Washing Machine Stinks: The Right Settings, Products, and Timing to Fix It
Washing Machine Stinks: The Right Settings, Products, and Timing to Fix It
You open your washing machine and a sour, musty smell hits you. The odor is transferring to your clothes, and even freshly washed laundry doesn’t smell clean. A stinky washing machine is usually caused by bacteria and mold growing in the drum, dispenser, and rubber seal. The good news is that a smelly washer can be fixed with the right settings, products, and cleaning routine. Here’s how.
A stinky washing machine is a washer that has developed a sour, musty, or moldy odor caused by bacteria and mold growing in the drum, detergent dispenser, rubber seal, or internal components. The odor is caused by moisture, detergent residue, fabric softener buildup, and leaving the door closed between washes.
To fix a stinky washing machine, clean the drum with vinegar and baking soda in a hot cycle, clean the dispenser and rubber seal, use affresh Washing Machine Cleaner monthly, leave the door open between washes, and don’t use too much detergent or fabric softener. Use hot water for at least one load per week.
What Causes the Smell
Bacteria and mold. The main cause of washer odors is bacteria and mold growing in the warm, moist environment of the drum and internal components.
Detergent residue. Using too much detergent leaves residue that feeds bacteria and mold.
Fabric softener buildup. Fabric softener coats the drum and internal components with a waxy residue that traps moisture and feeds bacteria.
Leaving the door closed. Closing the door between washes traps moisture and promotes mold growth.
Cold water washes. Cold water doesn’t kill bacteria or dissolve residue as well as hot water.
Leaving wet clothes in the washer. Wet clothes left in the washer for hours promote bacterial growth.
Hard water. Mineral deposits from hard water can trap bacteria and cause odors.
How to Fix a Stinky Washing Machine
Step 1: Clean the Drum
Method 1: Vinegar and Baking Soda
Add 2 cups of white vinegar to the detergent dispenser and half a cup of Arm and Hammer Baking Soda to the drum. Run the hottest and longest cycle. The vinegar breaks down mineral deposits and kills bacteria, and the baking soda absorbs odors.
Method 2: affresh Washing Machine Cleaner
For stubborn odors, use affresh Washing Machine Cleaner. Add 1 tablet to the drum and run the hottest cycle. affresh is formulated specifically for washing machines and removes residue, odors, and mineral deposits.
Step 2: Clean the Detergent Dispenser
Remove the detergent dispenser and soak it in warm water with vinegar for 30 minutes. Scrub with an old toothbrush to remove residue and mold. Rinse thoroughly and replace.
Step 3: Clean the Rubber Seal (Front Loaders)
The rubber seal on front loaders is where mold and bacteria collect. Wipe the seal with a cloth dipped in vinegar solution. Pull back the folds of the seal to clean inside. If mold is visible, apply vinegar directly and let it sit for 10 minutes before wiping.
Step 4: Clean the Filter
Some washers have a filter at the bottom front. Check your manual for location. Remove the filter and clean it of lint, coins, and debris. A clogged filter can cause odors.
Step 5: Run a Sanitize Cycle
If your washer has a sanitize cycle, run it after cleaning. The sanitize cycle uses extra hot water to kill remaining bacteria.
How to Prevent Washer Odors
Leave the door open. Leave the door (front loaders) or lid (top loaders) open between washes to let the drum dry.
Use less detergent. Use 2 tablespoons of HE detergent per load. Excess detergent feeds bacteria.
Don’t use fabric softener. It coats the drum and internal components with waxy residue. Use vinegar instead.
Use hot water. Use hot water for at least one load per week to kill bacteria and dissolve residue.
Remove clothes promptly. Don’t leave wet clothes in the washer for more than 2 hours.
Clean monthly. Use affresh Washing Machine Cleaner once a month to prevent buildup.
Wipe the drum. Wipe the drum with a dry cloth after the last load of the day.
Use Lysol Laundry Sanitizer. Add to the rinse cycle for heavily soiled loads to kill bacteria.
Products for a Clean Washer
| Product | What It Does | How Often |
|---|---|---|
| White vinegar | Breaks down minerals, kills bacteria | Monthly |
| Baking soda | Absorbs odors | Monthly |
| affresh cleaner | Removes residue and odors | Monthly |
| Lysol Laundry Sanitizer | Kills bacteria in laundry | As needed |
| HE detergent | Cleans clothes without residue | Every load |
FAQ
Why does my washing machine stink? A stinky washing machine is caused by bacteria and mold growing in the drum, dispenser, and rubber seal. The growth is promoted by moisture, detergent residue, fabric softener buildup, leaving the door closed, cold water washes, and leaving wet clothes in the washer.
How do you fix a stinky washing machine? Clean the drum with vinegar and baking soda in a hot cycle, clean the dispenser and rubber seal, use affresh Washing Machine Cleaner, leave the door open between washes, use less detergent, and don’t use fabric softener. Use hot water for at least one load per week.
Does vinegar clean a stinky washing machine? Yes. Add 2 cups of white vinegar to the detergent dispenser and run the hottest cycle. The vinegar breaks down mineral deposits and kills bacteria. For best results, add half a cup of baking soda to the drum.
How often should you clean your washing machine? Once a month. If you have hard water or wash heavily soiled loads, clean every 2 to 3 weeks. Use affresh Washing Machine Cleaner for best results.
How do you prevent washing machine odors? Leave the door open between washes, use 2 tablespoons of HE detergent, don’t use fabric softener, use hot water for at least one load per week, remove clothes promptly, and clean monthly with affresh.
References
- Tide. “How to Clean a Washing Machine.” tide.com.
- The Spruce. “How to Fix a Smelly Washer.” thespruce.com.
- Good Housekeeping. “Washing Machine Odor Guide.” goodhousekeeping.com.
- affresh. “Washer Cleaning Guide.” affresh.com.
