Washing Machine Odor: What Helps and What Makes It Worse
Washing Machine Odor: What Helps and What Makes It Worse
You open your washing machine and a sour, musty smell hits you. Your clothes come out looking clean but smelling off. You’ve run empty cycles with detergent, but the odor comes back within a week. Washing machine odor is caused by mold, bacteria, and detergent residue that build up inside the machine. Some treatments remove the source of the odor. Others just mask it temporarily or make it worse. Here’s what helps and what makes it worse.
Washing machine odor is a sour, musty, or mildew smell caused by mold, bacteria, and detergent residue inside the drum, dispenser, rubber seal, and filter. The odor transfers to clothes during washing. Removing the odor requires killing the mold and bacteria, removing the residue, and preventing future growth.
To remove washing machine odor, 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, leave the door open, use less detergent, and skip fabric softener. Clean monthly. 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 removes residue and kills odor-causing mold and bacteria. 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. Vinegar kills mold and bacteria. Baking soda absorbs odors.
Wipe the rubber seal. On front loaders, the rubber seal is where mold and bacteria grow. 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, soak in warm water for 10 minutes, and scrub with a toothbrush. Residue and mold build up in the dispenser.
Clean the filter. Open the filter (usually behind a small door at the bottom front of front loaders), remove debris, and rinse with warm water. A clogged filter traps water and causes odors.
Leave the door open. After every wash, leave the door or lid open to let the drum dry. Mold and bacteria need moisture to grow.
Use less detergent. Excess detergent leaves residue that feeds mold and bacteria. Use 2 tablespoons of Tide Free and Gentle 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 is one of the biggest causes of washing machine odor. It coats the drum and dispenser with a waxy film that feeds mold and traps odors.
Closing the door between washes. Closing the door traps moisture inside the drum, creating the perfect environment for mold and bacteria. Always leave the door open.
Using too much detergent. Excess detergent doesn’t rinse out completely. The residue feeds mold and bacteria and causes odors. Use 2 tablespoons, not the full cap.
Running empty cycles with detergent only. Detergent alone doesn’t kill mold or bacteria. You need a cleaning agent like affresh, vinegar, or bleach.
Ignoring the rubber seal. The rubber seal on front loaders is the #1 spot for mold growth. If you don’t clean it, the odor will keep coming back.
Ignoring the filter. A clogged filter traps water and debris, which causes odors.
Using cold water for all loads. Cold water doesn’t kill bacteria or dissolve residue. Use hot water for towels, bedding, and heavily soiled loads.
Using perfume beads or scent boosters. These mask the odor temporarily but don’t remove the cause. They also leave additional residue that feeds mold.
Comparison: What Helps vs. What Makes It Worse
| Action | Effect on Odor |
|---|---|
| Hot cycle with affresh | Helps (kills mold and bacteria) |
| Hot cycle with vinegar and baking soda | Helps (kills mold and bacteria) |
| Wiping rubber seal | Helps (removes source) |
| Cleaning dispenser | Helps (removes source) |
| Cleaning filter | Helps (removes 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) |
| Scent boosters | Makes worse (masks, adds residue) |
FAQ
How do you get rid of washing machine odor? 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, leave the door open, use less detergent, and skip fabric softener. Clean monthly.
Why does my washing machine smell? Mold, bacteria, and detergent residue build up inside the drum, dispenser, rubber seal, and filter. The buildup causes odors that transfer to clothes. Fabric softener, too much detergent, and closing the door between washes make it worse.
Does vinegar remove washing machine odor? Yes. White vinegar kills mold and bacteria 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.
Does fabric softener cause washing machine odor? Yes. Fabric softener coats the drum and dispenser with a waxy residue that feeds mold and traps odors. It’s one of the biggest causes of washing machine odor. Switch to vinegar.
How often should you clean your washing machine to prevent odor? Once a month. If you notice the odor returning, clean every 2 weeks. Also wipe the rubber seal after every wash and leave the door open between washes.
References
- Tide. “How to Remove Washing Machine Odor.” tide.com.
- The Spruce. “How to Clean a Smelly Washing Machine.” thespruce.com.
- Good Housekeeping. “Washing Machine Odor Guide.” goodhousekeeping.com.
- affresh. “Washing Machine Cleaner Guide.” affresh.com.
