A washer that smells musty is not usually broken. It is usually damp in places that never get a chance to dry. Understanding how to clean a washing machine means paying attention to those specific spots rather than running one long cycle and hoping the smell disappears.
The general principle comes from mold guidance rather than appliance marketing. EPA’s advice for household mold is to fix water problems promptly, scrub mold off hard surfaces with detergent and water, and dry surfaces completely, because standing water and wet materials are a breeding ground for microorganisms. A washer is a machine full of hard surfaces that stay wet, so that same principle applies directly.
Start With the Manual, Then Gather Very Little
Your machine’s manual is the authority on which cleaning products and cycles are approved for your model, and some manufacturers void coverage for products they do not endorse. Check it first, especially if the washer is under warranty.
For most routine cleaning, you need warm water, a mild detergent or the cleaning product your manual recommends, a few microfiber cloths, an old toothbrush or small soft brush, and a container for water you wipe out of the door seal.
How to Clean a Washing Machine Part by Part
Odors concentrate in a short list of places. Work through them in order so drips land on surfaces you have not yet finished.
- Door seal or gasket. On a front-loading machine, gently fold back the rubber seal and wipe the channel underneath. This is the single most common home for residue, lint, hair, and trapped water.
- Detergent and softener dispensers. Remove them if your manual allows, and clean out the buildup that restricts flow.
- Drum interior. Wipe the drum and the area just inside the opening, including the underside of the top rim on top-loading machines.
- Door glass and hinge area. Residue collects along the bottom edge of the glass.
- Filter or drain trap. Many front-loading washers have a small access panel with a filter that collects debris. Follow the manual, since draining is usually required first.
- Exterior and control panel. A damp cloth is enough, and it makes leaks easier to notice.
After cleaning, dry everything you touched. EPA’s mold guidance is consistent on this point: dry all items completely, and dry hard surfaces completely after cleaning with detergent and water.
Run the Cleaning Cycle the Right Way
Many washers include a tub clean or self-clean cycle. Use it as the manual describes, with an empty drum and the product the manufacturer specifies. If your machine has no such cycle, the manual usually describes an alternative using the hottest available water setting.
One rule matters more than any cleaning product choice: do not improvise chemical mixtures. The Connecticut Poison Control Center warns that mixing chlorine and ammonia makes a deadly chloramine gas, and notes that cleaning products are poisonous if inhaled, ingested, or splashed on the skin or in the eyes, and that they act quickly. Use one product at a time, follow the label, and ventilate the room while you work.
Why the Smell Comes Back
Cleaning removes existing residue. Preventing odor means changing the conditions that create it. Three factors do most of the damage: detergent residue, a drum that never dries, and wet laundry left sitting.
Detergent choice is a real variable. Department of Energy guidance advises that if you use a front-loading washer or a high-efficiency top-loader, you should use detergent labeled for high-efficiency machines, because HE detergents are low-sudsing and quick-dispersing and are designed to clean well in washers that use less water. Using more detergent than needed, or the wrong type, leaves residue behind that feeds odors.
Water temperature is a related trade-off. Energy Saver guidance recommends washing clothes in cold water whenever possible and using cold-water detergents to save energy. That is good advice for most loads, and it also means the machine itself gets less hot-water exposure, which makes the drying and airing habits below more important.
A Maintenance Routine That Keeps It Fresh
- After every load: remove laundry promptly, wipe the door seal if it is wet, and leave the door and the dispenser drawer open so the interior can dry.
- Weekly: wipe the seal, glass, and dispenser area, and look underneath for leaks.
- Monthly: run the manufacturer’s cleaning cycle and clean the dispensers thoroughly.
- Every few months: check the drain filter if your model has one, and inspect the fill hoses for bulges, cracks, or dampness at the connections.
Load habits help too. DOE guidance recommends washing and drying full loads and using the appropriate water-level setting for a small load, which keeps detergent and water in proportion.
Don’t Forget the Dryer Beside It
Since laundry maintenance usually happens in one trip, take care of the other machine while you are there. DOE recommends cleaning the dryer lint screen after every load to improve air circulation and prevent fire hazards, periodically using a vacuum’s long nozzle to remove lint from below the lint screen slot, and inspecting the dryer vent to make sure it is not blocked. It also notes that manufacturers recommend rigid venting material rather than plastic vents that can collapse and cause blockages.
When Cleaning Is Not the Answer
A few symptoms point past routine maintenance: standing water that never drains, a leak that appears during every cycle, a burning smell, a drum that will not spin, or visible mold on porous surrounding materials such as drywall or cabinetry. Those call for a qualified appliance technician, and water damage around the machine may involve more than the appliance itself.
EPA also offers a useful reminder for the space around a washer: do not paint or caulk moldy surfaces, because paint applied over mold is likely to peel. Clean and dry first.
If the machine is old and problems keep returning, replacement may be the more practical path, and our home appliance buying guide covers what to compare. For primary guidance, see the EPA’s page on mold cleanup in your home, the Department of Energy’s laundry energy guidance, and the Connecticut Poison Control Center’s cleaning product safety notes. Always follow your appliance manual, and call Poison Control or 911 if someone is exposed to a cleaning product.
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