Why Your Washing Machine Smells Like Mildew (And How To Fix It)

Why Washing Machines Smell

It may seem counterintuitive that your washing machine would smell. But if you think about all the dirt and grime that comes off your clothes and into the washer, it makes sense. 

Washing machines smell due to a combination of trapped moisture (don’t forget to leave the washing machine door open to air out after each cycle!) and yucky residue buildup from fabric softeners, toxic detergents, and dirt. Over time, this buildup promotes mold, mildew, and bacterial growth—all of which contribute to that funky smell.

Plus, if you use cool or cold water cycles most often, these cycles don’t produce enough heat to kill bacteria. Other culprits include stalled water in hoses, mildew in the drum, and trapped moisture and gunk in your rubber door seal.

Front Load vs Top Load: Why One Smells More

If you’ve switched from a top-loading machine to a front-loading machine, you may have noticed your washer smells more often or smells worse than your previous model. 

That’s because front-load washers are more prone to odors. The reason? Front-load washers use less water than top-load washers and have a tighter door seal that traps moisture inside. That rubber gasket around the door is a serious magnet for water, laundry detergent residue, mildew, and even dirt and other fallout from dirty laundry. 

Top-load machines, on the other hand, allow more air circulation, and since they’re constructed differently, they don’t suffer from the same door seal issues. This makes top-loaders less likely to develop less-than-pleasant odors. 

How to Remove the Smell From Washing Machines (Top and Front Load)

So, what’s the solution? Here’s how to actually get rid of those washing machine smells. 

Step 1: Clean the rubber door seal. For front-load washers, wipe down the rubber gasket with a damp cloth to remove trapped gunk. Bonus points if you use a non-toxic cleaning solution like Truly Free Home Everyday Cleaner.

Step 2: Run a deep cleaning cycle. Add Truly Free Home Laundry Machine Cleaner to your empty washing machine and run the self-clean cycle. If your machine doesn’t have a self-clean option, run the hottest, longest cycle available. 

Step 3: Wipe down the drum and detergent dispenser. After the cycle finishes, wipe the inside of the drum, clean out the detergent drawer (an easily missed culprit of mildew and odors!), and leave the door open to air dry between loads. 

Step 4: Check the filter. If your laundry machine has a filter (most front-loaders do), clean it out. Trapped lint, hair, and debris can cause serious washing machine smells.