Short answer
Wipe the rubber door seal with warm soapy water, folding it back to reach the hair and grime hiding inside. Pull out the detergent drawer and wash it in warm soapy water. Run the cleaning cycle, or the hottest and longest one, with the drum empty and one washer cleaner. Afterward, and after every load, leave the door and the drawer open so everything dries.
Safety first
Never mix bleach with vinegar or ammonia in the washer, not even in different dispensers in the same cycle. Use one product per cycle, and unplug the washer before you open the drain filter.
How to clean a smelly washing machine
1A musty smell from the washer
Leftover detergent, lint and water hide in the rubber seal and the drawer. With the door closed, mildew grows there.
Read all the steps
- A musty smell from the washer. Leftover detergent, lint and water hide in the rubber seal and the drawer. With the door closed, mildew grows there.
- Wipe inside the door seal. Fold the rubber back and wipe out hair, lint and black spots with warm soapy water. Dry it with a towel.
- Wash the detergent drawer. Pull it out (most have a release tab), soak it in warm soapy water and brush the corners clean.
- Run a hot, empty cleaning cycle. The tub clean cycle or the hottest, longest one, with a washer cleaner. One product per cycle: never bleach and vinegar together.
- Leave the door open to dry. Prop the door and the drawer open after every wash, and move wet clothes to the dryer right away.
- Still smells? Call a pro Especially if: the smell comes back within days, even with the door left open.
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What not to do
- Do not mix bleach and vinegar, even in different dispensers. If you use both, use them in separate cycles.
- Do not close the door right after a wash: trapped damp is what feeds the smell.
- Do not use more detergent than the cap line, and use HE detergent in an HE washer. Extra soap builds up and smells.
Clean the drain filter (front-loaders)
Many front-loaders have a small drain filter behind a panel at the bottom front. Unplug the washer, put down towels and a shallow pan and unscrew it slowly: water will come out. Pull out lint, coins and hair, rinse it and screw it back tight. Your manual shows where it is.
Top-loader smells
Top-loaders smell less often, but grime builds up under the rim and in the softener cup. Wipe those, then run the cleaning cycle or the hottest cycle with a washer cleaner. Leave the lid open afterward.
When to call a house cleaner
- The smell comes back within days, even with the door left open.
- It smells like sewage or rotten eggs: the drain line may be the problem (call a plumber).
- Water stays in the drum after a cycle, or leaks under the washer (call an appliance technician).
Frequently asked questions
Why does my washing machine smell?
Usually mildew in the rubber door seal, the detergent drawer or the drum, fed by leftover soap and damp. Front-loaders smell more often because they seal tight when closed.
How do I get rid of the smell in my front load washer?
Clean the door seal and the detergent drawer, run a hot empty cleaning cycle with a washer cleaner and leave the door open between washes so it dries.
Can I put vinegar in my washing machine to clean it?
Check your manual first: some allow it and others warn it can wear rubber parts. Never use vinegar in the same cycle as bleach.
How often should I clean my washing machine?
About once a month: wipe the seal, clean the drawer and run the cleaning cycle. Many washers show a reminder light.
Should I leave the washer door open?
Yes, after each load, until the drum and the seal are dry. Keep it closed if small kids or pets could climb in.
Why do my clothes smell after washing?
They sat wet too long, the washer itself smells, or too much detergent stayed in the fabric. Move clothes to the dryer right away and clean the washer.