If your washing machine smells like mildew, start with trapped moisture and residue. The usual spots are the door gasket, detergent drawer, washer drum, drain pump filter, and wet clothes left sitting too long. Front load washers are more prone to this because the door seal can trap water, lint, hair, detergent, and small items.
What to clean first
- Door gasket, especially the folds on front load washers.
- Detergent drawer and the cavity behind it.
- Washer drum, using the clean washer or tub clean cycle.
- Drain pump filter, if your model has an accessible one.
These are the areas most likely to hold moisture, residue, lint, hair, or stale water. After those are clean, prevention habits like leaving the door open and using the right amount of detergent matter more.
Clean the door gasket
On front load washers, pull back the rubber gasket and look inside the folds. This is one of the most common places for mildew smell because it can hold moisture, lint, hair, coins, detergent residue, and small clothing items.
Wipe the gasket with a soft cloth and the cleaner recommended by your washer manufacturer. If you see visible buildup, clean the fold slowly instead of just wiping the outside edge. Dry the gasket when you're done so moisture doesn't sit there again.
Clean the detergent drawer
Detergent and fabric softener residue can build up in the drawer and the cavity behind it. Remove the drawer if your model allows it, rinse it with warm water, and wipe the cavity before sliding it back in.
If the drawer has black residue or a sour smell, this may be the source even if the drum looks clean.
Run the washer cleaning cycle
Use the washer's clean cycle, tub clean cycle, or the cleaning method in the manual. A washer cleaner tablet is usually the safest default because it is designed for the machine. Some manufacturers allow diluted bleach, but follow the manual and don't combine cleaners.
If the smell is strong, one cleaning cycle may not fix it. LG, for example, recommends repeated tub clean cycles when odor is already present on some models. Use your model's instructions rather than guessing with stronger chemicals.
Check the drain pump filter
Many front load washers have a drain pump filter behind a small access door near the bottom front. If it is clogged with lint, hair, coins, or debris, the washer may drain poorly and leave stale water behind.
Before opening the filter, read the manual. Water may come out, so use a shallow tray and towels. If the filter won't turn, looks damaged, or water keeps pouring out, stop and call for service instead of forcing it.
If the smell is sewage like
A mildew smell usually points to the washer itself. A sewage like smell can point to a drain issue, clogged P trap, vent problem, or improperly installed drain hose. That is a different problem than normal washer mildew.
If the smell comes from the standpipe or drain area, or it returns quickly after cleaning the washer, have the drain setup checked.
If clothes smell after washing
If clothes come out musty, the washer odor may be transferring to the load. Rewash the clothes after cleaning the machine, and avoid letting wet loads sit in the washer. If the washer is clean but clothes still smell, reduce detergent and fabric softener. Too much product can leave residue that holds odor.
When to call for service
- The washer doesn't drain.
- You see leaks around the machine.
- The smell is sewage like or strongest near the drain.
- The drain pump filter can't be removed safely.
- Error codes keep returning.
- The washer still smells after the gasket, drawer, drum, and filter have been cleaned.
Good maintenance rhythm
- After each load: remove wet clothes promptly and leave the door open when safe.
- After heavy laundry days: wipe the gasket dry, especially on front load washers.
- About monthly or every 30 cycles: run the washer cleaning cycle if your manual recommends it or if odor starts returning.
- Every few months: clean the detergent drawer and check the drain pump filter if your model has one.
- Ongoing: use the detergent type and amount your washer manual recommends.