-level setting on "high" and the water temperature on "hot." Next, set on "normal wash" and let the tub fill with hot water. Let it run a minute or so, then stop the washing machine.
Next, add 1 gallon of hot water to the tub, being careful not to overfill it, and 2 to 4 cups of household chlorine bleach. Continue the cycle for a few more minutes, stop and let it sit for 30 minutes, then start the cycle again and let it finish.
Lift the lid and let the washing machine air out (sometimes the odor is caused by keeping the lid closed in between uses -- it should be left open). Hope this takes care of the problem! Heloise
P.S. If you have curious cats, check the washer before starting it!
Dear Heloise: I have a painted wooden front door with raised woodwork, as well as a scrolled wrought-iron outer door that is also painted a light color. Dirt was always a problem, and I made a muddy mess when I tried to use a damp cloth to clean it.
I discovered that a 2-inch, soft, dry paintbrush (I keep one out of sight near the entryway) very quickly gets into the crevices and makes fast work out of a yucky job. Cindy Yandell, Via E-mail
Dear Heloise: I have been reading your hints column for most of my married life (26 years) in the (Hazleton, Pa.) Standard-Speaker.
Every so often, someone writes in about a way to know if the dishes in the dishwasher are clean or dirty. I would like to pass on my method.
We usually run the dishwasher only once a day, so when it's through all the cycles, we open the door and let the dishes cool, then they are put away. Everyone in our house knows that if there are dishes in the dishwasher, they are dirty. Carol Richardson, West Hazleton, Pa.
Dear Heloise: Living in Florida, I have a lot of guests who want to spend the day at the beach.
To accommodate those who smoke and to keep the beach clean, I carry an empty bouillon jar in my beach bag to be used as an ashtray. There's no smell when the lid is on. Works great! Peter, Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
XSend a great hint to: Heloise, P.O. Box 795000, San Antonio, Texas 78279-5000, Fax: (210) HELOISE or E-mail: Heloise@Heloise.com.
King Features Syndicate