Washing Machine Smells: Get Rid of the Musty Odor and Keep It Away

A washing machine that makes clean laundry smell musty is a common complaint, especially with front-loaders. The airtight door seal that keeps water in during the wash also keeps moisture in afterward, and a warm, damp drum with detergent residue and lint is an ideal home for mold and bacteria. ENERGY STAR notes exactly this: when a front-loader is not in use, its seal can trap moisture in the machine and lead to mold. The fix is a thorough clean followed by better drying habits.

Find where the smell comes from

Location	What to look for
Door gasket (front-loader)	Black spots, slime and trapped water in the folds
Detergent and softener dispenser	Gooey residue and mold in the drawer and its housing
Drum	Grey film, especially under the drum ribs
Drain pump filter	Lint, hair and stagnant water
Drain standpipe	Sewer smell from a dry trap or clog in the house drain
Top-loader agitator and rim	Residue under the rim and inside the agitator

Step 1: Clean the door gasket

Pull back the folds of the rubber gasket and wipe inside with a cloth and mild detergent or a cleaner recommended in your manual. Use a toothbrush in the creases. Remove hair, lint and coins trapped there. The EPA’s general mold guidance recommends scrubbing mold off hard surfaces with detergent and water and drying completely. Dry the gasket thoroughly with a clean cloth.

Step 2: Clean the dispenser

Remove the detergent drawer if your model allows; most release with a tab. Soak and scrub it, then clean the housing it slides into, where residue builds up out of sight.

Step 3: Clean the drain filter

On front-loaders, open the small door at the bottom front, drain the water into a pan using the drain tube, and unscrew the filter. Remove lint and debris, rinse the filter and reinstall it tightly. A filter full of standing water and lint can be a major source of odor.

Step 4: Run a cleaning cycle

Many washers have a “clean washer” or “tub clean” cycle. Run it empty with a washer cleaner, or follow your manual’s recommendation. ENERGY STAR notes that some manufacturers recommend rinsing the washer each month by running a normal cycle with a cup of bleach and wiping down the compartments to help reduce mold or mildew; check your owner’s manual before using bleach, and never mix bleach with other cleaners.

Change the habits that cause it

• Leave the door open after each load so the drum and gasket dry, as ENERGY STAR recommends. Keep the detergent drawer slightly open too.
• Remove wet laundry promptly.
• Use HE detergent and the right amount. Too much detergent leaves residue that feeds odors; follow the label and your manual.
• Wipe the gasket dry after the last load of the day.
• Run a hot or cleaning cycle monthly, as your manual suggests. ENERGY STAR recommends cold water for most laundry to save energy, so a periodic hot maintenance cycle helps clear residue.

Sewer smell is different

A rotten-egg or sewer smell near the washer, rather than a musty one from inside it, often comes from the drain. If the standpipe has a trap that rarely gets water, or the drain is partially clogged, sewer gas can escape. Run water down the standpipe and have a plumber check the drain if the smell persists.

Common mistakes

• Closing the door right after washing.
• Using regular detergent in an HE machine, which over-suds.
• Masking the smell with fragrance without cleaning the gasket and filter.
• Mixing cleaners, especially bleach with vinegar or ammonia products.

When to call a technician

Call an appliance technician if the smell persists after cleaning the gasket, dispenser, filter and drum; if the washer does not drain completely, leaving water in the tub between loads; or if the gasket is torn or has mold growing into the rubber that will not clean off. A damaged gasket can be replaced, and a washer that does not drain fully will keep producing odors until the drain problem is fixed.