Washing Machine Smells Bad? How to Clean a Washing Machine (Front-Load and Top-Load)
A smelly washer is almost always detergent and fabric softener residue feeding mold and bacteria in the door seal, the dispenser, the drain filter or under the drum. Here is how to clean a washing machine properly, step by step for front-loaders and top-loaders, and how to keep the smell from coming back.
Still stuck after this guide? You can ask an HVAC technician online — see pricing, expert credentials and common questions first.
The Short Answer
To clean a washing machine, run the Clean Washer (or Tub Clean) cycle, or the hottest normal cycle, with an empty drum and either a washing machine cleaner tablet or liquid chlorine bleach, then wipe the door seal, clean the detergent dispenser, and clear the drain pump filter. Leave the door or lid open afterward to dry. Do this about once a month.
The smell comes from mold and bacteria growing in leftover detergent, fabric softener and lint. Using less detergent, using HE detergent in HE machines, and drying the drum between loads stops it coming back.
Why Does My Washing Machine Smell?
| Where the smell comes from | Why | What fixes it |
|---|---|---|
| Rubber door seal (front-loaders) | Water, hair and residue sit in the folds | Wipe the folds after use; deep clean monthly |
| Detergent and softener dispenser | Slimy residue builds up where you cannot see | Remove and scrub it |
| Drain pump filter | Trapped lint and stagnant water | Clean the filter |
| Outer tub, behind the drum | Detergent film from overdosing and cold-only washes | Monthly clean cycle with cleaner or bleach |
| Laundry drain or standpipe | A dry or missing trap lets sewer gas in. Smells like sewage, not mildew. | See sewer smell in house |
What Is the Best Way to Clean a Washing Machine?
| Cleaner | How to use it | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Washing machine cleaner tablet or powder | Put it directly in the empty drum (not the dispenser, unless the label says so) and run the Clean Washer cycle | The method Whirlpool and other makers point to first |
| Liquid chlorine bleach | Add it to the bleach dispenser per your manual, run the Clean Washer cycle or the hottest cycle empty | Use regular liquid bleach, not thickened or splash-less, which can over-suds. Not every manual allows bleach, so check yours. |
| White vinegar | Some owners use it on a hot empty cycle | Use only if your manual allows it. Never use it in the same cycle as bleach. |
| Hot cycle with nothing added | Run the hottest cycle empty | Better than nothing if you are out of cleaner |
Never mix bleach with vinegar or ammonia. The combination releases toxic chlorine or chloramine gas. If you use both, run them in separate cycles with a rinse in between.
How to Clean a Front-Load Washer Step by Step
- Empty the drum and check for small items.
- Clean the door seal. Pull back the rubber folds and wipe out hair, lint and slime with a damp cloth. For mold spots, affresh's guidance is to scrub with an old toothbrush dipped in a 10 percent bleach solution, then wipe with clean water. Wear gloves.
- Clean the dispenser. Pull the drawer out (most have a release tab), soak it in hot water with a little dish soap, and scrub the compartments. Wipe out the cavity it slides into, including the top where mold hides.
- Run the clean cycle with a cleaner tablet in the drum or bleach in the dispenser, per the table above.
- Clean the drain pump filter at the bottom front, with towels and a shallow pan ready for water. Steps are in washing machine not draining.
- Wipe the drum, door glass and seal dry and leave the door open.
How to Clean a Top-Load Washer Step by Step
- Run the Clean Washer or Tub Clean cycle with a cleaner, or the hottest, largest cycle with bleach if your manual allows it.
- Wipe under the rim and the underside of the lid, where residue and mildew collect.
- Clean the dispensers. Fabric softener and bleach dispensers often lift out; soak and scrub them. On agitator models, the softener cup at the top of the agitator usually pulls off.
- Check for a filter. Some top-loaders have one under a panel or in the agitator; most have none. Check your manual.
- Run a rinse and spin after the cleaning cycle to clear any remaining cleaner, as Whirlpool advises for top-loaders.
- Leave the lid open until the tub is dry.
How Do You Stop the Smell Coming Back?
- Use less detergent. Follow the dose on the label for your load size and water hardness. More soap leaves more residue.
- Use HE detergent in high-efficiency washers.
- Go easy on liquid fabric softener, which leaves a film that mold likes.
- Run a warm or hot wash now and then if you normally wash cold; Whirlpool suggests this to slow residue buildup.
- Leave the door or lid open between loads, and take wet laundry out promptly.
- Wipe the door seal on front-loaders after the last load of the day.
- Run a clean cycle monthly and clean the drain filter regularly.
Still smells after a full clean? If it smells like sewage rather than mildew, check the laundry drain and trap. If the washer also drains slowly or leaves water behind, fix the drain first. If you are not sure where the smell starts, ask a home repair expert.
Pro Tips
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I clean my washing machine?
Run the Clean Washer cycle, or the hottest cycle, empty with a washing machine cleaner or liquid chlorine bleach if your manual allows it. Then wipe the door seal, scrub the detergent dispenser, clean the drain filter, and leave the door open to dry.
How often should I clean my washing machine?
About once a month. Whirlpool designs its Clean Washer cycle to be run monthly. Wipe the door seal of a front-loader more often.
Why does my washing machine smell like mildew?
Mold and bacteria are growing on detergent and softener residue in the door seal, dispenser, drain filter or outer tub. Too much detergent, cold-only washes and closing the door between loads make it worse.
Can I use vinegar to clean my washing machine?
Some owners do, but check your manual first, because many manufacturers recommend a washer cleaner or bleach instead. Never use vinegar in the same cycle as bleach.
How do I get mold off the washing machine door seal?
Pull back the folds and wipe out debris, then scrub mold spots with an old toothbrush dipped in a 10 percent bleach solution, rinse with a damp cloth, and dry. Wear gloves and keep the room ventilated.
Why does my washer smell like sewage?
A sewage smell usually comes from the laundry drain, not the washer itself: a dry or missing trap or a venting problem lets sewer gas into the room. Check the standpipe and trap.
