Cleaning Musty Smell from Washing Machine: What Helps and What Makes It Worse

You open your washing machine and a wave of musty air hits you. Your clothes are coming out clean but they smell sour. You’ve tried running an empty cycle with detergent, but the smell comes back. The musty smell is caused by mold and mildew growing inside the machine, fed by detergent residue, fabric softener, and trapped moisture. Some treatments kill the mold and remove the smell. Others just mask it temporarily or make it worse. Here’s what helps and what makes it worse.

A musty smell from a washing machine is caused by mold and mildew growing inside the drum, dispenser, rubber seal, and filter. The mold feeds on detergent residue, fabric softener, and trapped moisture. Removing the smell requires killing the mold, removing the residue, and preventing future growth.

To clean a musty smell from a washing machine, run a hot cycle with affresh or 2 cups of white vinegar and half a cup of baking soda, wipe the rubber seal and dispenser, clean the filter, and leave the door open. Clean monthly. Don’t use fabric softener, don’t close the door between washes, and don’t use too much detergent.

What Helps

Run a hot cycle with affresh. affresh Washing Machine Cleaner is formulated to remove residue and kill mold. Place 1 tablet in the drum and run the hottest cycle. Use monthly.

Run a hot cycle with vinegar and baking soda. Pour 2 cups of distilled white vinegar into the drum and half a cup of Arm and Hammer Baking Soda into the dispenser. Run the hottest cycle. The vinegar kills mold and the baking soda absorbs odors.

Wipe the rubber seal. On front loaders, the rubber seal around the door is where mold grows. Pull back the seal and wipe inside with a cloth dampened with vinegar. Do this after every wash.

Clean the dispenser. Remove the detergent dispenser and soak in warm water for 10 minutes. Scrub with a toothbrush to remove residue. Mold grows in the dispenser where detergent and fabric softener residue collect.

Clean the filter. Locate the filter (usually behind a small door at the bottom front of front loaders). Open it, remove debris, and rinse with warm water.

Leave the door open. After every wash, leave the door or lid open to let the drum dry. Mold needs moisture to grow. A dry drum prevents mold.

Use less detergent. Excess detergent leaves residue that feeds mold. Use 2 tablespoons per load.

Skip fabric softener. Fabric softener coats the drum and dispenser with waxy residue that feeds mold. Use vinegar instead.

Use enzyme detergent. Tide Free and Gentle rinses cleanly and leaves less residue than heavy detergents.

What Makes It Worse

Using fabric softener. Fabric softener coats the drum and dispenser with a waxy film that feeds mold and traps odors. This is one of the biggest causes of musty washing machines.

Closing the door between washes. Closing the door traps moisture inside the drum, creating the perfect environment for mold. Always leave the door open.

Using too much detergent. Excess detergent doesn’t rinse out completely. The residue feeds mold and causes odors. Use 2 tablespoons, not the full cap.

Only running empty cycles with detergent. Detergent alone doesn’t kill mold. You need a cleaning agent like affresh, vinegar, or bleach to kill the mold spores.

Ignoring the rubber seal. The rubber seal on front loaders is the #1 spot for mold growth. If you don’t clean it, the mold will keep coming back no matter how many cleaning cycles you run.

Ignoring the filter. The filter traps debris, hair, and lint. If it’s clogged, water doesn’t drain properly and the machine stays damp.

Using cold water for cleaning cycles. Cold water doesn’t kill mold. Always use the hottest water setting for cleaning cycles.

Comparison: What Helps vs. What Makes It Worse

Action	Effect on Musty Smell
Hot cycle with affresh	Helps (kills mold)
Hot cycle with vinegar and baking soda	Helps (kills mold)
Wiping rubber seal	Helps (removes mold source)
Cleaning dispenser	Helps (removes mold source)
Leaving door open	Helps (prevents moisture)
Using less detergent	Helps (less residue)
Using fabric softener	Makes worse (feeds mold)
Closing door between washes	Makes worse (traps moisture)
Too much detergent	Makes worse (feeds mold)
Detergent-only cycles	Makes worse (doesn’t kill mold)
Ignoring rubber seal	Makes worse (mold source)
Cold water cleaning	Makes worse (doesn’t kill mold)

FAQ

How do you get rid of a musty smell in a washing machine? Run a hot cycle with affresh or 2 cups of vinegar and half a cup of baking soda. Wipe the rubber seal and dispenser, clean the filter, and leave the door open. Clean monthly and stop using fabric softener.

Why does my washing machine smell musty? Mold and mildew grow inside the machine, fed by detergent residue, fabric softener, and trapped moisture. The mold produces the musty smell. Closing the door between washes traps moisture and makes it worse.

Does vinegar kill the musty smell in a washing machine? Yes. White vinegar kills mold spores and neutralizes odor compounds. Pour 2 cups into the drum and run the hottest cycle. For best results, also add half a cup of baking soda to the dispenser.

How often should you clean your washing machine to prevent musty smells? Once a month. If you notice the smell returning, clean every 2 weeks. Also wipe the rubber seal after every wash and leave the door open between washes.

Does fabric softener cause musty smells in washing machines? Yes. Fabric softener coats the drum and dispenser with a waxy residue that feeds mold and traps odors. Switch to vinegar in the rinse cycle instead.

References

1. Tide. “How to Clean a Washing Machine.” tide.com.
2. The Spruce. “How to Get Rid of Washing Machine Odors.” thespruce.com.
3. Good Housekeeping. “Washing Machine Odor Guide.” goodhousekeeping.com.
4. affresh. “Washing Machine Cleaner Guide.” affresh.com.