To get rid of a smelly washing machine, run a hot-water cycle with two cups of baking soda, followed by a second hot cycle using two cups of white vinegar. Scrub the rubber door gasket and dispenser drawer, clean the bottom drain filter, and leave the door open between uses.
To quickly eliminate a foul odor, run an empty, hot water cycle with 2 cups of white vinegar or a specialized washing machine cleaner (like affresh Washing Machine Cleaner). Follow this with an empty, hot cycle using 1 cup of baking soda to neutralize lingering smells.
To stop your washing machine from smelling, run an empty, hot water cycle using a specialized cleaner like Affresh Washer Machine Cleaner. For a natural approach, put 2 cups of baking soda into the empty drum and run a hot cycle, followed by a second hot cycle with 2 cups of white vinegar in the detergent dispenser.
If your washing machine still smells after a deep clean, it’s likely that odor-causing bacteria and mold are trapped in hidden, hard-to-reach areas. The issue usually stems from overlooked maintenance points, such as a clogged drain filter, grimy rubber door seals, or a dirty detergent drawer.
Yes, you can absolutely use vinegar and baking soda to clean your washing machine. This safe, natural method breaks down detergent buildup, removes musty odors, and helps prevent mold.
Finding the best washing machine cleaner depends on your specific needs—whether you need to tackle heavy grime, eliminate pet hair, or just keep up with regular maintenance. The top options on the market offer targeted cleaning power to safely freshen and descale both front and top-loading machines.
Smelly washing machines are primarily caused by the buildup of mold, mildew, bacteria, and detergent residue in dark, damp areas of the machine. This accumulation is often worsened by leaving the machine door closed between cycles and using too much soap or liquid fabric softener.
Washing Machine Smells and How To Get Rid of Them
The characteristic "old age smell" is scientifically known as nonenal (or 2-nonenal). It is a chemical compound produced when the skin's natural oils and fatty acids break down and oxidize as we age.
Yes, you can use distilled white vinegar to soften clothes, remove odors, and eliminate detergent buildup. However, because of its acidity, use it sparingly and never put it directly in the main wash or mix it with bleach, as this can corrode rubber seals and create toxic fumes.
To remove a rotten egg (sulfur) smell, deep-clean your washing machine by running a hot, empty cycle using a specialized Washing Machine Cleaner or bleach, then clean the filter and rubber door gasket.
Less Tangling: When clothes are allowed to tangle, especially long items like pants or sheets, they often come out of the wash knotted up. The bottles help keep items moving independently, minimizing the chances of tangling.
The best washing machine deodorizer depends on your washer type and maintenance needs. Top picks include Affresh tablets for standard monthly maintenance, OxiClean with Odor Blasters for tough, built-up odors, and Tide Washing Machine Cleaner for hard water.
Run a service cycle
Put on a wash cycle with no clothes in the drum and on the hottest setting which helps to kill any bacteria and clear residue. You can add in a washing machine cleaner to help the process. This ideally should be done once a month to prevent any smells forming.
You can use a mold-and-mildew cleaner or try vinegar and baking soda. This combination is a budget-friendly and natural way to get rid of the odors caused by detergent residue or mildew. Vinegar and baking soda can also unclog buildup in your washer's drain. Start with an empty and dry washing machine.
Yes, you can put bleach in the washing machine drum, but you must do it safely to prevent ruining your clothes or damaging the machine. The method depends on your machine's features:
"Old person smell" can begin as early as age 40, as the body produces more of the compound 2-nonenal. This, often described as a grassy, greasy, or musty odor, is a natural part of aging caused by the breakdown of unsaturated fatty acids and declining skin antioxidant defenses. While it starts around 40, it becomes more noticeable in the 50s and beyond.
"Old person smell"—scientifically known as 2-nonenal—is caused by fatty acids oxidizing on the skin. Because it is not water-soluble, standard body washes and intense scrubbing won't wash it off. To eliminate it, you need to use soaps containing Japanese persimmon extract and green tea.
Smelling yourself through your pants even after showering is surprisingly common and usually caused by trapped sweat, bacteria, or a shift in pH rather than poor hygiene. The groin has dense sweat glands, and moisture trapped by synthetic fabrics or tight clothing causes bacteria to break down the sweat, amplifying the scent.
To stop your washing machine from smelling, run an empty, hot water cycle using a specialized cleaner like Affresh Washer Machine Cleaner. For a natural approach, put 2 cups of baking soda into the empty drum and run a hot cycle, followed by a second hot cycle with 2 cups of white vinegar in the detergent dispenser.
You can also deodorize drains and help smelly drains with a combination of baking soda and vinegar. These ingredients, when used together, can also sometimes help to clear drain clogs.
Check your standpipe. If bad smells continue, you may have a partial blockage in your standpipe. If you suspect this is the case, use a drain unblocker to try to clear the obstruction. If this does not solve the problem, you may need to call a professional plumber to resolve the issue.
Leaving a load of wet clothes inside your washing machine for too long can lead to mildew growth, which may be the reason behind that musty smell coming from your appliance. Always remove your wet load of clothes as soon as possible after a cycle is complete to help prevent this from happening.
The rotten egg smell in your washing machine is primarily caused by hydrogen sulfide gas, which results from bacterial buildup, mold, mildew, and sometimes sewer gases. This odor can also be influenced by well water or hard water containing sulfur compounds.
Resolution. An unpleasant smell in a washing machine is usually caused by detergent residue, moisture build‑up, mould in the door seal, or infrequent hot washes.