Why does my washing machine smell? Causes and how to fix it

If the machine, or your clean washing, smells musty, eggy or just stale, it's nearly always build-up in one of three places. Here's how to find it and get rid of it, and how to tell when a smell is pointing at a fault rather than dirt.

Why it happens

Cool washing is the main reason. A 20 or 30 degree cycle is kind to the bill but never gets hot enough to kill the bacteria and mould that feed on detergent and softener residue. Add water that never quite drains away and a door kept shut between washes, and you've made the perfect home for a smell.

The three places to clean

The door seal is the first. Peel back the rubber folds at the bottom, where water and gunk sit, and where most smells start. Our guide on cleaning the door seal walks through it.

Next the detergent drawer. Pull it right out, there's usually a catch to release it, and scrub the drawer and the recess it lives in. Black mould builds up in here, especially if you use fabric softener.

Last the filter, behind the kick panel at the bottom. It traps fluff, coins and standing water that goes stagnant, and cleaning the filter often clears a smell on its own.

Then run an empty machine on the hottest cotton wash with a cup of white vinegar or a washing machine cleaner, and make a habit of it once a month. Leave the door ajar between washes so it dries out.

When a smell means a fault

Clean all three and it still comes straight back? Or it smells of drains? The water may not be clearing properly, leaving a stagnant puddle after every cycle. A perished door seal that won't come clean will hold a smell too. Both are jobs an engineer can sort, and a seal replacement usually falls in the £80 to £150 band, with the part quoted separately.

Book a washing machine repair

If the smell won't go however hard you clean, or there's water sitting in the drum after a wash, book a washing machine repair or find your local washing machine engineer.

Frequently asked questions

Why does my washing machine smell musty?

Mould and bacteria feeding on detergent residue in the seal, drawer and filter, kept alive by cool washes and trapped damp. Clean all three, run a monthly hot wash, and it usually goes.

Why do my clothes smell even after washing?

The residue inside the machine transfers to clean laundry. Clean the seal, drawer and filter, ease off the detergent and softener, and run a hot maintenance wash.

Why does it smell of eggs or drains?

That kind of smell usually means water is going stagnant rather than draining away. Clean the filter first, and if it carries on the machine may not be draining fully and needs a look.

How often should I clean it?

A hot wash once a month, plus wiping the seal and leaving the door ajar between washes, keeps it away for most people.