Washing Machine Smells & How to Get Rid of Them: 2025

Common Causes of Washing Machine Odors

The wet environment of washing machines, especially front-loaders, can foster mold and mildew growth, leading to musty odors.

Here are the most common causes for musty and moldy odors in your washer:

Moldy Door Boot Seal on a Front-Load Washer

The rubber door boot that seals the tub to the door opening in front-load washers is notorious for developing mold and mildew that causes musty odors in your laundry room.

Gunk Buildup in the Drain Pump Filter

Front-load washers have a drain pump filter that requires regular cleaning. Skipping that chore will lead to awful smells – sometimes as bad a sewer smells as mold, mildew and residue pile up inside the filter.

Detergent Residue Inside the Tub

Both top-load and front-load washing machines can build up detergent residue and inside the wash tub. Mold, bacteria and mildew can develop around the soap scum and cause odors.

Using too much detergent or using regular detergent in an HE washer lead to quick formation of soap scum and detergent residue in a washing machine and cause foul smells to become even more intense.

Effective Solutions to Eliminate Washing Machine Smells

Keeping your laundry room well-ventilated will help keep mold, mildew and bacteria from forming in the washer and causing odors.

Also, leaving the washer door or lid open when possible will help ventilate the tub and prevent odors. This tactic may not be an option if you have young children who like to play hide-and-seek and think about hiding inside the washer.

Here are additional tips to eliminate and prevent washing machine odors:

Use a Washer Cleaner Monthly

Clean the washer tub using a washer cleaner such as Affresh at least monthly.

Here’s a quick video that shows how Affresh works to clean detergent residue and soap scum from the washer tub and helps prevent odors:

Use the washer cleaner more often if residue and smells develop more often in your washer.

Use the Right Amount and Type of Detergent

If you have an HE washer, be sure that you use HE detergent. Also, you’ll only need about a tablespoon of detergent for almost all loads that you wash in an HE washer.

If you have a traditional deep-fill top-loading washer, you can still help prevent odors by using the right amount of detergent according to the guidance in your owner’s manual.

Clean the Front-Load Washer Rubber Door Boot

Don a pair of protective gloves and wipe down the door boot with a bleach and water solution to clean off mold and mildew that develop in that area.

Here’s a video that shows how to clean that door boot in a front load washer:

The video also provides additional tips to keep your washer clean and working efficiently.

Clean the Front-Load Washer Drain Pump Filter

Many front-load washers have a drain pump filter access door at the bottom corner of the front panel. Use the procedure shown in the image below to clean out the drain pump filter if your washer has that access door.

Clearing mold, mildew and residue out of the drain pump filter will help eliminate odors. Clean the drain pump filter every 3 months to help prevent washer smells.

Schedule Annual Professional Maintenance

Professional washer maintenance helps keep your washing machine in top shape and working efficiently. This will also help prevent odors.

The technician will check the drain pump, control system and all components in the washer to make sure they’re operating properly. The tech will clean the washer tub and drain pump filter if necessary to eliminate and prevent bad odors.

Schedule professional washer maintenance and cleaning yearly to keep your washing machine in top shape.

Repair Washer Failures Promptly

As soon as you notice any problems with your machine, schedule washer repair service to get the issue fixed as quick as possible. Addressing failures quickly will help prevent odors in your washing machine.

By understanding the causes of washing machine odors and implementing these solutions and preventive measures, you can ensure your appliance remains clean and your laundry smells fresh.

A smelly washing machine is usually caused by detergent residue, mold, or mildew growing in hidden places. To combat odors, try running a hot cycle with a mixture of vinegar and baking soda, wiping down the interior drum afterward, and leaving the door open to let moisture evaporate. Also, avoid letting wet laundry sit too long, as stagnant water is a breeding ground for odors. If smells persist despite your best efforts, it could indicate a larger mechanical or drainage issue. In that case, a visit from a qualified washing machine repairman can diagnose and resolve the root cause quickly.