When was the last time you cleaned your washing machine? Never, because, like soap, it’s self cleaning, right? And yet: it smells. The good news is that it’s pretty easy to return your washing machine to a non-gross, non-stinky status, and there are some simple tricks that will help to keep it from happening so soon the next time. 

To Find the Source, Use Your Nose

The inside of your washing machine is damp and dark, and has crevices and folds which stay wet. On top of that, residues can build up from fabric softeners and soap scum. This results in a haven for bacteria, and fungal growths like mildew, and that’s probably exactly where your bad smells are coming from. 

To pinpoint the problem, you’re going to have to use your nose. Stick your head in the drum and sniff around. If you have a top-loader, then things should be pretty simple. If you live outside the US, you probably have a front-loading machine which has more complexity to deal with.

On a top loader, you should:

• Check for a build-up of gunk.
• Check for mold or mildew.
• Check the lint filter.
• Check the drain for blockages. Plugged drainage can lead to stagnant, stinky water.

For front-loading machines, you should check all of the above, and in addition you should:

• Check the drawer where you load the detergent and softener.
• Remove that drawer (it should have some release tabs along the edges) and check the chamber and pipe behind it for mold.
• Check and clean the rubber seal/gasket around the front-facing door.

Once you have checked and scrubbed all of these parts clean, either with soap and/or a mild bleach solution, you should run the machine on a hot cycle with no clothes inside. If your front-loader’s gasket (aka boot seal) is really infested with mildew, then you may need to replace it. Try deep cleaning it first though. We have a boot seal replacement video to help.

Prevent Mold Buildup by Airing and Drying Your Machine

Things don’t have to be this way. Just like how you deep-clean your dishwasher once a month or so (you do clean your dishwasher, right?), a little regular maintenance goes a long way. And one of these preventative measures doesn’t require doing anything at all. 

Step one is to not close your washer between washes. Leave the door open so that any water can evaporate instead of becoming a home to bacteria and fungus. This is especially important if your washer is in a damp basement. 

For front loaders that have a drawer for the detergent and fabric softener, remove that drawer after each wash. I live in an old Spanish home where the washing machine is out on the balcony, so I take out the drawer, let it sterilize in the sun, and then keep it inside the drum. This lets the air circulate in the now-empty drawer compartment, and promotes evaporation from its connecting pipes. Try to always leave the door slightly ajar, but if you have a front-loader in a narrow space, then do the best you can. If you do need to fully close the door, leave it to dry for a while first.

Also, after unloading a wash, wipe the rubber gasket dry. Make sure to dig into the creases. This is also where you find stuff left in pockets, like coins, hairpins, and handkerchiefs.

You might also consider changing how you wash. For a front-loader, pouring the detergent or powder directly into the drum avoids sluicing it from the drawer, which removes one place where residues can build up. This works best if you do not use a prewash, which requires a two-stage dispensing of detergent from the drawer. If you’re not sure whether your normal cycle has a prewash, leave the drawer open at the start and watch for when the detergent gets rinsed into the machine: All at once at the start? Or in stages? 

Ditch Mildew-Building Fabric Softener

You might also consider ditching the fabric softener altogether. 

Consumer Reports explains, “Fabric softeners work by depositing a layer of electrically charged chemical compounds on fabric.” That layer is effective at making clothes feel softer and making clothes more flame retardant. “But its effectiveness comes at a cost: Residue buildup in the machine can create a healthy environment for mildew to grow. It can even diminish workout clothes’ wicking ability.”

Instead, they recommend wool balls and a water softener to get the same effect.

But honestly, my hot take: So what if the clothes come out stiffer? Part of the joy of putting on clean jeans is that crispness. And anyway, any clothes will feel soft as soon as you start wearing them. Once you get used to the softener-free lifestyle, it means one less step, one less line-item for your budget, and less bacterial growth medium. That’s a win-win-win. 

You will have noticed that front-loaders require more work to keep clean. They’re designed to use as little water and electricity as possible, they heat their own water, and they rely on longer, multi-hour cycles in place of a ton of water and a paddle to squoosh the water through the clothes. They’re also smaller, designed to fit under a countertop. This all means they’re more complex inside, with more places to hide dampness. 

But as we have seen, it’s easy to keep things clean and fresh. And also, having a giant top-loading hot-tub of a washing machine in your basement doesn’t mean you can skip the cleaning. Quite the contrary: Keeping one of those things running clean is so easy that you have no excuses.