Washing Machine Smells Like Mildew: What Works and What to Avoid

Your washing machine smells like mildew. You open the door and a damp, musty odor hits you. The smell is transferring to your clothes, and even freshly washed laundry has that mildew scent. A mildew smell means mold is growing inside your washer, usually in the rubber seal, detergent dispenser, or drum. But you can remove it. Here’s what works and what to avoid when your washing machine smells like mildew.

A mildew smell in a washing machine is a damp, musty odor caused by mold 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. Removing mildew smell requires cleaning all affected areas and preventing the mold from coming back.

To remove mildew smell from a washing 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. Don’t use too much detergent, don’t use fabric softener, and don’t close the door between washes.

What Works

Clean the Rubber Seal (Front Loaders)

The rubber seal is the most common source of mildew smell. Water collects in the folds, creating a perfect environment for mold.

Step 1: Pull back the folds of the rubber seal and wipe with a cloth dipped in white vinegar. Step 2: For visible mold, apply vinegar directly, let it sit for 10 minutes, then wipe. Step 3: For stubborn mold, use a paste of Arm and Hammer Baking Soda and water, scrub with an old toothbrush, then wipe with vinegar.

Clean the Detergent Dispenser

Detergent and fabric softener residue feeds mold in the dispenser.

Step 1: Remove the dispenser and soak in warm water with vinegar for 30 minutes. Step 2: Scrub with an old toothbrush. Step 3: Rinse and replace.

Run a Hot Cycle with Vinegar and Baking Soda

Step 1: Add 2 cups of white vinegar to the detergent dispenser. Step 2: Add half a cup of baking soda to the drum. Step 3: Run the hottest and longest cycle with no clothes.

Run a Second Cycle with affresh

Step 1: Add 1 tablet of affresh Washing Machine Cleaner to the drum. Step 2: Run another hot cycle with no clothes.

Leave the Door Open

Leave the door open between washes to let the drum dry completely. This is the single most important step to prevent mildew.

Use Less Detergent

Use 2 tablespoons of Tide Free and Gentle. Excess detergent feeds mold.

Don’t Use Fabric Softener

Fabric softener coats the drum and seal with waxy residue that feeds mold. Use half a cup of white vinegar in the rinse instead.

Use Hot Water Regularly

Use hot water for at least one load per week to kill mold and dissolve residue.

Use Lysol for Bacteria

Add Lysol Laundry Sanitizer to the rinse for heavily soiled loads to kill bacteria.

What to Avoid

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 mold and causes residue.

Don’t use fabric softener. It coats the drum and seal with waxy residue that feeds mold.

Don’t use cold water for every load. Cold water doesn’t kill mold. Use hot water for at least one load per week.

Don’t leave wet clothes in the washer. Wet clothes promote mold growth within hours.

Don’t skip monthly cleaning. Monthly cleaning with affresh prevents mold and mildew.

Don’t mix chlorine bleach and vinegar. Mixing them creates toxic chlorine gas.

Don’t use chlorine bleach on rubber seals. Chlorine bleach can damage rubber seals over time. Use vinegar instead.

Mildew Smell Removal Schedule

Frequency	What to Do
After each wash	Wipe the rubber seal, leave door open
Weekly	Wipe the drum and dispenser
Monthly	Run a hot cycle with affresh
Every 3 months	Deep clean: seal, dispenser, 2 cycles, filter

FAQ

Why does my washing machine smell like mildew? Your washing machine smells like mildew because mold is 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 get rid of mildew smell in a washing 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.

Does vinegar remove mildew smell from a washing machine? Yes. White vinegar kills mold and removes residue. 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 and use affresh monthly.

How do you prevent mildew smell in a 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.

Can you use bleach to remove mildew smell from a washing machine? You can use chlorine bleach in the drum (white interior only), but don’t use it on rubber seals as it can damage them. Vinegar and affresh are safer and equally effective.

References

1. Tide. “How to Remove Mildew from a Washing Machine.” tide.com.
2. The Spruce. “Mildew Smell in Washer Guide.” thespruce.com.
3. Good Housekeeping. “Washing Machine Odor Guide.” goodhousekeeping.com.
4. affresh. “Washer Cleaning Guide.” affresh.com.