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Why Does My Washing Machine Stink?

LAUNDRY TIPS

Maybe you’re getting ready to do your family’s laundry, but when you open up the washing machine, you notice a bad smell. Or, even worse, maybe you didn’t notice it when you were opening up the washing machine to put the clothes in, but when you take them out, you notice that the wet clothes smell – and that when you remove all of the clothes, the smell lingers in the machine. What’s causing that smell, and what can you do about it?

Soap Scum Buildup

Today’s high-efficiency washers are a good thing. They save on both water and energy. However, they can also be the source of less than fresh scents. It’s common for people to overuse laundry soap, especially when the soap that they’re using isn’t formulated for high-efficiency washers. You might assume that excess soap will just get washed away, but that isn’t necessarily what happens. Instead, soap tends to build up inside the washer and, over time, it starts to smell bad. 

If soap scum buildup is causing your washing machine to stink, there are a few things you can do to fight it. Try pouring two cups of vinegar into the drum and then running the machine – without any laundry in it – on a hot normal cycle. The vinegar is an effective cleanser and odor remover and can help de-stink your washing machine. You may also want to add some baking soda to the detergent container. 

Poor Drainage

If your washing machine doesn’t drain as well as it should, stagnant water can be caught at the bottom of the washing machine. Bacteria grow in the stagnant water, leading to stinky smells. 

It’s important to ensure that you get rid of any water left in the bottom of the machine after washing. You can use a towel to soak it up or suck it out with a wet vac. Running the washing machine while empty on a hot cycle with some eucalyptus oil added to the water can get sludge and fat out of the washing machine hoses. With cleaner hoses, drainage should improve. 

Mold

If you think about it, it makes sense that you would need to worry about mold in the washing machine. The inside of the machine is damp and dark, the perfect breeding ground for mold. With mold comes unpleasant smells – not to mention the risk of mold spots showing up on your clothes and linens. 

Making sure that your machine is draining well can help prevent mold growth. You should also consider leaving the door of your washing machine propped open when it’s not in use; this can help ensure that it dries thoroughly and that there’s some airflow to the inside of the machine, which can prevent mold growth. If you suspect that you already have mold inside of your machine, bleach is your best weapon against it. Pour a few cups into the drum and run the machine with a soak cycle and then a normal wash. When it’s finished running, leave the door of the machine open to air dry the inside.