How to Clean Your Washing Machine Inside and End Smelly Laundry
Laundry coming out smelling bad? The problem usually hides in three spots inside the machine. Learn the full cleaning and the routine that keeps odor away.
You wash, and the clothes come out smelling odd — and the detergent isn't to blame. Washing machines accumulate soap residue, lint and moisture in places nobody looks, creating the perfect environment for odor. The full cleaning takes under half an hour and transforms the result.
The 3 hidden spots where the problem lives
1. The door gasket (front-loaders)
Gently pull back the fold of the door's rubber seal: you'll often find standing water, dark slime, even coins and lint. Wipe with water and dish soap (or the product your manual recommends), dry well and repeat weekly. It's ground zero for bad smells.
2. The detergent drawer
Remove the drawer completely (most have a release tab shown in the manual) and wash it under running water with an old toothbrush. Clean the cavity it slides into as well — accumulated softener there turns into a paste that molds.
3. The debris filter
On front-loaders it sits behind a small hatch at the bottom; on top-loaders it's usually inside the agitator or along the tub (see the manual). Put a towel and a shallow pan on the floor before opening — water comes out. Remove lint, hair and objects, rinse the filter and reinstall.
Cleaning the drum, step by step
- With the machine empty, select the longest, hottest cycle available (some models have a dedicated tub-clean cycle — use it).
- Add the cleaning agent: about two cups of white vinegar in the detergent compartment or a machine-cleaner product, per the manual.
- Run the full cycle.
- If residue remains, run a short second cycle with water only.
- Finish by wiping the drum and gasket dry, and leave the door open to air out.
Mistakes that feed the odor
- Too much detergent and softener: more product doesn't wash better; it leaves residue that feeds slime. Use the label dose (or less in modern machines).
- Clothes forgotten in the drum: even a few hours on a warm day breed odor. Hang right after the cycle ends.
- Always washing cold and short: convenient daily, but occasionally run hotter cycles (when fabrics allow) to help dissolve residue.
Smell persists after everything?
If two full cleanings don't fix it, the drain hose or the standpipe where the machine empties may be clogged — time for a technician or plumber. And if the smell actually comes from the laundry room walls, that's another problem: see how to get rid of mold on walls.
Frequently asked questions
How often should I clean the washing machine?
A full cleaning once a month is a good reference for regular home use, plus simple daily habits like leaving the door ajar after use. Check your model's manual too.
Can I use bleach to clean the machine?
Many manufacturers allow it in dedicated cleaning cycles, but recommendations vary by model. Check the manual. Never combine bleach with vinegar or other products in the same cycle.
Why does laundry smell musty even when clean?
Almost always trapped moisture: a machine closed while damp, detergent residue buildup, or clothes forgotten in the drum after the cycle. Fix those three and the smell tends to disappear.