How To Clean A Smelly Top Load Washing Machine

If you've ever caught whiff of a stale, musty smell in your clothing or washer's drum while transferring your laundry to your dryer, we've got some news: a dirty washing machine is likely to blame. Even though you rely on your washer to clean towels, clothes and linens, it also needs to be cleaned from time to time so that it can do its job well. It's not just about odor: Leftover laundry detergent, fabric softener and soil stuck to the dispenser, inner parts and washtub can deposit on clothes, leaving behind marks and stains. Mold and mildew deposits can form in the rubber door gasket on front load washers if water is allowed to puddle there. For these reasons alone, you s hould deep clean your washing machine once a month and take these simple steps after each load to help keep it fresh and clean.

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Luckily, it's relatively quick and easy to clean — at least according to Carolyn Forte, Director of the Cleaning Lab at the Good Housekeeping Institute. Methods are similar for cleaning both front- and top-loading machines, but your owner's manual or the appliance manufacturer's website will usually have the cleaning details for your specific model. Or, follow Forte's step-by-step instructions on how to clean a washing machine below. FYI, while some may recommend cleaning your machine hot water and vinegar, the Good Housekeeping Institute Cleaning Lab doesn't believe it's effective enough. Full strength vinegar (not diluted in the machine) can dissolve hard water deposits, but it's not as thorough a germ-killer as bleach or as good a cleaner as products formulated for that purpose. Plus, overusing vinegar may damage rubber parts, like hoses.

How to Clean a Washing Machine

With all the detergent, fabric softener, body soil and dirt that goes into your washer with each load, anything that's not removed builds up over time and makes the perfect breeding ground for mold, mildew and odors.

Here's what to do once per month for a clean, pristine machine:

Run a cycle: Many newer models have a dedicated washer cleaning cycle that presets the time, agitation and water temperature, and all you need to do is simply add bleach. If yours doesn't have this cycle, add 1/2 cup of liquid chlorine bleach to the dispenser or fill the dispenser to the max line and run a normal cycle with hot water (or follow what the manual says). Or you can use a speciality cleaner, like Affresh or GH Seal star Tide Washing Machine Cleaner according to package directions. While bleach alone will kill bacteria and mold, it may not dissolve other residues. These washing machine cleaners have ingredients to rid your machine of greasy build-ups and hard water minerals, too.
Set an extra rinse and spin: Once the cleaning cycle is done, run another rinse and spin just to make sure any traces of bleach or particle remnants are completely washed away.
Clean the dispenser drawer: If you have removable dispensers, pop them out, take them apart and rinse them well under hot water. Use a soft toothbrush to dislodge any stuck-on gunk. Wipe dry, reassemble and reinsert them into the machine. If they are still wet, leave them open to thoroughly air dry.
Wipe and dry the rubber seal and drum: If you have a front-loader, wipe the rubber gasket clean and dry thoroughly to prevent mold. Wipe the drum and door or lid, too, or leave it open to air dry.

How to Deodorize a Smelly Washing Machine

Along with cleaning monthly, make it a habit to leave the machine door ajar or lift the lid after each use. By doing this, air will circulate and dry out any remaining moisture that can contribute to musty smells. Just make sure that you keep children and pets away from the open machine, as a safety precaution and engage the child lock on your controls if you have one.

Take out clean clothes promptly: As soon as a cycle ends, empty the machine to prevent a musty odor from developing in the washtub.
Remove any debris or pet hair: If you have a pet that sheds in the house, you're going to find pet hair in your washer after running several loads. Leave the door open until the pet hair and drum are thoroughly dry. Then, using your vacuum's soft brush attachment, vacuum out the fur.
Dry the gasket: If you have a front loading machine, regularly check the gasket to be sure no small items, like baby socks, are trapped in there and dry it often to keep mold away.
Clean the controls: With a damp cloth, wipe the controls, door handle and any drips of detergent or softener you see on the front, sides and top of the machine to keep it looking its best.

All the Washing Machine Cleaners to Keep on Hand

Washing Machine Cleaner Tablets

Tide Washing Machine Cleaner

Weiman Washing Machine Cleaner and Deodorizer

Amanda Garrity Associate Lifestyle Editor As the Associate Lifestyle Editor for GoodHousekeeping.com, Amanda oversees gift guides and covers home, holidays, food, and other lifestyle news.

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