How To Remove Washing Machine Smells (7 Methods)

It feels unfair when the appliance designed to clean your clothes ends up smelling like a gym locker. If your laundry room has a funk, you aren’t alone.

Soap scum, moisture, and bacteria love the dark, damp corners of washing machines. Fortunately, you don’t usually need a repair technician to fix it. We dug into the science of machine odors to help you banish the stink.

Here is why your washer smells and exactly how to get it fresh again.

Key Takeaways

• Washing machine odors usually stem from trapped moisture, mold in the gasket, bacteria buildup, or clogged filters.
• To neutralize smells, run a hot cycle with distilled white vinegar, bleach, or a commercial washing machine cleaner.
• Prevent regrowth by wiping down the rubber seal, leaving the door ajar between loads, and cleaning the detergent drawer.
• If you smell rotten eggs or burning, stop the machine immediately; you may have a gas leak or electrical fault.

In This Article

• Why the Smell?
• Eliminate Washing Machine Odors
• Washing Machine Smell FAQs
• Clean Machine, Clean Clothes

Why Your Washing Machine Smells

Before you can fix the problem, you have to identify the source. Odors can come from stagnant water, bacterial growth, or even external plumbing issues. Here are the most common reasons why washing machines smell bad.

Sewage Smells

If your laundry room smells like a sewer, act fast. While it might just be trapped bacteria, it could also be hazardous sewer gas.

Often, this happens because the p-trap (the curved section of the pipe) has dried out or isn’t trapping gases correctly. This allows fumes from your underground sewer pipes to drift back up into the machine. If deep cleaning doesn’t fix it, the issue is likely in the plumbing, not the appliance.

Rotten Egg Odors

A sulfur or “rotten egg” smell usually points to one of two things.

First, it could be a gas leak. If your unit is gas-powered, this is an emergency. Turn it off and call a pro. Second, it could be bacteria feeding on trapped organic matter like hair, lint, or soap scum. As the bacteria eat, they release a gas that mimics the smell of sulfur.

Mildew and Dampness

This is the most common complaint, especially for front-load washers. Because these machines seal tightly to prevent leaks, they also trap moisture.

If water sits in the drum, drainage hoses, or the folds of the rubber gasket, mold spores take hold. You might even find a stray sock trapped in the seal that has been molding for weeks.

Washing Machine Smells Worse After Cleaning

Did you run a cleaning cycle only to find the smell got stronger? Don’t panic. This usually means the cleaning solution worked.

The hot water and vinegar (or cleaner) loosened deep layers of sludge and biofilm that were dormant in the pipes. Now that the gunk is broken up, it smells stronger. You likely just need to run a second rinse cycle to flush the loosened debris away.

Burning Smells

A burning odor is never a hygiene issue; it is a mechanical one. It could be a friction problem with the drive belt, a failing motor, or faulty wiring. It might even be the wall outlet overheating.

Word Of Warning

If you smell burning, unplug the machine immediately. Do not try to run another load. Even when unplugged, capacitors can hold a charge, so we recommend contacting a repair professional rather than poking around inside.

How to Get Rid of Washing Machine Smells

You don’t have to live with the stink. Most odors can be eliminated with a little elbow grease and the right ingredients. Here is our step-by-step guide to freshening up your washer.

Vinegar and Water Solution

Vinegar is a powerhouse for cutting through soap scum and neutralizing odors.

1. Mix your spray: Combine equal parts distilled white vinegar and water in a spray bottle. You can add lemon juice or essential oils for a fresher scent.
2. Spray the interior: Coat the entire drum. Pay special attention to the rubber gasket (the seal around the door). Pull back the folds and spray deep inside where mold hides.
3. Scrub: Use a damp microfiber cloth to wipe everything down. If the gasket has stubborn mold spots, use an old toothbrush.
4. Wipe the exterior: Give the outside of the machine and the glass door a wipe down, avoiding the electronic control panel.

Clean Out the Pipes

Trapped water in your drainage system is a major cause of sewage smells.

1. Refresh the p-trap: Pour a gallon of water down the drain pipe (standpipe). If the trap was dry, this re-seals the water barrier against sewer gas.
2. Check the drain hose: Ensure the hose isn’t kinked or pushed too far down the standpipe, which can cause dirty water to siphon back into the machine.
3. Clear the vent pipe: If your plumbing vent on the roof is clogged (leaves, bird nests), sewer gas can back up. If you aren’t comfortable climbing on your roof to check, call a plumber.

When In Doubt

If the smell is distinctly sewage or gas, call a professional plumber. Dealing with sewer gases or blocked main lines requires tools and expertise beyond a DIY fix.

Clean the Detergent Dispenser

We often assume the soap drawer cleans itself, but it is actually a haven for black mold.

1. Remove the drawer: Most dispensers have a release tab so you can pull them completely out.
2. Soak it: Submerge the drawer in hot, soapy water for an hour to soften hardened detergent.
3. Scrub the cavity: While the drawer soaks, look inside the slot where it fits. Use a pipe cleaner or bottle brush to scrub the water jets and ceiling of the compartment.
4. Dry and replace: Scrub the drawer clean, dry it off, and slide it back in.

Deep Clean the Drum

Once you have scrubbed the parts you can reach, you need to clean the parts you can’t.

1. Choose your cleaner: You can use a commercial tablet (like Affresh), two cups of distilled white vinegar, or half a cup of bleach. Note: Never mix bleach and vinegar, as it creates toxic chlorine gas.
2. Select the cycle: Choose the “Tub Clean” setting if you have one. If not, select the longest cycle with the hottest water temperature available.
3. Run the wash: Let the machine run empty.
4. Air it out: Leave the door open immediately after the cycle ends to let the moisture escape.

It Still Smells

If the odor persists after one cycle, run it again. Years of buildup might require a “double dose” of cleaning to fully break down.

Change Your Laundry Habits

Sometimes the smell comes from how you wash, not just the machine itself.

If you have a high-efficiency (HE) washer, you must use HE detergent. Regular soap creates too many suds, which HE machines cannot rinse away effectively. This sudsy film coats the inner drum and traps bacteria.

Also, stop using too much detergent. More soap does not mean cleaner clothes; it just means more scum buildup. Consider switching to powder detergents or pods, which tend to leave less residue than thick liquids.

Ditch The Fabric Softener

We recommend ditching liquid fabric softener. It is fat-based and coats your machine in a waxy layer that mold loves to eat. Use distilled white vinegar in the rinse cycle instead; it softens fabric without the gunk.

Leave the Door Open

This is the golden rule of washing machine maintenance. When you close the door immediately after a cycle, you trap heat and humidity inside. It creates a greenhouse for mildew.

Leave the door ajar for at least a few hours (or permanently, if possible) after every load. Wipe down the glass and the rubber seal with a dry dish towel to remove standing water.

If your laundry room is naturally damp, consider running a dehumidifier nearby.

Clean Your Filter

Many front-loading machines have a debris filter located behind a small door near the floor. Cleaning this filter is messy but necessary.

1. Prep the area: Lay down an old towel. Open the small access door.
2. Drain the water: Unclip the small emergency drain tube, remove the plug, and let the trapped water drain into a shallow bowl.
3. Remove debris: Unscrew the filter cap. Pull it out and remove the lint, coins, hair, and sludge caught inside.
4. Rinse and replace: Wash the filter in the sink with hot soapy water, slide it back in, and screw it tight.

FAQs About Washing Machine Smells

How Do I Clean My Washing Machine Drain Pipe?

If the clog is deep, it is best to call a plumber or use a specialized sewer snake. For minor maintenance, you can pour a mixture of baking soda and vinegar down the drain pipe, wait 15 minutes, and flush it with boiling water.

How Do I Get The Smell Of Diesel Out of My Washing Machine?

If you washed mechanic’s clothes and the drum smells like fuel, run a cycle with hot water and two cups of white vinegar. If the smell remains, try a cycle with a heavy-duty degreaser or grease-cutting dish soap. Air dry thoroughly afterward.

How Often Should You Drain Your Washing Machine?

You should drain the water from the emergency tube and clean the debris filter once a month. This prevents hair and lint from decomposing inside the pump housing.

Does Calgon Stop a Washing Machine From Smelling?

Yes, Calgon water softener helps prevent limescale and soap scum buildup. By reducing residue, it removes the breeding ground for bacteria, helping to keep the machine smelling fresh.

Where Do You Put Baking Soda In a Washing Machine?

To use baking soda for deodorizing, pour one cup directly into the drum (not the dispenser drawer) before adding your clothes or running a cleaning cycle.

Can You Use Dishwasher Tablets to Clean a Washing Machine?

While some people do this, we do not recommend it. Dishwasher tablets are formulated for much hotter water than washers typically use and may contain harsh abrasives that can damage rubber seals. Stick to products designed for washing machines.

Why Does My Front Load Washer Smell More Than My Top Loader?

Front loaders are airtight to prevent leaks, which unfortunately traps moisture inside. Top loaders allow moisture to evaporate more easily through the unsealed lid. This makes front loaders more prone to mold growth in the gasket.

Clean Machine, Clean Clothes

A smelly washing machine isn’t just an annoyance; it’s a sign that bacteria and mold are taking up residence in your laundry room.

By sticking to a simple monthly maintenance routine, cleaning the filter, wiping the gasket, and running a vinegar cycle, you can keep the funk away. Your nose (and your clothes) will thank you.

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