Why does the washing machine stink? What to do if there is a musty smell in the washing machine, how to remove it

A musty odor in a washing machine is the result of bacteria growing rapidly in a warm and humid environment. Economical washing modes at low temperatures in modern units are considered an additional reason for the problem. Various microorganisms and molds create entire colonies, then they get on the linen, which can lead to the fact that your clothes will also smell bad. Learn the basic rules for getting rid of moldy odor and how to prevent it.

Causes of Bad Smell

There are a number of reasons why a bad smell in a washing machine creates a favorable environment for bacteria. The most common of them are the following:

1. Washing at low temperatures without additional rinsing. Bacteria do not die in such an environment, they remain on the washing tank, accumulate in drain hoses and junctions.
2. Damp washing machine that was not dried after work. Humidity, heat and darkness are ideal environments for microorganisms. As a result, the machine gives off sewer smells.
3. Frequent use of rinse aids and low-quality washing powders. They do not have enough disinfectants, which leads to the formation of bacterial plaque on the walls of the machine.
4. Remains of food and paper in the pockets of washed clothes fall into the machine and, when soaked, create good conditions for the development of mold.
5. Scale on heating elements after treatment with a special agent leaves lime scale crumbs in the machine. If they are not removed, a fungal plaque with a nasty odor is provided.
6. The drain hose is not firmly attached to the sewer system. Odors from the common pipe enter the washing machine. In this case, a patched connection will fix the issue.

How to remove the smell from the washing machine

To begin with, let's figure out exactly where bacteria can form, in which places they survive better. Pay attention to the following list:

• detergent compartment and nearby surfaces;
• rubber hose from the powder container to the tank;
• sealing ring on the hatch of the machine;
• drain hose leading to the sewer;
• the bottom of the washing tank with moisture after washing;
• heating elements with scale on them.

If an unpleasant smell appears from the washing machine, it is necessary to check each problem area and thoroughly rinse with bleach potential areas for the reproduction of fungi.

Ways to eliminate odor in a washing machine
You realized that bacteria have started up in the washing machine, you can even guess why and where exactly they develop. What to do next? Take note of what actions you need to take to combat this problem:

1. In any case, you will have to wash the entire inside of the machine with a disinfectant. Substances are sold that are designed specifically to eliminate the smell from the car, however, you can get by with a cheaper method - buy ordinary chlorine bleach. Some housewives use dishwasher tablets.
2. If black deposits are found on the seals and walls of the machine, it must be thoroughly peeled off and then the surfaces dried.
3. An effective method is to run an empty machine on the longest program at a high temperature, while adding cleaning agent. The gum around the drum and the compartment for washing powder after that still need to be treated with bleach.
4. Replace the washing powder, sometimes the reason is in it. Do not use rinse aid too often, it can also be the culprit of the smell.
5. There are laundry detergents that include antibacterial agents that remove even salmonella, E. coli and staphylococcus at low temperatures. You will have to overpay for them, but peace of mind and health are worth it.
6. Check the heating element with the help of a specialist, whether it heats up enough, is it time to clean it from scale, on which microorganisms “hang” and multiply.
7. Replace the drain hose, after a few years of use it can become a real carrier of accumulated bacteria.
8. Check the drain connection to the sewer so that after washing the water does not stagnate in the tank.
9. Call a professional who will clean the filter of the washing machine, this “dirty” business is not always possible for housewives.
10. If the smell remains after cleaning the machine, perhaps pieces of dirt are still stuck somewhere, run the unit with the digestion program to completely eliminate the problem.

Note to those who buy washing machines

According to many years of observation and research, the appearance of an unpleasant odor due to the formation of mold and bacteria is more likely to affect washing machines with a horizontal load of laundry. The fact is that their manufacturers, helping the consumer save money, use less water for a full wash cycle.

As a result, clothes are not rinsed well from chemicals, and the machine is not rinsed with water enough. Residual bacteria linger more often in such conditions. Pay attention to this if you are going to buy a washing unit, because we buy it for life.

Odor Prevention Measures

You can periodically clean your washing machine, as we discussed above, however, constant washing in cold water will again and again create a favorable environment for harmful microorganisms. The slightest signs of the appearance of a foreign smell make scrupulous housewives upset. Do not worry, take precautions that will help you not spoil your mood when dealing with a washing machine. Remember the following:

1. Once you have finished washing, opened the machine and removed the laundry from it, do not close the door. What are the advantages of a top loading machine? You can not close it at all, the door will not interfere, as in a horizontal one, and the tank will be constantly ventilated. Otherwise, keep the machine at least ajar.
2. Do not accumulate laundry in the washing machine tank itself, the slight humidity and temperature created by it will provide a favorable environment for bacteria. Buy a special basket for things in which they will be collected until the next wash. So between procedures, your tank inside is completely dry and ventilated.
3. Do not forget to immediately take out the washed laundry. While you are busy, and it lies there for days, millions of bacteria will start in conditions of high humidity.
4. Do not get carried away with short washing cycles at low temperatures, they rarely give the expected effect.
5. The machine should not be loaded end-to-end; for high-quality washing, the laundry should rotate freely in the drum, and not beat in one lump.
6. Do not exceed the amount of the recommended detergent, follow the instructions.
7. Try to always turn on the extra rinse mode, the cost of electricity and water is a small price to pay for your health.
8. Use the modes provided in your washing machine for different types of laundry. If it is cotton or linen, be sure to turn the machine on 90 degrees. When washing stains on clothes, washing at 40 degrees with antibacterial powders is more suitable. Silk and wool are afraid of strong push-ups, use a delicate regimen and gentle chemicals.
9. An effective substitute for fabric softeners is ordinary vinegar, it softens water well and destroys the remnants of washing powder. If you dry your clothes in the dryer, vinegar will help get rid of the static in your clothes. Not to mention that you will avoid allergic skin reactions that occur when using conditioners with perfume components. Just add white vinegar to the special compartment, it will reduce the risk of bacteria in the machine.
10. Laundry dried in the open air is definitely free from microorganisms that may have lingered in it. Yes, and it will smell not of chemical or other extraneous odors, but of real cleanliness.

You just think that the problem of smell in the washing machine requires a lot of time and money to solve it. In fact, you are following the same procedures as always, only with extra care. Use products that are more suitable for successful washing and keeping your washing machine and linen clean. And let simple tips help you avoid unnecessary trouble.

Video: how to quickly get rid of an unpleasant smell in a washing machine

How to get rid of smell from the washing machine? There are not so many reasons for its appearance - the deposition of remnants of fabric fibers and dirt on the walls of the washing machine and stagnant water.

You can deal with the problem yourself and quickly, without calling the wizard. There are several proven methods, which will be discussed below.

We remove the dirt

Citric acid breaks down well and removes dirt from the washing machine. It is easy and safe to use.

1. 100 g of citric acid (2 packs) are poured into the detergent compartment.
2. Turn on the machine for 1.5-2 hours at a maximum temperature (95 degrees). It is important to turn off the spin function because there is nothing in the drum and it may break.
3. When the washing machine turns off, it must be allowed to rest for 20-30 minutes and scroll again, but it is already possible with cold (without adding powder and citric acid) water and half an hour.
4. After the washing time has elapsed, the automatic machine must be wiped in places where dirt accumulates (under the rubber band and around the circumference of the drum). It is necessary to get rid of dirt in this way as it accumulates.

Eliminate musty smell

The cause of a rotten smell (including the smell of sewerage) may be the remnants of thread and dirt inside the machine and in the tubes. In order to get rid of such a smell, the following components are needed:

• any washing powder for an automatic machine - ½ cup;
• bleach (or whiteness) - 50 ml.

The powder must be poured into a special powder compartment. Turn on the machine for daily washing for 1-1.5 hours.

While water is being supplied to the powder or conditioner compartment, pour bleach in a thin stream. This must be done carefully so that it does not fall on your hands or splash in your face.

At the end of washing, turn on the extra rinse mode. Chlorine well eliminates odors and removes dirt from the internal surfaces of the device.

Eliminate musty smell

Powders help to get rid of musty smell well and for a long time.

To do this, take 100-150 g of dishwasher powder (can be replaced with tablets) and pour it into the powder compartment.

Turn on the washing mode at the highest temperature.

Take note: in order to prevent the smell of mustiness in the machine, you need to hang up the laundry immediately after washing, as it quickly turns sour in a damp closed machine.

After washing, the machine must be ventilated and dried (leave the door and powder compartments open).

Removing the smell of stagnant water

The smell of sour water is quite easy to remove. The main thing is to understand where the water accumulates and why it does not drain completely from the machine and hoses.

Causes of an unpleasant smell from the washing machine:

• • often the machine smells bad due to the fact that it is not ventilated. A simple solution is to leave the machine open for 3-4 hours after each wash.;
  • regularly (at least once a month) drain the remaining water from the machine through a special drain hose (it is located below);
  • it is important to correctly set the position of the main drain hose that goes into the sewer;
  • improper use of washing powder can lead to an unpleasant odor. Its excess can be deposited on the walls of the machine, and over time an unpleasant odor appears;
  • A common cause of foreign odors in the washing machine is the untimely replacement of the filter. Dirt, threads, seeds from pockets, etc. accumulate in it.

Over time, in dampness, all this begins to decompose, and putrefactive processes begin, which are accompanied by a rotten and very unpleasant smell not only in the machine, but also on the washed linen. It is recommended to change the filter at least 2 times a year.

Designed for washing things, contributing to their freshness and cleanliness, but only a few know how to get rid of the smell in the washing machine. Sometimes even powders and conditioners cannot cope with this problem. Folk products and household chemicals will come to the rescue, allowing you to remove the smell in a short time.

Possible Causes of a Musty Smell

To get rid of the problem that has arisen, you need to heed the tips on how to eliminate the smell in the washing machine:

• The drain hose may be the cause of the stench. Over time, dirt gets into it, which cannot be removed on its own, so it’s easier to buy a new one;
• if the drain to the sewer is improperly installed, water may stagnate in the tank. It is recommended to call a wizard who will connect everything correctly;
• often stinks from the washing machine from the heating element, on which small debris and dirt settle, starting to rot after a couple of weeks. Here you will either need to clean the heating element or buy a new one;
• poor-quality powder may not be completely washed out and stick on the walls of the unit, resulting in an unpleasant odor;
• sometimes the problem lies in the sewer, but in this case, the stench is heard from all the sinks in the house;
• to eliminate the appearance of a bad smell from the washing machine, you should wash the powder tray in which mold occurs in time (see also how to get rid of mold in the washing machine). It is required to clean it at least once a month so that the rotten smell from the washing machine no longer appears;
• dirty laundry that is stored inside the washer often causes such a problem, because the machine begins to absorb all the odors.

Attention! When using a gel, powder or rinse in a large volume, their residues settle in the container and drain.

Folk methods of dealing with musty smell

1. Vinegar. There is a universal recipe, with the help of which there is a solution to the question of how to remove the smell. It is necessary to take 0.5 cups of vinegar and pour it into the detergent compartment. The washing mode with the maximum temperature is selected and turned on. It is worth knowing that the first part of the supplied water that enters the machine is poured out, so you need to wait half a minute and only then pour the vinegar.
2. Washing without linen. The easiest way to get rid of a bad smell from a washing machine is to wash without clothes in one move. Before switching on, it is necessary to set the maximum temperature and pour 1 measuring cup of ordinary powder or 2 tbsp. bleach.
3. Bleach. 1 tbsp is poured into the powder tray. citric acid and 1 tbsp. bleach is poured into the drum itself. The machine turns on at the maximum temperature, and the windows in the room must be opened, because chemical vapor is formed from the combination of salts and chlorine. After this method, the unit will be cleaned even in the most inaccessible places. The procedure is recommended to be repeated every 3 months.
4. blue vitriol. You can get rid of the fungus that causes the rotten smell from the washing machine quite simply. A damp cloth with copper sulphate is taken, which is purchased at a specialized store, and the cuff of the machine is washed. The equipment is left for a day and only then all the components need to be washed with clean water using a detergent.
5. drinking soda. If mold is the cause of the stench, then it must be removed with a sponge dipped in a concentrated solution of ordinary soda. After the procedure, it is worth additionally treating all the affected areas with vinegar diluted with water in equal proportions.
6. Lemon acid. Sometimes a rotten smell from the washing machine appears due to scale, which appears from the settling of undissolved powder granules on the heating element. Citric acid can cope with the problem, if it is used correctly. 200 g of product is poured into the powder compartment or into the drum and a mode with a temperature of about 90 degrees is selected. After the start, you should carefully monitor the washing, because there is a risk of spalling, and large parts of scale getting into the rinse drain. If there is a buzzing sound, then you need to turn off the equipment, remove the scale and turn it on again. After turning off, you need to walk with a damp cloth over all the rubber elements and re-clean the drain.

Helpful advice! To prevent the appearance of an unpleasant odor from the washing machine, after washing, wipe the cuff of the hatch with a dry cloth and leave the door ajar. This will help prevent the formation of mold and mildew.

Prevention of stench in the washing machine

1. It is recommended to install a magnetic water softener under the water supply hose or water pipe. The drug has the property of splitting salts into ions.
2. Before you wonder how to clean the washing machine from the smell, you should only buy proven brands of powders. It is forbidden to pour detergent for hand washing into the machine.
3. After each wash, the unit must be wiped dry.
4. To wash things, you should use products that soften the water, but before that you need to make sure that running water is really hard.
5. To avoid a rotten smell from the washing machine, it is necessary to clean it every few months.
6. If the powder contains soap or a rinse agent thick enough, then the laundry must be rinsed again or the wash should be switched on again without these products. Their concentration does not allow water to completely wash out all the granules, so over time, bacteria begin to multiply in the machine.

Now the market offers a huge range of chemicals that are designed to clean the washing machine. The buyer always chooses based on the price category and his requirements. Almost every master is sure that calgon will help clean the unit, preventing the reappearance of scale and remove the musty smell from the washing machine. This tool will cope with any type of pollution, because plaque on the internal parts of the washer can have a different composition and nature.

Many housewives do not know what to do when an unpleasant smell appears from their assistant. You can use the "anti-scale" agent, which allows you to remove scale on the heating elements of the machine. Store-bought products like a descaling agent and an antibacterial agent are of great help, they can be purchased in the department with household chemicals.

Acting strictly according to the instructions, add a certain dose of the drug into the powder tray or into the drum of the machine. Cleaning is carried out without linen, at the highest temperature once every six months.

How to quickly remove scale in the washing machine (video)

The video shows how to remove the smell from the washing machine at home, if scale is the cause. All you need is regular powder, citric acid and soda. You can alternate products, use citric acid once, and add 1 tbsp to the powder in the second. l. soda, which further softens the water. Washing is required at a high temperature in order to completely remove the formed carbon deposits from the heating elements.

In contact with

After acquiring an expensive automatic washing machine, the housewives expect that now they can forget about the mountains of dirty laundry forever: whether it is necessary to collect things, sort them, put them inside and press a few buttons. However, after a year or two, and for some owners of such equipment even after a couple of months, the device begins to smell from the drum. The unpleasant smell from the washing machine may well not only spread throughout the bathroom, but also remain on the linen. What to do in this situation, how to return the device to its former purity?

Before you start fighting a musty smell, you need to understand what causes it to occur.

Why does the washing machine smell: looking for problem areas

A fetid odor in the machine is formed after improper operation of the device, as well as in connection with the failure or partial damage of some working elements. The main reasons for the occurrence of negative consequences:

1. Accumulation of water in the car. Some owners from the smell, but close it tightly after use. There may be very little water left inside the device, which begins to turn sour.
2. Partial blockage of the drain hose. Here we are talking about the accumulation of mucus, debris, particles of powder or other detergent on its walls. Often a similar problem is typical for machines that are more than 5 years old. In this case, you can try to get rid of the smell by using a high temperature wash cycle without laundry.
3. . The smell appears as a result of the accumulation of deposits on the heating element. However, the main share of this plaque is the remnants of the detergent, litter, mineral salts. The stench is felt mainly when washing is done at low temperatures (up to 40 degrees). If a different temperature regime is chosen, then you can catch the smell of burning.
4. Failures in the functioning of the sewerage system and connection errors. If the smell comes not only from the car, but from other plumbing fixtures, then the problem is in the general house communications.
5. An accumulation of bacteria. It is relevant when washing is carried out at low temperatures and with little rinsing (programs like "express" and "daily").

How to get rid of the smell in the washing machine: the most affordable ways

It is not at all necessary to immediately contact the master or send the device to a service center, eliminate the smell in your washing machine. You can solve the problem yourself by using affordable and quite cheap means. Let's name the simplest ways to remove stench from the device.

Idle washing

The powder flask is completely filled with detergent (you can use an industrial cleaner). There is no need to load laundry. Of all the existing modes, it is necessary to choose one where the maximum time and temperature are set (usually it is about 90-95 degrees). Similar washing of the drum.

Selecting a flushing mode

Descaling with citric acid

The heating element is prone to scale formation, since the water in multi-storey buildings, and even in private houses, leaves much to be desired. Also, powder granules can stick to the heating element, forming a thick layer.

Washing with baking soda

First, a paste is prepared from soda and water - it is obtained by combining them. When it is done, they lubricate the sealing gum, cuvette, drum and other contaminated places as far as possible. The product is left on the surface for 40 minutes, then washed off. You can also carry out a washing cycle with the addition of 400 grams of soda.

Accumulation of dirt on the sealing gum

Cleansing with copper sulphate

In order to combat mold on an elastic band, 3% copper sulfate is used (the product is diluted in an amount of 30 grams in 1 liter of water). The ring is lubricated with the resulting solution and left for 1 day. Then carefully rinse off the surface, wipe dry.

Preparing the Vinegar Mix

Washing the drum with a mixture of washing powder, apple cider vinegar and citric acid helps to get rid of the smell of dampness and fungus. Take 2-3 tablespoons of detergent, 100 ml of vinegar and half a glass of acid. All this is placed in a cuvette, and the machine is started at maximum temperature. It is advisable to repeat this "wash" 2-3 times. To achieve the maximum effect, the device is turned off in the middle of the cycle and left for 2 hours.

Washing with oxalic acid

Produced without loading linen. Acid is placed in the powder container and the device is turned on for 30 minutes. Temperature is maximum.

Acquisition of industrial facilities

If there is no desire to independently engage in mixing and selecting chemical compositions, then you can buy special products for washing washing machines in the store. It can be powders and gels from scale, fungus, mold. Among them: Calgon, Dr. Beckmann, Scrubman and others.

Descaler for washing machines

Some housewives, when the machine smells of rotten water or rotten meat, try to wash the drum and other elements with chlorine-containing preparations. Of course, there is definitely a benefit from them, but there is also a risk of damage to the body or components of the device. Chlorine can corrode not only scale, mucus and dirt, but even rubber, plastic and metal parts if they have been in use for a long time.

industrial cleaner

How to prevent odor

So that from the drum, the cuvettes for the powder or the filter does not smell like a swamp, dampness, mold, you need to remember the simple rules for using a washing machine. Of these, one can name:

Unpleasant odors coming from the tank of the washing machine terrify many housewives. And these smells may not disappear even after the next wash. Even worse, they can be transmitted to bedding and things.

If you look, the unpleasant smell is most often caused by bacteria, which means that the laundry washed in such a washing machine will be hazardous to health.

Housewives begin to panic, some even call home appliance repairmen, while the cause of the bad smell lies on the surface. The rotten smell from the washing machine can be quickly eliminated if you understand the root causes of its appearance.

Why does the washing machine smell like rotten stuff?

If the washing machine smells like sewage, then inspecting the drain will not work. The thing is that such terrible smells are formed for completely different reasons.

breeding bacteria cause rapid decay of biological components, and soap and washing powder act as catalysts for the process.

At the same time, it is impossible to completely flush the sewer - water will still remain in it, which will start to stink if it is idle for a long time.

Let's try to consider several cases and figure out where the rotten smell comes from from the washing machine.

At the bottom of the drum of the switched off washing machine (as well as in the pump and drain hose), there may be some water with residues of washing powder and fluff. This is already a material for intensive decay, especially since washing is most often carried out at +30 - +40 degrees - this is a real paradise for bacteria that cause unpleasant odors.

If we forget about the washing machine for a week or two, then rotting processes will begin in the remaining water. As a result, we will get a rotten smell from the washing machine.

An unpleasant odor can also come from the drum itself, on which microscopic remains of biological contaminants remain. To avoid unpleasant odors in the washing machine next time, periodically wash at high temperatures.

Besides, tank needs to be cleaned regularly- we fill the empty machine with washing powder and turn it on in the washing mode without linen, setting the temperature to +95 degrees. Hot water will kill all bacteria and eliminate the causes of the disgusting rotten smell. At the same time, the heater will also be cleaned.


Some housewives use the machine tank instead of the dirty laundry tank tightly closing the loading hatch. This should not be allowed, since the rotten smell from the washing machine will make itself felt in just 2-3 days. It will be the laundry that will stink, and the remaining moisture will contribute to the strengthening of the unpleasant odor. It will also appear if the hatch is open.


The conclusion is that to store dirty laundry, you need to use special plastic tanks in which there are ventilation holes.

In some cases, air conditioners and washing powders can contribute to the appearance of an unpleasant odor. Banal too much detergent- and an unpleasant smell will spread throughout the bathroom (or kitchen).

If your washing machine has simply served its purpose and needs to be replaced, then we recommend that you familiarize yourself with the rating of the best washing machines.

Stinks from the washing machine - what to do

First of all, you need stop using the washing machine– its drum needs to be cleaned. Starting the idle wash and spend it at a temperature of +95 degrees.

After that you can restart the cycle using ordinary powder instead of citric acid. It will not only eliminate the remnants of pollution, but also remove scale. Similar procedures should be carried out if the washing machine has stood idle for too long.


If the stench appeared due to the storage of dirty laundry in the tank, then to remove the smell from the washing machine, it is enough to carry out one idle wash.

If the washing machine smells of mold and the smell does not leave the drum, you can look into the drain pump filter. Sometimes piles and threads get stuck here, which is the reason for the appearance of a persistent unpleasant odor.

From all of the above, three conclusions can be drawn:

• It is necessary to carry out periodic cleaning of the drum with the help of idle washings;
• You should get rid of the habit of storing dirty laundry in the tank of the machine;
• Do not close the loading door between washings or when not in use for a long time - the drum needs ventilation.

Following these simple rules, you can never know how your washing machine can stink. By the way, in some models there are special drum cleaning programs. Also, do not rely on the praised silver ion coating. It certainly works, but it will not be able to cope with stagnant water.