You pull a load of towels out of the washer and give them a sniff. Instead of clean, they smell musty, a little sour, like they sat wet too long. You wash them again with extra detergent and a splash of fabric softener. They come out smelling the same.
This is not your fault. When laundry smells bad, the natural reaction is to blame the detergent or add more of it. But washer makers point to the machine itself. LG says that neglecting routine maintenance on the washer “can lead to the development of odor or buildup,” and Samsung lists using too much detergent or softener as a common cause of odors.
Why a washing machine starts to smell
The odor builds up in the places you don’t see during a normal wash. According to LG, detergent residue can build up around the drum and door gasket, and the gasket can collect lint and hair. If you wash in cold water, the detergent may not dissolve completely, which adds to the buildup.
Draining matters too. LG explains that a clogged drain pump filter can lead to poor draining, so water stays in the drum and causes odor over time. Every wash then rinses your clothes in a machine that’s already a little stale.
The 5 steps to clean the washer itself
- Wipe the door gasket. Samsung says to wipe inside the folds with a soft cloth and dry the gasket completely afterward. LG suggests wiping it with oxygen-based bleach.
- Clean the detergent drawer. On front-load Samsung models, hold down the release lever inside the drawer and pull it out. Rinse all parts in warm water and use a soft brush on any residue. Samsung recommends doing this about once a month.
- Run a tub-cleaning cycle. Both LG and Samsung recommend running the tub clean cycle about once a month. For Samsung’s Self Clean, the manual says to pour liquid chlorine bleach into the detergent compartment up to the max line, never directly into the drum.
- Clean the drain pump filter. On front-load machines, Samsung recommends cleaning the pump filter at least once a month or about every 40 washes, using a small soft brush to remove debris.
- Leave it open to dry. After every wash, Samsung advises leaving the door and the detergent drawer open so the inside can dry.
Then cut back on the detergent. Since Samsung names too much detergent or softener as a common cause of odors, measure according to the label instead of adding extra. If you’ve been relying on the same cycle for everything, it’s also worth knowing about the washing machine setting most people skip.
When cleaning doesn’t fix the smell
Steps vary by brand and model, so check your manufacturer’s cleaning instructions before you start. Unplug the machine before opening the pump filter, and never mix bleach with other cleaners.
If the odor persists after several tub cleaning cycles, LG says service will be required. Water left standing in the drum after a cycle points to a draining problem, and if clearing the filter doesn’t solve it, that’s a job for a technician.
Wipe the gasket, clean the drawer and filter, run the tub cycle and let it breathe. That’s the trick.
