Why your washing machine smells bad and how to fix it

A musty or sour smell from a washing machine is extremely common, particularly with front loaders. It comes from a film of detergent residue, fabric softener and lint that bacteria and mold feed on. The fix takes about an hour, and a few habits stop it coming back.

Where the smell comes from

• The door seal: water and lint collect in the folds of the rubber boot on front loaders.
• The detergent drawer: softener and liquid detergent leave a sticky residue in the drawer and its housing.
• The outer drum: the hidden space between the inner and outer drum builds up a layer of residue that low-temperature washes never remove.
• The drain pump filter: trapped lint and standing water in the filter area start to smell.
• The drain: sometimes the smell is from the household drain or standpipe rather than the washer.

How to get rid of it

1. Clean the door seal. Pull back the folds and wipe them with warm water and a little dish soap or a diluted bleach solution. Dry thoroughly.
2. Clean the detergent drawer. Remove it completely (most have a release tab), soak it in hot water and scrub the housing with an old toothbrush.
3. Clean the pump filter. Drain the residual water and rinse the filter.
4. Run a hot cleaning cycle. Use the drum-clean program if your washer has one, or the hottest cycle on an empty drum with a washing machine cleaner.
5. Check the drain. If the smell is still there, pour hot water down the standpipe and check for a dry trap.

Keep it from coming back

• Leave the door and drawer open between washes so everything dries.
• Take wet laundry out promptly.
• Use the right amount of detergent — high-efficiency washers need much less than most people use.
• Run a hot wash or cleaning cycle once a month.
• Wipe the door seal dry after the last load of the day.

When it is more than a smell

If the washer smells of burning rather than mustiness, stop using it and unplug it — that points to a motor, belt or electrical problem. Standing water in the drum after a cycle means a drain fault; our LG error code guide and the drainage sections of our Bosch washer guides explain how to clear it.