Washing Machine Smells Musty? Remove the Mildew

Washing machine smells musty because moisture, soap residue and lint stay trapped in places the wash does not rinse: the door gasket, the detergent drawer, the drum and the pump filter. Clean those by hand, run a hot cleaning cycle, and then change how you use the machine. Leaving the door open and using less detergent stops the smell coming back.

Washing machine smells musty: the quick answer

Front-loaders trap water in the rubber door gasket, and top-loaders collect residue under the agitator and in the tub. Low-temperature washes and too much detergent leave a film that bacteria and mildew feed on. A deep clean removes the film, and good habits keep it away.

Quick facts: washing machine smells musty
Time needed	30 to 60 minutes, plus a hot cycle
Tools	Cloth, old toothbrush, white vinegar or washer cleaner, baking soda
Difficulty	Easy
Do not	Mix bleach with vinegar or other cleaners

Step-by-step clean

1. Wipe the door gasket (front-loaders). Pull back the folds, remove hair and debris, and scrub mildew with a cloth and diluted dish soap or a mild cleaner.
2. Clean the detergent drawer. Remove it, soak and scrub it, and clean the cavity.
3. Clean the pump filter, usually behind a small panel at the bottom front. Place a shallow tray under it, open it slowly, and remove coins, lint and gunk.
4. Run a hot cleaning cycle with a washing machine cleaner tablet, or two cups of white vinegar in the drum. Use the hottest setting.
5. Run another hot rinse with half a cup of baking soda in the drum to neutralise odour.
6. Wipe the drum and glass door and leave the door open to dry.

Why it smells

Cause	How it happens
Moisture in the gasket	Water pools in the folds
Too much detergent or softener	Residue builds in the drum and pipes
Cold washes	Do not dissolve soap film
Damp clothes left in the drum	Mildew grows on fabric
Dirty pump filter	Trapped debris rots
A blocked drain hose	Stagnant water sours

Habits that stop the smell

• Leave the door and detergent drawer ajar after each wash so the interior dries.
• Use the right amount of detergent, and high-efficiency detergent in HE machines.
• Run a hot wash monthly at 60 degrees Celsius or hotter, with a cleaning tablet or vinegar.
• Remove wet clothes promptly. Do not leave damp laundry in the drum.
• Wipe the gasket after the last wash of the day.
• Avoid fabric softener excess, which leaves a film.

If the smell is like sewage

A sewage smell may come from a dry or blocked drain trap behind the washer, or the standpipe. Run water down the standpipe to refill the trap, and have the drain checked if the smell persists. If the washing machine smells musty even after repeated cleaning, check the drain hose for kinks and the pump filter for trapped matter.

Top-loader tips

Run a hot, long cycle with two cups of vinegar and let it soak for an hour, then a second cycle with baking soda. Wipe under the lid and around the rim where grime hides. Clean the agitator area as far as you can reach. Replace a gasket that stays stained or smelly after cleaning, since mildew can live deep in the rubber. A dehumidifier in a damp laundry room also helps, and a washing machine smells musty far less when the room itself is dry.

When to call a professional

Call if the smell is from the drain, if the gasket is torn, or if cleaning has no effect.

Washing machine smells musty: the damp places

A washing machine smells musty when moisture and detergent stay inside the drum and the gasket. Check the door seal for black mold in its folds, the detergent drawer for slime, and the drum itself after a hot empty cycle. Washing machine smells musty even when the clothes are clean, so the smell is a signal to clean the machine rather than to change the laundry. Leave the door and drawer open between loads so the inside can dry.

A short cleaning routine each month keeps the smell from returning, and a clean drum rinses better on every cycle.

After each wash, leave the door and the detergent drawer open so the drum and the gasket can dry out. Wipe the gasket with a dry cloth once a week, and run a cleaning cycle if the smell returns.

Related reading

• Dishwasher Smells Bad? How to Remove Odors and Find the Cause
• Washer Leaking From Bottom? Find the Source and Fix It
• Washing Machine Not Filling With Water? 8 Causes and Fixes
• Washing Machine Won't Spin? Causes, Checks and Fixes

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