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Protocol
Method steps
- Run a hot service wash on the empty machine With the drum empty, run the dedicated drum-clean / tub-clean / Eco Drum Clean cycle, or the hottest empty maintenance cycle your manual allows. Use a machine cleaner or a cleaner your manual allows — not your usual detergent. Samsung says Eco Drum Clean heats water between 60 °C and 70 °C on supported models and should not be run with detergent. Do not use thickened or no-splash bleach, which Whirlpool warns can cause excess suds.
- Clean and dry the rubber door seal On a front-loader, gently pull back the rubber door seal and wipe inside the hidden fold. Samsung notes that water can accumulate there and mold can form, so inspect all areas under the seal, clean with a soft brush or cloth, and dry it afterward.
- Remove the detergent drawer and clean its housing Remove the detergent drawer according to your manual, rinse the drawer components under running water, and clean the drawer recess with a soft brush. Tide notes that the dispenser drawer can accumulate detergent residue; Samsung also tells users to clean the drawer recess.
- Clean the drain-pump filter (front-loaders) If your model has an accessible debris or drain-pump filter, open the lower access panel and place a towel or bucket underneath. Samsung's debris-filter instructions drain water first, then turn the filter counterclockwise to remove it, clean it, and turn it clockwise until secure.
- Check the drain hose and standpipe Make sure the drain hose is not kinked. GE Appliances says a drain hose pushed too far down into the standpipe can siphon drained water back into the washer and cause a musty odor, and recommends clipping it to the side of the standpipe. If the smell is a sewage or rotten-egg odour near the drain, ND Health's sewer-gas guide lists dry traps, trap siphonage, and blocked vent pipes as possible drain-odor causes. Check the standpipe and drain, and if a sewage smell persists, call a plumber rather than re-cleaning the machine.
A washing machine smells when residue and moisture stay inside the drum, seal, drawer or filter area, and laundry-hygiene research identifies washers as a source of odor-causing bacteria and fungi. Clean it with one empty clean cycle, then hand-clean the seal, drawer and accessible filter — and dry it between loads.
That musty, sour or mouldy smell is usually a residue-and-moisture problem, not just “dirty water.” Whirlpool recommends leaving the door open between loads so fresh air can evaporate remaining moisture, while laundry-hygiene research says washing machines are believed to be a significant source of odor-causing bacteria and fungi. Clean the hidden wet areas once, then change the habits that let residue come back.
What you’ll need
You need one cleaning agent and a way to reach the hidden traps. The single most important rule is on the label: pick one cleaner and never mix it with another.
A dedicated machine cleaner, oxygen bleach, or distilled white vinegar — choose ONE route, never combined
Oxygen bleach as a chlorine-free option when your manual allows it
A microfibre cloth and an old toothbrush — for the seal fold and drawer crevices
Rubber or nitrile gloves
A shallow pan or old towel — to catch water when you open the filter
For many machines, the easiest route is a dedicated washing-machine cleaner or a manual-approved oxygen-bleach route on an empty clean cycle. Plain sodium percarbonate is the no-chlorine option behind the ProductBox below, but it still needs to match both the washer manual and the cleaner label.
A dedicated washing-machine cleaner (such as Affresh or Dr. Beckmann) is another option; follow the product label. If your manual allows it, a little
distilled white vinegar↗ also can help with limescale — but read the seal-safety trade-off below first, and never put vinegar in the same cycle as bleach.
If your manual explicitly allows chlorine bleach, use only plain liquid chlorine bleach↗ at the label/manual dose — not thickened or no-splash bleach, and never with vinegar, citric acid or ammonia.
Choose one cleaner route
The lowest-risk cleaner is the one your manual allows and you do not mix with anything else. Pick one route for the hot empty cycle, then clean the seal, drawer and filter by hand.
| Cleaner route | Use when | How to run it | Do not use if | Source-backed limit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dedicated washer cleaner | You want the simplest default | Empty Clean Washer, tub-clean, drum-clean or hottest empty maintenance cycle your manual allows | Your manual forbids the product | Whirlpool names affresh washer cleaner for its Clean Washer cycle |
| Oxygen bleach / sodium percarbonate | You want a chlorine-free deodorising route | Empty hot or clean cycle, following the product label | Your manual forbids oxygen bleach or the label conflicts with the washer | LG UK describes sodium percarbonate as a way to alleviate washing-machine smells |
| Liquid chlorine bleach | Your manual or Clean Washer cycle explicitly allows it | Empty clean cycle only, at the dose your manual/product label gives | You might also use vinegar, ammonia, citric acid or another acid | Whirlpool allows liquid chlorine bleach for its Clean Washer cycle, but says not to use thickened/no-splash bleach |
| Distilled white vinegar | Limescale is part of the problem and your manual allows vinegar | Use sparingly and separately from all bleach products | Your manual warns against vinegar/acids or the seal is already damaged | LG UK says vinegar can help limescale but frequent use near seals can harm rubber |
| Do-not-mix route | You are tempted to combine cleaners | Pick one cleaner per cycle; use separate cycles and a rinse if switching routes | Stop before mixing bleach with vinegar, acids or ammonia | CDC and Washington DOH warn this can generate chlorine/chloramine gases |
Why washing machines smell
The smell is usually less about “dirty water” than about residue, moisture and microbes. Tide says overusing detergent can lead to buildup, and Whirlpool ties front-load odor prevention to evaporating remaining moisture between loads. Laundry-hygiene research adds the bigger mechanism: washing machines are believed to be a significant source of bacteria and fungi that cause laundry malodors, and odor-producing bacteria and fungi can move between articles, the washer, and machine or hang drying. Three habits make that worse: using too much product, letting wet laundry sit, and closing the machine while it is still damp.
First, work out which smell you have
Not every bad smell is the machine. Match the symptom before you clean:
| The smell | Quick test before cleaning | Most likely cause | First move | Stop / call-pro rule |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Musty, mouldy, “wet dog” | Smell the door seal, drawer recess and empty drum | Residue and moisture in the seal, drawer, drum or filter | Run the full clean below | Stop if the manual forbids the cleaner route |
| Sour / sweaty on clothes | Smell the empty washer, then smell laundry after it sits wet | Residue plus wet laundry left sitting too long | Clean the washer, reduce detergent, remove loads promptly | If clothes smell away from the washer, use the clothing-odor guide |
| Rotten-egg or sewage near the drain | Smell near the standpipe while/after draining | Possible dry trap, trap siphonage or blocked vent | Check the standpipe/drain area | Call a plumber if the odor returns after a basic drain check |
| Burning / hot rubber / electrical | Smell is hot, sharp or electrical rather than musty | Possible mechanical or electrical fault | Stop using the washer | Always stop; call an appliance technician |
If it is the rotten-egg or burning case, don’t run a cleaning cycle — you would be treating the wrong thing.
How to clean a smelly washing machine, step by step
- Front-loader
- 1. Detergent drawer: Why: It can collect detergent residue (Tide). Do: Clean its parts under running water; clean the drawer recess with a soft brush (Samsung). How often: Regularly, per your Owner’s Manual (Whirlpool).
- 2. Door and rubber seal: Why: Water can collect in the seal and mould can form there (Samsung). Do: Water can collect in the seal: clean it, then dry it (Samsung). Between loads: Leave the door open so remaining moisture can evaporate (Whirlpool).
- 3. Drum: Why: Odour-causing residue can build up, and remaining moisture could lead to stale odours (Whirlpool). Do: Run the clean cycle: Clean Washer with affresh or liquid chlorine bleach (Whirlpool); Eco Drum Clean at 60–70 °C, no common laundry detergent (Samsung). How often: Every month (Whirlpool); a reminder every 40 washes on Eco Drum Clean+ models (Samsung).
- 4. Debris filter, if fitted: Do: Drain the water, turn the filter counterclockwise to remove and clean it, then clockwise to secure it (Samsung). How often: 5 or 6 times a year (Samsung).
- Top-loader
- 5. Lid: Why: Odours like mildew usually come from a closed lid: moisture in the tub cannot dry out (GE). Do: Leave the lid up when the washer is not in use (GE).
- 6. Tub (wash basket): Why: Odour, soil or detergent can build up inside it over time (GE). Do: On models with Basket Clean: empty the basket, add 1 cup (250 ml) of bleach, run Basket Clean (GE). How often: Once a month (GE).
- 7. Drain hose: Why: Pushed too far into the standpipe, it can siphon drained water back in and cause a musty odour (GE). Do: Clip the hose to the side of the standpipe (GE).
- Any washer
- Take wet laundry out as soon as possible when the cycle ends: left inside, it can lead to mildew and odours in the clothes and the washer (Whirlpool).
- Never mix chlorine bleach with vinegar or ammonia: the gases might severely damage lung tissue when inhaled (CDC).
- Each schedule is that maker’s advice for its own machines, not a rule for every washer. Your manual comes first.
1. Run a hot service wash on the empty machine
With nothing in the drum, run the dedicated drum-clean / tub-clean / Eco Drum Clean cycle, or the hottest empty maintenance cycle your manual allows. Use a machine cleaner or another cleaner your manual allows — not your usual detergent. Samsung says Eco Drum Clean heats water between 60 °C and 70 °C on supported models and should not be run with common laundry detergent. Whirlpool recommends its Clean Washer cycle monthly and warns not to use thickened or “no-splash” bleach because excess suds may occur.
2. Clean and dry the rubber door seal
On a front-loader, gently pull back the rubber door seal and wipe inside the hidden fold. Samsung says water can accumulate in the rubber seal and mold can form there, so inspect all areas under the seal, use a soft brush or cloth, then dry it.
3. Remove the detergent drawer and clean its housing
Remove the detergent drawer according to your manual and rinse the drawer components under running water. Then clean the recess it slides into with a soft brush. Tide notes that the dispenser drawer can accumulate detergent residue, and Samsung explicitly includes the drawer recess in its cleaning instructions.
4. Clean the drain-pump filter (front-loaders)
If your washer has an accessible debris or drain-pump filter, this is a hidden maintenance point worth checking. Samsung advises placing a towel or bucket under the access cover, draining water from the emergency hose, turning the debris filter counterclockwise to remove it, cleaning it, then turning it clockwise until secure. Some machines use a different filter design, so check your manual rather than forcing a panel that does not open.
5. Check the drain hose and standpipe
Make sure the drain hose isn’t kinked. GE Appliances adds that a drain hose pushed too far down into the standpipe can siphon drained water back into the washer and cause a musty odor; it recommends clipping the hose to the side of the standpipe. And if the smell is sewage-like or rotten-egg near the drain, treat it as a possible drain issue rather than simply re-cleaning the washer. ND Health’s sewer-gas guide lists dry traps, trap siphonage and blocked sewer vent pipes as possible drain-odor causes. If a sewage smell persists after a basic standpipe check, call a plumber.
Front-loader vs top-loader
Front-loaders need extra seal care. Samsung says water can accumulate in the rubber seal and mold can form there, which is why the seal fold is a front-load weak spot. If your front-loader also has an accessible debris or drain-pump filter, clean it on the schedule your manual gives.
Top-loaders have different weak spots. GE Appliances says top-load mildew odors are usually caused by leaving the lid closed when the washer is not in use, so leave the lid up between washes. It also says odor, soil or detergent can build up inside the tub over time, and recommends cleaning the tub once per month; on its models with a Basket Clean cycle, that means Basket Clean with 1 cup (250 ml) of bleach, never combined with vinegar or ammonia. For any filter, follow your own manual rather than assuming the front-loader filter steps apply.
Less detergent, not more
Tide says overusing detergent can lead to buildup, and the dispenser drawer can accumulate detergent residue. Dose to your detergent pack, not by eye, and cut back on fabric softener if the drawer or seal feels coated after washing.
Is vinegar safe for your machine?
LG UK says white vinegar or washing-machine tablets can help with limescale, but also warns that vinegar can corrode or harm rubber parts if used too frequently, especially near washer seals. Use vinegar sparingly and only if your manual allows it.
- Never mix chlorine bleach with vinegar, citric acid or any acid, or with ammonia. Together they release toxic chlorine and chloramine gases, and heat — exactly what a hot service wash provides — makes the reaction worse (CDC; Washington State DOH). Use one cleaner per cycle only.
- If you want to use both bleach and vinegar for different jobs, run them in completely separate cycles with a plain rinse between, and ventilate the room. Combining them is not a better cleaning method; it is a gas-risk mistake.
- Let a hot drum and any drained water cool before you reach inside or empty the filter, to avoid scalds.
- Don't use thickened, gel or 'no-splash' bleach in the machine; Whirlpool warns it can cause excess suds. If a sewage or burning smell persists, stop and call a plumber or appliance technician rather than re-running cleaning cycles.
How to keep it from coming back
Cleaning removes much of the residue you can reach; these habits slow the residue-and-moisture cycle:
- Leave the door open between loads so remaining moisture can evaporate (Whirlpool); on a top-loader, leave the lid up when the washer is not in use (GE Appliances).
- Wipe the seal and drum dry after a load, especially the seal fold.
- Dose detergent to the pack and cut the softener — less residue left behind after the wash.
- Run the washer clean cycle on your model’s schedule. Whirlpool recommends a monthly Clean Washer cycle; Samsung says Eco Drum Clean+ reminders blink every 40 washes on supported models; GE Appliances recommends cleaning a top-load tub once per month.
- Take wet laundry out promptly — Whirlpool says wet clothing left in the washer can lead to mildew and odours in both the garment and the washer.
- Clean the drawer and seal regularly, and clean any accessible debris filter on the schedule in your manual.
When it still smells after cleaning
If a musty smell survives a full clean, repeat the empty clean cycle only if the cleaner’s label allows it, then re-check the drawer recess, seal fold and filter. A sewage smell that ignores washer cleaning is a plumbing signal, not a cue to keep adding cleaners. A burning or electrical smell means stop using the washer and call an appliance technician.
For more appliance maintenance, start with the washing-machine articles. If it was your clothes that held onto the smell rather than the machine, that’s a different fix — see how to get smells out of clothes. If the machine also stalls before the load spins, use the washer won’t drain or spin guide before assuming another clean cycle will solve it. Dryer airflow has its own safety problem too: the dryer vent cleaning guide covers lint, overheating and fire risk. For the sour-towel version of the same residue problem, see how to keep towels soft and fluffy; for choosing wash heat without guessing, use the laundry temperature guide; and for the cleaner chemistry, use the oxygen bleach reference.