Why Does My Washing Machine Smell Bad? Causes and Real Fixes

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A washing machine smells bad when moisture, detergent residue and dirt build up in the door seal, the detergent drawer or the drain filter. Bosch also points to frequent low-temperature washes, too much detergent and a blocked drain. Allow about an hour for the cleaning, plus the time of the drum maintenance cycle.

Common symptoms and causes: why your washing machine smells bad

• Musty smell: moisture trapped in the folds of the seal, a dirty drawer, a door kept shut.
• Laundry that smells when it comes out, especially after frequent low-temperature washes.
• Suds and detergent residue in the seal and hoses, a possible sign of overdosing.
• A clogged drain filter.
• Sewer smell: a blockage or dirty water flowing back at the drain.
• Laundry left in the drum after the cycle ends.

Before you start

Have rubber gloves, a soft cloth, an old toothbrush, a towel and a shallow container for the filter ready. Keep your model’s manual within reach: it gives the name of the drum maintenance program.

Warning: unplug the appliance from the mains before opening anything, including the filter hatch. Never work on a machine that is plugged in. The capacitors in some appliances (TVs, microwaves, power supplies) stay charged after unplugging: do not touch them.

Warning: opening the appliance can void the warranty, so check the warranty end date first. Undiluted bleach and household cleaners, which Bosch and Samsung advise against, can damage the seal and the drum.

Solution 1: clean the door seal

The seal is the rubber ring around the drum opening. Wash cycles do not clean it.

1. Open the door and gently pull the seal toward you to see under its folds.
2. Remove any foreign objects stuck in the seal.
3. Wipe the seal inside and out with a clean, damp cloth or a soft brush.
4. On black mold marks, scrub with bleach diluted in hot water, wearing gloves, as Samsung allows; never use undiluted bleach.
5. Dry the seal with a soft cloth.
6. Leave the door ajar so the inside can dry.

The seal should be dry and clean, with no black marks under the folds.

Good to know: Bosch advises against household cleaners, while Samsung accepts diluted bleach on the seal. On another brand, check the manual before using any.

Tip: after each wash, wipe the seal with a soft cloth and leave the door ajar. According to Siemens, a closed machine that sits unused encourages mold.

Solution 2: remove and wash the detergent drawer

1. Pull out the drawer: on a Bosch, press the central insert; on a Samsung, hold the lever down while you pull it out.
2. Soak the drawer in the sink.
3. Scrub each compartment with a cloth or an old toothbrush.
4. Treat stubborn limescale with a descaler made for washing machines.
5. Put the drawer back.
6. Run a rinse and spin program with the drum empty (Rinse+Spin on Samsung).

The compartments should be clean, with no detergent buildup or black marks. Bosch recommends this cleaning about every two months.

If the limescale resists scrubbing, here is a descaler made for washing machines.

Wpro X12 descaler for washing machines and dishwashers (12 sachets)

Descales the drum and the water circuit in one empty cycle. One sachet a month or so prevents the deposits that clog the pump.

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Solution 3: run the drum cleaning program

On a Samsung washer, the ECO DRUM CLEAN program heats the water to between 60 and 70 °C (140 to 158 °F) to remove mold, bacteria and dirt from the seal, with no product at all.

1. Empty the drum: this program never runs with laundry inside.
2. Switch the machine on with the power button.
3. Select ECO DRUM CLEAN, or ECO DRUM CLEAN+ depending on the model.
4. Close the door.
5. Press Start/Pause; on an ECO DRUM CLEAN+ model, hold the button down.

The cycle should run to the end, and the drum should no longer smell musty. Samsung recommends one cycle a month, and the reminder light flashes every 40 washes on ECO DRUM CLEAN+ models.

On other brands, look for the drum maintenance program in the manual. If there is none, empty the drum, then:

1. Add a washing machine cleaner, following its instructions, which give the program and the temperature.
2. Run an empty wash at 60 °C (140 °F) or higher, unless the cleaner says otherwise.
3. Leave the door ajar after the cycle.

The drum should come out of the cycle with no smell. Bosch recommends a dedicated cleaner about every three months, and regular washes at 60 °C (140 °F) or higher. According to unofficial sources, an empty cycle at 90 or 95 °C (194 or 203 °F) also works on machines that offer it.

For the empty wash without a maintenance program, here is a cleaner made for the drum and the water circuit.

Dr. Beckmann Washing Machine Cleaner Full Protection (2 x 250 ml)

Removes limescale, residue and bad smells from the drum and the detergent drawer in one empty cycle. Using it from time to time keeps the washing machine clean and protects its inner parts.

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Solution 4: clean the drain filter

The drain filter sits behind a hatch (Samsung procedure; check the manual for other brands). Unplug the machine before you start: water stays in the circuit.

1. Open the filter hatch with a coin or a key.
2. Place a towel and a shallow container under the hatch.
3. Remove the cap of the emergency drain hose and let the water run into the container.
4. Unscrew the filter counterclockwise.
5. Brush the filter to remove the deposits.
6. Screw the filter back in clockwise.
7. Put the cap of the emergency drain hose back on.
8. Close the hatch, starting from the bottom.

The filter should be tightened fully. Samsung recommends this cleaning 5 to 6 times a year.

Tip: the circuit can hold more water than your container. Put the cap of the emergency drain hose back on while you empty it, then carry on.

If water stays in the drum at the end of the cycle, follow our guide on a washing machine that won’t drain.

Solution 5: check the detergent and the drain

A smell that comes back quickly or reminds you of a sewer points to the dosage or the drain.

1. Measure the detergent according to the manufacturer’s directions and the size of the load.
2. Look at the seal: traces of detergent can signal overdosing, according to user reports.
3. Run a wash at 60 °C (140 °F) or higher on a regular basis.
4. Check the drain hose and the drain outlet: a blockage or backflow at the drain is among the causes of smell that Bosch lists.

After a few washes, the laundry and the drum should no longer smell. Bosch considers household cleaners ineffective and advises against them.

If nothing works

Your washing machine still smells bad after cleaning? Have a plumber check the drain and the trap: our sources do not describe how to take them apart. A badly moldy seal can be replaced when cleaning is no longer enough, according to a summary of the Bosch FAQ that we could not read in full.

A burning smell is a different problem. Stop the cycle, unplug the machine and contact the manufacturer’s customer service.

For another fault on the same appliance, see also our guide on a washing machine that won’t spin.

Take better care of your washing machine: our toolbox

A few maintenance and prevention products to keep the drum, the seal and the drain clean.

Frequently asked questions

Why does my washing machine smell musty?

Moisture stays trapped in the folds of the seal, in the detergent drawer or in the drum when the door stays shut. Frequent low-temperature washes and detergent residue keep these deposits going. Clean the seal, the drawer and the filter, then run a drum maintenance program.

Should you leave the washing machine door open?

Yes, leave the door ajar after every wash, as Siemens advises. The inside dries out and mold has less to cling to.

Does white vinegar damage a washing machine?

Bosch advises against it for rubber parts, according to a summary of its help page that we could not read in full. Never mix vinegar and bleach.

Why does my laundry smell when it comes out of the washing machine?

Laundry left damp in the drum after the cycle ends is one cause of smell. Washes that are always at low temperature and too much detergent also leave residue. Take the laundry out as soon as the program ends, and run a wash at 60 °C (140 °F) or higher from time to time.