Guide
How to clean a smelly washing machine.
A washer that makes laundry smell musty is harboring mold and detergent buildup, usually in the door gasket and drawer on a front-loader. A monthly clean cycle plus drying the seal fixes it.
Clean a washing machine by running an empty hot cycle with two cups of white vinegar (or a washer-cleaning tablet), then wiping the drum, door gasket and detergent drawer. On a front-loader, the rubber gasket and the drawer are where mold hides, so clean them by hand. Leave the door open between washes so it can dry.
Run a clean cycle
Start by running the machine empty and hot to flush the drum.
- Set the hottest, largest cycle with no clothes
- Add two cups of white vinegar, or use the washer's clean cycle with a tablet
- Optionally run a second short cycle with a half cup of baking soda
Clean the gasket and drawer (front-loaders)
On a front-loader, mold and slime collect in the folds of the door gasket and in the detergent drawer. This is the real source of the smell.
- Pull back the rubber gasket and wipe out the trapped water, hair and gunk
- Remove the detergent drawer and wash it in the sink
- Wipe both with a vinegar solution and dry
Keep it from coming back
Mold needs moisture. Take it away.
- Leave the door and drawer open between washes to air-dry
- Use the right amount of detergent — excess feeds buildup
- Run a clean cycle once a month
Rather hand it off? ShowMeClean NWA handles all of this across Barry County and Table Rock Lake. Get a free quote or call (417) 846-1234.
Common questions
Frequently asked
Trapped moisture grows mold and mildew, especially in a front-loader's door gasket and detergent drawer. Clean those by hand and leave the door open to dry.
Run a clean cycle once a month, and wipe the gasket and drawer at the same time. Leaving the door open between washes prevents most odor.
White vinegar is effective and safe for routine cleaning. Some manufacturers recommend bleach or a dedicated tablet for the clean cycle; never mix the two.