How to Stop Your Washing Machine From Smelling

by Josh Watton | Oct 31, 2022 | Blog, How To, Kitchen Cleaning, Laundry

How To Stop Your Washing Machine From Smelling

If you don’t clean your washing machine regularly chances are it will start to smell. It’s a bit of an eggy, musty smell that can even go so far as to smell like sewage.

Strange that a machine built to clean clothes doesn’t stay clean itself! But it doesn’t.

That constant dampness and the build-up of grime will make your washing machine smell over time.

What Is It That’s Making Your Washing Machine Smell?

Smells that come from your washing machine are a mixture of mildew, mould and bacteria. As these grow and build up so does the smell.

Your clothes are going into the machine dirty and that dirt sometimes gets trapped in the drum, around seals, in the detergent tray and in the pipework. Add to that hair and natural body fats and oils and you’ve got a great combination for mould, mildew and bacteria to grow.

Over time it is surprising just how much of this grime can build up within the machine and pipework. That starts to give off an odour and this odour can even make your clothes smell when they come out.

The only way to get rid of that odour is to clean your machine regularly.

How To Clean A Smelly Washing Machine

There are a few different ways to clean your smelly washing machine. Most machines will have a cleaning or service cycle. These are cycles with a high temperature. It’s the high temperature that cleans and degreases your machine and pipework.

If your machine doesn’t have a service cycle then just put it on the hottest wash and it does the same thing.

Service cycles run with no clothes in and are a good way to clean the drum and pipework.

However, it won’t necessarily deal fully with the build-up of grime in the detergent tray and around the drum seals. These need to be cleaned manually. Use an old toothbrush to really get into those nooks and crannies.

Running your empty machine on a cycle with some bleach in it (2 cups should do) will also help loosen grime in the drum and pipework, but remember to run a rinse cycle afterwards to make sure all of the bleach has gone before you start washing your clothes again.

Another option preferred by some is baking soda and vinegar. Mix one quarter cup of baking soda with one quarter cup of water and add to your detergent tray before the wash cycle begins. Add 3 or 4 cups of vinegar (plain white vinegar) directly into the drum itself. Then run the service cycle.

Finally there are also some preparations specifically made that you can buy to directly add to your machine during a service cycle.

Keeping Your Washing Machine Smelling Fresh

If you run the service cycle regularly you should find the mould, mildew and bacteria don’t get a chance to get to the point they start to smell. Run the cycle every 2 months and that will really help to stay on top of things.

Also keep the door open a little when not in use to allow air to circulate.

Finally clean out the detergent tray and around the seals in the drum monthly to stay on top of the build-up. That should keep your machine smelling great.