My Laundry Machine Smells: A Repeatable Care Routine to Fix It
My Laundry Machine Smells: A Repeatable Care Routine to Fix It
Your laundry machine smells musty. You open the door and a sour, mildew smell hits you. The odor is transferring to your clothes, and even freshly washed laundry doesn’t smell clean. A smelly washing machine has mold and bacteria growing inside, usually in the rubber seal, detergent dispenser, or drum. The smell can transfer to clothes during washing. But you can fix it with a repeatable routine. Here’s how.
A smelly laundry machine is a washing machine with mold and bacteria growing in the drum, rubber seal, detergent dispenser, or internal components. The smell is caused by moisture, detergent residue, fabric softener buildup, and leaving the door closed between washes. A repeatable care routine includes cleaning the seal and dispenser, running a hot cycle with vinegar and baking soda, using affresh monthly, and leaving the door open.
To fix a smelly laundry machine, clean the rubber seal with vinegar, clean the detergent dispenser, run a hot cycle with 2 cups of vinegar and half a cup of baking soda, use affresh Washing Machine Cleaner monthly, and leave the door open between washes. Don’t use too much detergent, don’t use fabric softener, and don’t close the door between washes.
Where the Smell Comes From
The Rubber Seal (Front Loaders)
The rubber seal around the door is the most common source of smell. Water collects in the folds, creating a warm, moist environment where mold thrives.
How to clean: Pull back the folds and wipe with a cloth dipped in white vinegar. For visible mold, apply vinegar directly, let it sit for 10 minutes, then wipe.
The Detergent Dispenser
Detergent and fabric softener residue builds up in the dispenser, feeding bacteria and mold.
How to clean: Remove the dispenser and soak in warm water with vinegar for 30 minutes. Scrub with an old toothbrush. Rinse and replace.
The Drum
Detergent residue and fabric softener buildup coat the drum and feed bacteria.
How to clean: 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 Filter
Some washers have a filter at the bottom front that collects debris and causes odors.
How to clean: Check your manual for the filter location. Remove and clean it.
Step-by-Step: Fixing a Smelly Machine
Step 1: Clean the Rubber Seal
Pull back the folds of the rubber seal and wipe with a cloth dipped in white vinegar. For visible mold, apply vinegar directly, let it sit for 10 minutes, then wipe. For stubborn mold, use a baking soda paste and scrub with an old toothbrush.
Step 2: Clean the Detergent Dispenser
Remove the dispenser and soak in warm water with vinegar for 30 minutes. Scrub with an old toothbrush. Rinse and replace.
Step 3: Run a Hot Cycle with Vinegar and Baking Soda
Add 2 cups of white vinegar to the detergent dispenser and half a cup of baking soda to the drum. Run the hottest and longest cycle.
Step 4: Run a Second Hot Cycle with affresh
For stubborn odors, add 1 tablet of affresh Washing Machine Cleaner to the drum and run another hot cycle.
Step 5: Wipe the Drum
After the cycles, wipe the drum with a clean, dry cloth.
Step 6: Clean the Filter
If your washer has a filter, remove and clean it.
Step 7: Leave the Door Open
Leave the door open for several hours to let the drum dry completely.
A Repeatable Monthly Routine
Weekly
- Wipe the rubber seal after each wash
- Leave the door open between washes
- Remove clothes promptly
Monthly
- Clean the detergent dispenser
- Run a hot cycle with 2 cups of vinegar and half a cup of baking soda
- Use 1 tablet of affresh Washing Machine Cleaner in a hot cycle
- Clean the filter
Every 3 Months
- Run 2 hot cycles with affresh (1 tablet per cycle)
- Check the water hoses for leaks or damage
- Clean the exterior with a damp cloth
How to Prevent Machine Smell
Leave the door open between washes. This is the single most important step. Leaving the door open lets the drum dry and prevents mold growth.
Use less detergent. Use 2 tablespoons of Tide Free and Gentle. Excess detergent feeds bacteria.
Don’t use fabric softener. It coats the drum and seal with waxy residue that traps moisture and feeds mold. 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.
Wipe the seal after each wash. Wipe the rubber seal with a dry cloth after each wash.
Use Lysol Laundry Sanitizer. Add to the rinse cycle for heavily soiled loads to kill bacteria.
What Not to Do
Don’t close the door between washes. Closing the door traps moisture and promotes mold growth.
Don’t use too much detergent. Excess detergent feeds bacteria and causes residue.
Don’t use fabric softener. It coats the drum and seal with waxy residue.
Don’t use cold water for every load. Cold water doesn’t kill bacteria or dissolve residue. Use hot water for at least one load per week.
Don’t leave wet clothes in the washer. Wet clothes grow bacteria within hours.
Don’t skip monthly cleaning. Monthly cleaning prevents buildup and odors.
FAQ
Why does my laundry machine smell? Your laundry machine smells because of mold and bacteria growing in the rubber seal, detergent dispenser, or drum. The growth is caused by moisture, detergent residue, fabric softener buildup, and leaving the door closed between washes.
How do you fix a smelly laundry machine? Clean the rubber seal with vinegar, clean the detergent dispenser, run a hot cycle with 2 cups of vinegar and half a cup of baking soda, use affresh Washing Machine Cleaner, and leave the door open between washes. Clean monthly to prevent recurrence.
Does vinegar clean a smelly washing machine? Yes. White vinegar kills the mold and bacteria that cause smell. Add 2 cups to the detergent dispenser and run the hottest cycle. For best results, add half a cup of baking soda to the drum.
How do you prevent a smelly washing machine? 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.
How often should you clean your washing machine? Clean monthly with affresh Washing Machine Cleaner. Run a hot cycle with 2 cups of vinegar and half a cup of baking soda monthly. Clean the detergent dispenser and rubber seal monthly. Clean the filter every 3 months.
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.
