Match the smell to where it is strongest
- Check the empty drum, washer opening, nearby drain and clothes to locate the smell.
- For a musty washer, clean the empty machine and its accessible parts, then let it dry.
- For a sewer smell strongest at a drain, check the drain. If you suspect gas, leave the area and call your gas utility.
- Stop using a washer that smells burnt or produces smoke.
A smell around the washer can come from more than one place. We'd locate it before adding cleaner, because a drain odor or a burning smell needs a different response. Check the empty drum, the opening, the nearby drain and any clothes that still smell after drying.
| What you notice | Where to look | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Musty smell | Drum, dispenser or door seal | Clean the empty washer and those parts, then let the interior dry. |
| Sewer smell | Laundry-room or floor drain | Refill the drain with water. If the smell remains, contact a plumber. |
| Rotten-egg smell that makes you suspect gas | The surrounding area | Leave with others and call your gas utility from a safe location. |
| Burning smell or smoke | Washer | Stop using it. Unplug it only if you can do so safely, then arrange appliance service. |
| Smell only on clothes | A load left wet or washed in a musty machine | Rewash the affected load and check the washer for odor. |
If the smell is musty inside the machine, start with the cleaning steps below. The washer-cleaning guide has more on the routine.
A rotten-egg or burning smell changes the plan
Arrange appliance service for a burning smell or smoke before using the washer again. Tell the service provider what you smelled and whether there was smoke.
A musty smell starts with moisture and residue
Mildew grows in moist, dark places with poor airflow, and either a front loader or a top loader can develop that smell. Wet laundry left in the drum, a dirty dispenser and missed cleaning can all contribute.
Check whether the smell is inside the empty drum or concentrated at the dispenser or opening. Clean those areas along with the drum so residue outside the wash basket isn't left behind.
Choose a cleaner your washer permits
Check your model's cleaning directions before adding a product. Washing machine cleaner, chlorine bleach and baking soda are options on some machines, depending on the model.
Clean the empty washer
Use your washer's cleaning cycle and an approved product. The cycle names differ, but the useful order is the same: empty the machine, run the specified cycle, clean the parts you can reach and let everything dry.
- Remove all laundry. Add the approved cleaner where its directions specify. If you're using a compatible cleaning tablet, place it directly in the drum.
- Run the washer's cleaning cycle if it has one. Otherwise, use the empty cycle and water temperature specified in your model's cleaning directions.
- Run a rinse cycle afterward if your model's cleaning procedure calls for one.
- Clean the dispenser and the door seal or lid as described below. On a top loader with an agitator, clean that part too.
- Leave the door or lid open until the interior is completely dry. Check the empty drum for the smell again.
Here are examples of why the cycle choice matters. You can find the Tub Clean steps for LG washers (opens in a new tab) if that's the machine you have.
| Washer | Documented cycle choice |
|---|---|
| LG with Tub Clean | Put a compatible cleaning tablet directly in the drum. |
| GE front loader without BasketClean | Run a large Heavy/Cotton cycle with an empty basket. |
| GE top loader with Basket Clean | Close the lid, select Basket Clean and start it. |
| Maytag without Clean Washer | Use Normal or Heavy with Hot water, then run Rinse & Spin after the wash. |
If the dry, empty drum still smells musty, recheck the dispenser and opening. If the odor persists after those cleaning checks, arrange appliance service.
Clean the dispenser separately
A dirty detergent drawer can keep a mildew smell around after the drum is clean. Remove it using your washer's directions, then wash it with warm water, mild soap and a soft sponge or cloth. Rinse with warm water, dry it with a clean towel and put it back.
The drawer should be clean and dry when it goes back in. If the washer still smells, check the door seal or lid next.
On a top loader, check the agitator and lid
If your top loader has an agitator, wipe its outside with a damp cloth and mild soap. Only remove the cap if your model has one designed to come off; gently twist or pull it off and wipe inside with a cloth or scrub brush.
Wipe the lid and washer opening with a clean, damp cloth. Leave the lid open until the interior dries. If the agitator cap doesn't come off as your model's directions describe, leave it in place and finish the other cleaning steps.
On a front loader, wipe inside the door seal
Mildew can collect in the folds of a front loader's rubber door seal. Wipe the recessed areas with a clean, damp, soft cloth, then leave the door open until the interior dries completely. The front-loader mildew checks focus on this area if the smell is strongest at the opening.
Check the seal and empty drum again once they're dry. If a musty odor remains after the drum, drawer and seal have all been cleaned, arrange appliance service.
A sewer smell strongest at the drain
If the smell is strongest at a laundry-room or floor drain, refill that drain with water and check whether the odor clears. A smell that persists afterward can point to a damaged trap, blocked vent or plumbing leak; contact a plumber.
Also look at where the washer hose enters the standpipe. On a Samsung washer with a sulfur or sewage smell, check that the hose extends no more than eight inches into it. Samsung's drain-hose guidance (opens in a new tab) gives that measurement. For another washer, use its installation directions.
If water is staying in the washer, check its filter path
A pump filter is a model-specific check. On a Whirlpool front loader with an accessible filter, place a broad, flat container beneath it to catch drain water and follow the pump-filter steps (opens in a new tab). Some Bosch washers instead have a service flap and drain tube. Use the procedure for your machine before opening either arrangement.
Some GE top loaders have a filtering system with no owner access for pump cleaning. If your washer isn't draining, follow the washing-machine drainage checks and arrange appliance service if the model's owner-accessible steps don't restore draining.
The smell is only on your clothes
A load left wet in the washer too long may need another wash if it developed a mildew smell. Rewash it at the warmest temperature its care label allows. If the clothes still smell after drying, check whether the empty washer smells too, then clean the machine and review your detergent use.
Check the detergent before the next load
If you have a high-efficiency washer, use HE detergent. Non-HE detergent can leave residue that leads to odors. Check the washer's directions for the right type if you're unsure.
Check the amount separately. Using more than recommended can leave residue too, so match the amount to the load size and how dirty the clothes are. If the smell returns after cleaning, revisit both the detergent type and amount.
The smell remains after the right check
Book appliance service if a musty smell persists after you've cleaned and dried the washer's drum, dispenser and opening. Contact a plumber if a sewer smell remains at a drain after you've refilled it with water.
Check your model's warranty before booking appliance service. Have the model and serial numbers, purchase details and a clear description of the smell ready. Tell the technician where the smell is strongest and which cleaning or drainage checks you've completed.
A few cleaner and care questions
Can I use baking soda?
It is an option for some washers. Check your model's cleaning directions before adding it.
Should I use vinegar?
Skip it for washer cleaning. Over time, vinegar can damage washer components.
Can washing only in cool water affect the smell?
Using only cool-water cycles can contribute to mildew odors over time. Keep up with the cleaning routine your washer specifies.
How often should I clean the washer?
About once a month, every 30 cycles or as needed is a useful starting point. Follow your model's directions.
Let the washer dry between loads
Unload damp clothes as soon as possible after a cycle. Between loads, leave the door or lid open so the drum can air out. Include the tub and dispenser in your regular cleaning routine.
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