Why washing machines get smelly
Modern habits are partly to blame. Washing at low temperatures saves energy, but it doesn't clear the residue of detergent, fabric softener and fibres that builds up in the drum, seal and pipes. Add a closed door and a damp environment, and mould and bacteria have everything they need.
None of this means you should stop washing at 30°C – just that the machine benefits from a little maintenance.
Step 1: Clean the detergent drawer
Pull the drawer out fully – most have a release tab at the back. Soak it in hot soapy water and scrub away the gunk with an old toothbrush. Then look inside the drawer housing: the top is often coated in mould. Wipe and brush it out before refitting the dry drawer.
Step 2: The door seal
Fold back the rubber seal gently and you'll find hair, fluff, coins and often black spots of mould. Wipe it out with a cloth and warm soapy water, getting right into the folds. A product made for washing machine seals can help with mould marks, but some staining may be permanent once it's in the rubber.
Step 3: A maintenance wash
Run an empty wash at 60°C or hotter with a washing machine cleaner, or with your usual detergent if you don't have one. Many manufacturers recommend doing this about once a month, especially if most of your washes are at lower temperatures. Some machines have a dedicated drum-clean programme.
Use one product at a time – don't combine machine cleaners with bleach, vinegar or other products.
Get quotes from local cleaners
Step 4: The drain pump filter
Front-loading machines usually have a small filter behind a flap at the bottom front. It catches hair grips, buttons and lint before they reach the pump. Check your manual first, as water will come out when you open it.
- Unplug the machine
- Lay down towels and have a shallow tray ready
- Drain the water through the small emergency hose if there is one
- Unscrew the filter slowly, clear any debris and rinse it
- Refit it firmly so it doesn't leak
Top loaders and washer-dryers
Most UK homes have front-loading machines, but the principles are the same for top loaders: clean the dispenser, wipe the lid and rim, and run a hot maintenance wash. Top loaders don't have a door seal to collect gunk, but residue can build up under the rim of the drum.
Washer-dryers have an extra job: the condenser or lint filter for the drying cycle. Some clean themselves; others have a filter you should rinse regularly. A clogged drying filter makes cycles longer and less effective, so it's worth checking the manual for your model.
Detergent: less is often more
Overdosing is one of the main reasons machines get smelly. Excess detergent doesn't rinse away fully, so it builds up in the drum, the seal and the pipes, where it feeds mould. The dose on the packet is usually based on water hardness and how dirty the load is – soft water areas often need less.
Liquid detergents and fabric conditioners leave more residue than powders, so households that only use liquids benefit most from regular hot maintenance washes.
Stop it coming back
Leave the door and the detergent drawer slightly open between washes so the inside can dry out. Don't overdose detergent – more isn't cleaner, and the excess builds up. Take wet laundry out promptly, and check pockets for tissues.
If your machine keeps leaking, won't drain or smells of burning, stop using it and get it checked by an appliance engineer.
