My Washer Stinks: A Repeatable Care Routine

Your washer stinks. Maybe you notice a bad smell when you open the door, or your clothes come out smelling worse than when they went in. A stinky washer is a common problem caused by mold, bacteria, and trapped moisture. But with a repeatable care routine, you can fix the smell and prevent it from coming back. Here’s a repeatable care routine for a stinky washer.

A stinky washer is caused by mold, bacteria, and trapped moisture inside the machine. Mold and bacteria thrive in the warm, damp environment inside the drum, rubber seal, and dispenser. They feed on detergent residue, fabric softener buildup, and organic matter. A repeatable routine of monthly cleaning, weekly maintenance, and proper daily habits prevents odors from developing.

To fix a stinky washer, run an empty hot cycle with affresh, clean the rubber seal and dispenser, wipe the drum, and leave the door open. To prevent odors, clean monthly, use the right amount of detergent, don’t use fabric softener, and leave the door open between loads. Don’t use bleach, don’t close the door, and don’t use too much detergent.

The Repeatable Care Routine

Monthly: Deep Clean

Step 1: Place one tablet of affresh Washing Machine Cleaner in the washer drum.

Step 2: Set the machine to the hottest water setting and the longest cycle.

Step 3: Start the machine and let it run the full cycle.

Step 4: After the cycle, wipe the rubber seal with a cloth soaked in warm water and vinegar.

Step 5: Remove and clean the dispenser drawer with Dawn Ultra Dish Soap and an old toothbrush.

Step 6: Wipe the drum with a clean cloth.

Step 7: Clean the filter.

Weekly: Maintenance

Step 1: Wipe the rubber seal with a dry cloth after each load.

Step 2: Leave the door or lid open between loads.

Step 3: Check the dispenser for buildup and clean if needed.

Daily: Habits

Step 1: Use the right amount of Tide Free and Gentle (1 to 2 tablespoons for HE washers).

Step 2: Don’t use fabric softener. Use vinegar instead.

Step 3: Remove clothes promptly after the wash cycle ends.

Step 4: Leave the door open after each load.

Alternative Monthly Clean: Vinegar and Baking Soda

If you prefer a natural alternative:

Step 1: Add 2 cups of white vinegar to the detergent dispenser.

Step 2: Add half a cup of Arm and Hammer Baking Soda to the drum.

Step 3: Run an empty hot cycle on the longest setting.

Step 4: Wipe the seal, dispenser, and drum after.

Use the Right Products

Detergent: Tide Free and Gentle

Stain removers: OxiClean Max Force Spray, Dawn Ultra Dish Soap, Shout Advanced Grease Busting Foam

Laundry sanitizer: Lysol Laundry Sanitizer

Ink remover: Amodex Ink and Stain Remover

Machine cleaner: affresh Washing Machine Cleaner

What Causes a Stinky Washer

Cause	How It Happens	How to Fix
Leaving door closed	Traps moisture, grows mold	Leave door open
Too much detergent	Leaves residue that feeds mold	Use 1 to 2 tablespoons
Fabric softener	Leaves waxy residue	Use vinegar instead
Not cleaning monthly	Mold and bacteria build up	Clean monthly with affresh
Leaving wet clothes	Causes mildew	Remove clothes promptly
Using regular detergent in HE	Oversudsing leaves residue	Use HE detergent

What Not to Do

Don’t use bleach. Bleach can damage rubber seals. Use affresh or vinegar instead.

Don’t close the door between loads. Closing the door traps moisture and causes mold. Leave the door open.

Don’t use too much detergent. Excess detergent leaves residue that feeds mold. Use the recommended amount.

Don’t use fabric softener. Fabric softener leaves residue. Use vinegar instead.

Don’t skip monthly cleaning. Monthly cleaning prevents mold and odors. Use affresh monthly.

Don’t leave wet clothes in the washer. Leaving wet clothes causes mildew. Remove promptly.

Don’t use regular detergent in HE washers. Regular detergent causes oversudsing and residue. Use HE detergent.

FAQ

Why does my washer stink? Your washer stinks because of mold, bacteria, and trapped moisture inside the machine. Causes include leaving the door closed, using too much detergent, using fabric softener, and not cleaning monthly.

How do you fix a stinky washer? Run an empty hot cycle with one affresh tablet, clean the rubber seal and dispenser, wipe the drum, and leave the door open between loads.

How do you prevent a stinky washer? Clean monthly with affresh, use 1 to 2 tablespoons of HE detergent, don’t use fabric softener, remove clothes promptly, and leave the door open between loads.

Does vinegar fix a stinky washer? Yes. Add 2 cups of white vinegar and half a cup of baking soda to the machine and run an empty hot cycle. Vinegar kills mold and removes odors.

How often should you clean your washer? Clean your washer monthly with affresh or vinegar and baking soda. Wipe the seal and dispenser every 2 to 4 weeks. Leave the door open between loads.

References

1. Tide. “Washer Odor Guide.” tide.com.
2. The Spruce. “Smelly Washer Guide.” thespruce.com.
3. Good Housekeeping. “Washer Cleaning Guide.” goodhousekeeping.com.
4. affresh. “Cleaning Guide.” affresh.com.