How to Clean a Smelly Washing Machine (Front-Load and Top-Load)
If your “clean” laundry smells musty, the washer is usually the problem. Water, lint, and leftover detergent collect in hidden spots and grow mildew. Front-load washers are especially prone to this.
Quick answer
- Wipe the rubber door gasket, including inside the folds.
- Remove and scrub the detergent drawer.
- Run the hottest empty cycle with a washer cleaner tablet or 2 cups white vinegar.
- Leave the door open between loads.
Front-load washers
- Gasket: pull back the rubber seal around the door. Wipe out hair, lint, and black gunk with a cloth and warm soapy water. For mildew, use a spray of 3% hydrogen peroxide or a diluted bleach solution, following the washer manual.
- Detergent drawer: pull it out (most have a release tab), soak it in hot soapy water, and scrub with a toothbrush. Clean the slot it sits in too.
- Drain pump filter: usually behind a small panel at the bottom front. Put towels down, because water will come out. Unscrew the filter, clear lint and debris, and screw it back in. Check your manual.
- Cleaning cycle: run the “Tub Clean” cycle or the hottest, longest cycle with a washer cleaner tablet, or 2 cups white vinegar in the drum. Don’t use vinegar and bleach in the same cycle.
- Dry it: wipe the drum and gasket and leave the door open.
Top-load washers
- Fill the tub with the hottest water and add 4 cups white vinegar (or a washer cleaner).
- Let it agitate for a minute, then pause it and let it soak 1 hour.
- Meanwhile, scrub the lid, the rim, the fabric softener and bleach dispensers, and under the edge of the tub.
- Finish the cycle, then run one more rinse.
Keep it fresh
- Leave the door or lid open after each load.
- Move wet clothes to the dryer quickly.
- Use less detergent. Too much leaves residue that feeds mildew. HE washers need HE detergent in small amounts.
- Run a cleaning cycle monthly.
- Wipe the gasket weekly.
Still smells?
A sewer smell can mean a drain or standpipe problem. Pour water into the floor drain if there is one, and call a plumber if the smell continues.
FAQ
Can I use bleach? Yes, in a cleaning cycle, following your manual. Never in the same cycle as vinegar.
Always test a cleaner on a hidden spot first and follow the care label. Never mix bleach with ammonia, vinegar, or other cleaners. Ventilate the room and wear gloves when using strong products.