Get rid of washing machine smells
Washing machine smells are caused by a build-up of grease, bacteria, and black mould inside the drum, door seal, and internal hoses. This is almost always the result of exclusive use of low-temperature washes and liquid or colour detergent – which provide no antibacterial or grease-cutting action. Regular 60-degree maintenance washes and powder detergent containing bleaching agents are the most effective prevention and cure.
A bad smell from a washing machine is rarely just an odour problem. The greasy slime that causes the smell also rots hoses and door seals, blocks the pressure system, and over time can destroy the drum spider – the aluminium cross-shaped bracket that supports the drum. Left untreated, this build-up significantly shortens the life of the machine.
What Causes a Washing Machine to Smell?
The root cause is almost always a combination of low-temperature washing and detergents that contain no bleaching agents – liquid detergents, gel capsules, and colour-safe detergents all fall into this category. Without hot water and bleaching agents working together, grease, bacteria, and mould are not removed from the internal surfaces of the machine. They accumulate in the door seal, sump hose, drum, and internal pipework.
- Washing exclusively at 30 or 40 degrees
- Using liquid detergent, capsules, or colour-safe powder exclusively
- Using quick wash programmes regularly
- Using less than the recommended detergent quantity
- Not using any hot maintenance wash cycle
- Keeping the door closed after washing – trapping moisture inside
- Regular 60-degree washes, especially for bedding and towels
- Using powder detergent containing bleaching agents as the primary detergent
- Using the correct quantity of detergent as specified on the packet
- A monthly maintenance wash at 90 degrees with no laundry inside
- Wiping the door seal dry after use
- Leaving the door ajar between washes to allow the drum to dry out
If the smell appears to come from around the machine rather than from the drum itself, the cause may be a plumbing fault rather than internal build-up. See our guide on smells caused by plumbing faults.
The Damage Goes Beyond the Smell
The greasy, bacterial slime that causes odours does not just smell – it actively damages the machine over time.
Rots hoses and door seals
The slime accumulates in the folds of the door seal, in the sump hose, and in the internal pipework. It softens and degrades rubber over time, causing seals to split and hoses to fail prematurely.
Blocks the pressure system
The pressure chamber and hose that tells the machine how much water is inside can become partially blocked with accumulated residue. This causes overfilling faults, incorrect water levels, or premature spin – symptoms that appear to be electronic faults but are caused by contamination. See our guide on washing machine overfilling.
Destroys the drum spider
The drum spider is the aluminium bracket inside the machine that supports the drum on its bearings. Bacterial acids produced by the slime attack aluminium specifically, causing one or more of the spider arms to corrode and break off. When this happens the drum cannot be supported, and the machine is effectively beyond economic repair. This is one of the most expensive consequences of neglected internal cleaning.
Open the door and pull the rubber seal back where it meets the inner drum rim. Check the underside of the folds. Visible grease, black slime, or mould at this point means the contamination has already spread throughout the machine’s internal surfaces and hoses. Act now before damage becomes irreversible.
How to Clean a Smelly Washing Machine
How effective a clean can be depends on how badly the machine is affected. Mild odour – clean the door seal, run a hot maintenance wash, and change washing habits. Serious contamination with visible slime throughout the door seal – a hot wash with a cleaning agent may help, but if the machine has been running this way for years the internal damage may already be significant.
Maintenance Wash Cycle
Run an empty 90-degree wash cycle with no laundry inside. Do this at least monthly if using low-temperature washes regularly. This is the single most effective cleaning action available without any additional product.
Commercial Washing Machine Cleaners
Specialist washing machine and dishwasher cleaning products are effective at freshening a relatively clean machine and helping to remove light limescale deposits. They are less effective at shifting a serious build-up of grease and black slime – no cleaning product can substitute for regular hot washing over an extended period. Cleaning products and limescale removers are available from Spares4Appliances.
Soda Crystals
Soda crystals dissolve grease effectively. Pour half a packet into the soap drawer while the machine is filling with water (not directly into the drum – they may wash straight through to the sump hose without working). Run on a hot wash with no laundry inside. Using this monthly helps prevent accumulation and is particularly useful for machines that are predominantly used on low-temperature programmes.
White Distilled Vinegar
White distilled vinegar has a reasonable reputation as a washing machine deodoriser. Half a cup poured into the soap drawer at the start of a hot wash cycle – not into the drum, where it may bypass the system – is the recommended method. Be aware that regular use of vinegar can degrade rubber door seals and hoses over time, so this is best used occasionally rather than as a routine treatment.
The Best Long-Term Prevention
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Switch to powder detergent containing bleaching agents as the primary detergent for most washes. Liquid detergents, capsules, and colour-safe powder contain no bleaching agents and allow bacteria and grease to accumulate unchecked. See our guide on which type of detergent works best.
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Wash bedding and towels at 60 degrees wherever wash labels allow. Regular 60-degree washes kill bacteria, cut through grease, and prevent accumulation without needing additional cleaning products.
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Run a monthly maintenance wash at 90 degrees with no laundry inside. This is particularly important for households that use predominantly low-temperature programmes.
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Use the correct quantity of detergent. Underusing detergent produces acceptable wash results in the short term but allows grease and bacteria to accumulate inside the machine. Follow the dosage on the packet for the soiling level and local water hardness.
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Leave the door ajar after every wash. Wipe the door seal dry and leave the door slightly open to allow the drum and seal to dry out completely between washes. A permanently wet drum interior accelerates mould and bacterial growth.
Related Guides
Black Mould in Washing Machines
Causes of black mould specifically and how to tackle it on door seals and inside the drum.
Black Jelly in the Soap Dispenser
What causes the black slimy substance in the dispenser drawer and housing – and how to remove it.
Limescale in Washing Machines
How limescale builds up, the damage it causes, and how to prevent and remove it.
Greyish White Coating on the Drum
What causes a white or grey film on the drum interior and how to remove it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my washing machine smell even though I use it every day?
Frequent use at low temperatures with liquid or colour detergent is one of the main causes of the problem. Without hot water and bleaching agents, grease, bacteria, and mould are not removed from the drum, seal, and internal hoses – they accumulate with every wash regardless of how often the machine is used. Switching to powder detergent and introducing regular 60-degree washes will stop the build-up from worsening and gradually reverse it.
Should I leave the washing machine door open after use?
Yes. After each wash, wipe the door seal dry with a cloth and leave the door slightly ajar. This allows the drum, seal, and internal surfaces to dry out between washes. A permanently damp drum interior creates ideal conditions for bacterial and mould growth – which is the root cause of washing machine odours.
Can a cleaning product fix a seriously smelly washing machine?
Commercial cleaning products and soda crystals can freshen a mildly contaminated machine and help remove light limescale. They are much less effective against a heavy build-up of grease and black slime that has accumulated over months or years. In severe cases, the internal damage – rotted seals, blocked pressure hose, corroded drum spider – may already be significant regardless of cleaning.
How often should I do a maintenance wash?
At least once a month for machines used predominantly on low-temperature programmes or with liquid detergent. Run an empty cycle at 90 degrees – no laundry, no detergent, or with soda crystals or a specialist washing machine cleaner. Households that regularly wash at 60 degrees with powder detergent containing bleaching agents may only need a maintenance wash every two to three months.
Can a smelly washing machine damage laundry?
Yes. The grease and slime responsible for the smell can transfer onto laundry during the wash cycle, leaving greasy marks or causing washed items to smell unpleasant even immediately after washing. This is one of the clearest signs that the machine’s internal build-up has become serious and needs addressing immediately.
About halfway through any cycle, my washer produces a very ‘eggy’ smell which lasts about 10mond. It’s only 2yrs old and I clean it at least once a month (I’ve tried various brands and methods). What should I try now please?
Hi Tamara, sorry I missed your question. The information is here although when it gets really bad you often can’t fix the problem – washing machine smells
Thanks for the article. We have been having this issue on Samsung washer less than 2 yrs old. I did use the vinegar, however still found a lot the black stuff in the clothes. Found that a flexible brush (Brushtech Hair Catching and Sink Overflow Cleaning Brush from B.B & Beyond) helped a great deal in getting in behind upper part of the tub and the basin that it sits in. This was able to reach about half way down the tubs backside. It came out black at first. The water level never gets to the upper part of the tub, and the self cleaning doesn’t seem to either. So this area gets damp, but never soaked in water or cleaning solution. Have ordered a Brushtech Extra Long Super Flexible Drain Brush, 48-Inch from Amazon, to reach to the bottom of the tub. It seems like the manufacturers could come up with a better way to clean this.
Hello Tessa. Thanks for your comment. My article said to put the vinegar inside the washing machine and then went on to describe how to do it. However, I have just reworded that section, which will hopefully make it more clear than it was. Thank you for your feedback. I have an article about detergents here – Which is the best type of washing machine detergent?
Get rid of washing machine odours using vinegar
White distilled vinegar has an array of uses. I’ve had reports back from people saying that distilled white vinegar does actually work. Try putting half a cup of white (distilled) vinegar inside an empty washing machine on a boil wash cycle. Wait until the washing machine has been filling for several seconds before pouring the vinegar into the soap drawer. The vinegar may run straight into the sump hose and be wasted otherwise.
Please clarify the above article? First you say to put the vinegar inside the washing machine, then you say put it in the soap draw!
Thank you for your advise, all very interesting. I have used commercial, soda crystals (though not the 1/2 packet as you suggest) and white vinegar in my machine over the years and can say that all seem to work inside the machine, but have not found a way of keeping the filler draw area free of mold. I do take out the draw and clean it with bleach, but cannot clean inside this space. I also always leave the door ajar. My Zanussi’s (I on the my second one) have always given me excellent service, much better than Hotpoint, Service. I also use a ‘liquid detergent’ now, but think that I will go back to a powder for tablet. Is ‘powder’ any better than ‘tablet’?
I have come to your articles as I now need to replace my machine as it is not work through some of the programmes correctly, and like to use a ‘hot and cold’ fill, as the ‘hotter’ (50) gives me a quicker wash, and have a combi boiler, with short pipework, but it looks like I will just have to go with a cold fill after all..
I has been very good to have someone taking the time to explain about the different machines and also how the ‘washing products’ work, also your tips in keeping the machines ‘sweet’ Thank you very much.
Thanks Leigh. Always leave the door open after using to help dry out the drum and door seal. However with many washing machines there is so much water left in the bottom of the door seal that it would take several weeks to dry out. In such cases it’s best to wipe it out manually.
I had this “black mould” clinging to the sides of washer after a load was washed. I called the appliance guy and he gave me several remedies which were basically the same as yours. One thing I did find on-line was the advice to leave the washing machine door (I have a top loader) open until the washer is completely dry. It seems like this would be advice the makers would put in your operators manual, doesn’t it?
My husband found out that the top of the washer will raise up…and took the top of the inside tub off — it is completely covered in the black mold – disgusting!!!
No wonder it showed up now and then in my washer.
Thank you for your advice!!!