How to remove mildew smell from a washer
To remove mildew smell from a washer, clean the places where water, lint and detergent residue sit: wipe the door gasket, clean the detergent dispenser and the drain pump filter, then run the machine's tub-clean cycle, using chlorine bleach in it if the manufacturer's mold procedure calls for that. Leave the door open afterward to dry. The smell is mold and bacteria growing in damp residue, and it transfers to your clothes.
- Best method
- Clean gasket, dispenser and drain filter, run a tub-clean cycle, dry with the door open
- Time
- About 1 to 2 hours including the cleaning cycle
- Difficulty
- Moderate
You will need
- Oxygen bleach
- Liquid chlorine bleach, if your manual's mold procedure uses it
- Cloths and an old toothbrush
- A shallow pan and towel for the drain filter
- Your washer's manual
Step by step
- 1
Check your manual first
Look up your model's cleaning procedure, tub-clean cycle and filter location. Steps and dispenser layouts vary between models.
Why: Using the wrong compartment or cycle can leave bleach residue on the next load or skip the parts that need cleaning.
- 2
Clean the door gasket
On a front-loader, pull back the rubber door seal and remove the lint and hair trapped in the folds. Wipe the whole gasket with an oxygen bleach solution and dry it.
Why: Lint and hair in the gasket hold water and grow mold. It's the most common source of a musty front-loader.
- 3
Clean the detergent dispenser
Remove the dispenser drawer if your model allows, scrub off detergent and softener residue, rinse and dry it, and wipe the cavity it sits in.
Why: Undissolved detergent builds up in the dispenser and feeds mold, especially with cold washes or too much detergent.
- 4
Clean the drain pump filter
With a pan and towel ready, open the drain pump filter as your manual shows, let the water drain, remove debris and rinse the filter.
Why: A clogged filter leaves water standing in the drum, which keeps the machine damp and smelly.
- 5
Run the tub-clean cycle
Run the self-clean or tub-clean cycle on an empty machine. For a mildew smell or visible mold, follow the manufacturer's mold procedure; Samsung's, for example, puts liquid chlorine bleach in the detergent compartment up to the max line, runs Self Clean, then Rinse and Spin.
Why: A hot, empty cleaning cycle reaches residue in the drum and hoses that you can't wipe.
- 6
Leave the door open to dry
Wipe out the drum and gasket and leave the door and dispenser open until the machine is dry.
Why: Mold needs moisture. A machine closed up wet starts growing it again right away.
Why washing machines smell musty
A washer is dark and damp, and it collects lint, hair, detergent and softener residue. In front-loaders, the rubber door gasket traps lint and hair that hold water and grow mold. Detergent that doesn't fully dissolve, common with cold washes or overdosing, coats the dispenser, drum and gasket. A clogged drain filter leaves water standing in the drum.
Samsung's support pages list detergent buildup, improper drain-hose setup and leaving wet clothes in the machine as causes of musty odors. The smell then transfers to your laundry, which is why clothes can come out smelling worse than they went in. See mildew smell in clothes for fixing the laundry itself.
Keeping the washer from smelling again
Use the amount of detergent your machine's maker recommends, take wet laundry out promptly, wipe the gasket now and then, and leave the door open between loads. LG recommends running the tub-clean cycle about once a month.
If the smell continues after several tub cleans, LG says the machine may need service. For routine cleaning, see cleaning a washing machine.
By situation
Front-loader with a moldy gasket
Clean deep into the gasket folds with an oxygen bleach solution and a soft brush, dry it, and run the manufacturer's mold-cleaning cycle. Leave the door open afterward.
Top-loader smells musty
Clean the dispenser and any filter, and run the tub-clean cycle as your manual directs. Leave the lid open to dry.
The washer smells like sewage or rotten eggs
That smell may come from the drain connection rather than the drum. Check the drain-hose setup and the household drain or trap, and call a plumber if needed.
Clothes come out smelling sour
Clean the washer as above, then rewash the clothes and dry them right away. Wet laundry left in the drum is a major cause of both problems.
What not to do
- Don't run the self-clean cycle with laundry inside. The cycle and any bleach are meant for an empty machine and can damage clothes.
- Don't use bleach in every routine self-clean. Samsung reserves chlorine bleach for its mold procedure, not regular cleaning cycles.
- Don't put chlorine bleach in the bleach compartment for the mold procedure unless your manual says to. Samsung's procedure uses the detergent compartment; follow your own model's instructions.
- Don't mix bleach with vinegar, ammonia or other cleaners. The combinations release toxic gases.
- Don't close the door on a wet machine. Trapped moisture lets mold regrow.
Other methods that work
Oxygen bleach instead of chlorine
LG's guidance uses oxygen-based bleach for wiping the gasket, which suits routine cleaning.
Caution: Follow your manual for what can go into a cleaning cycle.
Service call
If odor continues after several tub-clean cycles, the machine may have a drainage or internal problem that needs a technician.
Stain still there?
Still smells after a tub clean
Check the drain pump filter and gasket again, and repeat the cleaning cycle. If the smell persists after several cleans, call for service.
Black spots keep coming back on the gasket
The gasket isn't drying between loads. Wipe it dry after the last load of the day and leave the door open.
Safety
- Ventilate the laundry area when using chlorine bleach, and never mix it with other cleaners.
- Unplug the machine if your manual says to before opening the drain filter, and expect water to come out.
Never mix cleaning products; see chemicals you must never combine.
Questions
How do I get the mildew smell out of my washer?
Clean the gasket, dispenser and drain filter, run the tub-clean cycle as your manual directs, and leave the door open to dry.
Why does my front-loader smell musty?
Lint and hair in the door gasket hold water and grow mold, and detergent residue builds up. Clean the gasket and run a tub-clean cycle.
How often should I clean my washing machine?
LG recommends running the tub-clean cycle about once a month to prevent buildup.
Can vinegar clean a smelly washer?
The manufacturer guidance behind this page uses oxygen bleach for the gasket and chlorine bleach for mold cycles. Never combine vinegar with bleach.
Mildew elsewhere
Sources
- LG Washer - Troubleshooting Odor / Buildup, LG Electronics USA (manufacturer support)
- Samsung washing machine has a mildew smell or visible mold, Samsung US (manufacturer support)
- Samsung washing machine or laundry smells bad, Samsung US (manufacturer support)
- Keeping It Clean: Controlling Mildew (FCS5232; archival copy), University of Florida IFAS Extension (EDIS)
- Chlorine gas: What happens if you mix bleach and other cleaners, Poison Control (National Capital Poison Center)
Last updated . Methods are drawn from the sources above; how we research and check our guides.