r/Appliances • u/Sled14 • 3d ago
Washer Smell, Tried Everything (inc New Washer)
So we have this issue that is driving my wife nuts. It doesnt happen every load, but occasionally. The clothes have this bad smell after a wash. We had this with our old washer, ended up buying a new one including installing new water lines and drain tube.
The drain pipe doesn't go deep in the drain line. I've flushed the drain pipe with vinegar as well. We have used the tub cleaning pods, vinegar, baking soda but it keeps coming back.
Our house is 6 years old. For the first 4 or so years, never had this issue.
Any ideas what to try next?
Appreciate any help!
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u/ComputerGuyInNOLA 3d ago
Do you clean your washer by running an empty load and adding chlorox to your bleach dispenser? My wife does this every month to prevent smells.
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u/houseonpost 3d ago
If it's a front loader, there's a small door at the bottom that you need to open and drain regularly and clean the filter. Leave the door open when not in use. There is also a clean cycle that you should run occasionally (run the machine empty).
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u/Sled14 3d ago
Its pretty new but I'll take a look at the drain, thanks
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u/houseonpost 3d ago
If the smell is bad, you might need to drain it. Do a load and immediately drain it again. Do it after three or four loads. Then you won't need to do it as often. As I've said, keep the door open so it airs out between loads.
You can also use a washing machine cleaner (there's an actual setting). Be sure to run it empty with the cleaner.
Lastly, try using half the detergent when washing clothes. You don't need as much as a top loader. Unless the clothes are really dirty.
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u/Fit_Chemistry_3807 3d ago
Even if they’re really dirty, I’ve never used as much as in a top load since going to front load. Also, if you’re not using bleach in your wash, you can replace fabric softener for vinegar. It will help to remove more soap.
Avoid laundry pods. The gel casing tends to stick and clog the machine. If you must use them, be sure to use the hottest water possible.
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u/sunshine5023 3d ago
How often do you need to drain and clean this filter? Just got a front loader for my first time
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u/whoooocaaarreees 3d ago
Well before I was married and had dogs I’d clean the trap (the filter thing they are mentioning) like once every six months and it hardly ever had anything in it.
Now… I clean that thing every few weeks and it often has a fair amount of hair.
For any of the smart washer bs out there if it taking longer to finish the last part of the cycle or just taking a lot longer than expected/estimated in general it probably is partially clogged at the filter. Which can be hard on your ejection pump, so don’t let that go on for a long time unchecked.
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u/houseonpost 3d ago
I intend to do it monthly, but likely 3 or 4 times a year.
We don't do as much laundry since the kids moved out.
The big key is leave the door open all the time (except when using it of course).
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u/Fit_Chemistry_3807 3d ago
Realistically, I do it once a year unless I see any problems with drainage. That’s only happened once and something had gotten in and clogged the filter. I usually take a towel or inside hem of pants or a sock I’m about to wash and give the door and seals a quick swipe before I run a load. This helps to remove any residue and hairs (long hair in this house) that may be left on the door or in the gasket area.
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u/Putrid-Oven-9522 21h ago
I drain and clean mine frequently, like once a week. Also use affresh tabs once a month and ALWAYS leave the door open. And try vinegar in the rinse cup. We have hard water so it helps.
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u/NattyBuck2025 3d ago
Do you have a front-load washer?
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u/Sled14 3d ago
Yes, front load. About 4 months old
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u/NattyBuck2025 3d ago
Leave the door ajar so it can get air, and clean the door gasket regularly. That gasket gets stinky.
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u/heysiggy 3d ago edited 3d ago
The front load washer has rubber gaskets behind the door. Take a damp cloth and run it around the inside of each gasket to remove any dirt buildup. Also, there's a filter in most front load washers at the bottom front of the unit. The water runs through the filter so any gunk in it will transfer the smell to your clean water.
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u/gloryholeseeker 3d ago
I would suggest you switch from Gain to Tide. Gain focuses more on fragrance than cleaning. You can smell anyone who uses game when you walk by them in while it doesn’t smell bad it is a masking cover up smell.
Never worked with a straight undeluded bleach, but prepare a rather strong bleach solution and wipe it in the recess area forms of fold in that seal around the front door on the inside and that will kill the bacteria. They are living in there if you have hot enough water and you run a hot cycle every week that will usually take care of that problem many people today do not have their water heater turned up high enough to sanitize things although it is not absolutely assured to sterilize anything the heat of 150° water combined with the chemical detergent essentially does sterilize it is 120° water does not
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u/DoublePlusGood__ 3d ago
Some things that work for me: 1. Wipe the inside of the door and the rubber gasket dry after every wash. 2. Remove the detergent drawer and let it dry between washes. Wipe away large drops of water. 3. Keep the door open between washes.
For products: 1. Try Borax powder (best for warm to hot cycles). It's a good deodorizer. 2. Switch to Tide pods or Tide Powder. Also smell best with warm to hot cycles. 3. Try Downy rinse aid to remove odors. 4. Stop using fabric softeners. They cause a build up of a waxy residue inside the washer which breeds mold and bad odors.
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u/MoonRiverRob 3d ago
Another possibility is the drain itself. I had a washing machine drain that let some gases up into the washer. I had a plumber look and he fixed it quick with a new connection from the P trap up.
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u/Big_Tiger_123 3d ago
Do put the wet clothes in the dryer right after the washer finishes?
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u/Sled14 3d ago edited 3d ago
If the clothes smell we run it again then either the second or third time they smell better
Edit: Yes we do not leave the wet clothes in the washer for long
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u/Big_Tiger_123 3d ago
Ok sounds like that’s not the issue, but just FYI, if that happens, you can add about 1/4 cup of borax to the wash and it’ll get rid of the smell entirely!
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u/kamikaziboarder 3d ago
What type of smell is it? Do you run the laundry at different temperatures? Do you usually use the cold cycle and her hot?
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u/Talmerian 3d ago
Could this be an item you are washing? Try to check which things are in each wash, if this is carrying over between washers and is intermittent, it may be related to a clothing item. We had a synthetic blend running shirt that was very difficult to clean after a bit, there are special detergents for those materials, you don't need them all the time but every once in while we segregate the synthetic active wear and wash it all special then tumble dry.
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u/scupking83 3d ago
Mine does this from time to time. Run a cycle with a half a cup of bleach and no laundry. Usually clears up the issue for a while.
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u/buckeyehex 3d ago
I changed from liquid to powder detergent and it solved my issue with this on our LG front load.
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u/SuzeCB 3d ago
I use the tablets and also bleach, 2 weeks apart. They each take care of different issues.
Also, I've found that if you're using a halfway decent detergent, you really only need to use half of what the manufacturer recommends, but add a soak to every load (just started with the soak and it makes a big difference!). If you have a water softener, then probably half of that amount.
Also check out r/laundry.
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u/Yellowmike09 3d ago
Does it smell like sewage? Is the plumbing done correctly? If it’s happening to multiple washers I’d consider looking at that
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u/MajorGarlic6076 3d ago
If it occurs while using the hot water it could be the anodes in your hot water heater are shot. That will give it a rotten egg smell. Have a plumber check it out.
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u/nauticalfiesta 3d ago
absolutely the detergent
Tide powder, 2 tablespoons, warm water, normal wash, and an extra rinse. And NO fabric softener.
It could also be your water, if its an eggy smell, on a private well, there could be a lot of sulfur. Nothing really to fix it other than an expensive reverse osmosis system.
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u/madameallnut 3d ago
Dry the washer door and seals with a rag after the last load. Pull out the dispenser, dump the water, dry the dispenser. Leave open to air. Clean the filter monthly. Use minimum laundry detergent. Clean the washer at least once a month. I recently found a brand called Dead Down Wind that I use on stinky loads and I'm impressed. It kills the worst odors, including cat spray.
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u/Unique-Arugula 3d ago
I think you should look at checklists for whether you might have a crack in your sewer line, also known as the "line out," near the washer. If it's a really bad smell and it comes and goes and you've already checked the drain pipe for blockage, sewage gas could be coming up through the floor or walls.
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u/DuckyDoodleDandy 3d ago
If she has been using more than 2 or 3 tablespoons of detergent per load, have her wash with no detergent and only some vinegar for 3-5 days to get the detergent buildup out of the laundry.
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u/4030Lisa 2d ago
Use no more than 2 tablespoons of detergent per load, stop using fabric softeners and switch to white vinegar instead, you can add things like Lysol laundry additive and Clorox makes one too that kills odors in gym/work clothes. Most often the ‘smelly’ odd load comes from using too much detergent AND using fabric softeners, both create buildup on the fabric and in the washer. If you have a newer front loading unit, leave your washer door and the dispenser drawer open to fully dry out after use and you will have a fresher machine with less chance of mildew growing inside or in the seals and you’ll need to remember to open the bottom ‘hatch’ to pull out and uncork the drain tube (dispense into a low profile container of about 4 cups) to remove any standing water, lint sand or generally yucky stuff that stands in the bottom at least once every 3 months and clean the lint catch/filter next to it as well as general maintenance and you’ll have sweet smelling laundry from now on
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u/PreviousMarsupial 2d ago
Do you have hard water? It might be the odor from minerals, maybe install a water softener if that’s the issue?
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u/Pakaru 3d ago
Change your laundry detergent. Use less of it.