My washer smells like a swamp and now my clean towels smell too. How do I fix it?
Why does my front-load washer smell bad?
Concerns & risks
Your front-load washer smells musty, and so do your 'clean' clothes.
Smelly laundry is embarrassing and hard to fix by rewashing.
Causes & evidence
Moisture trapped in the door gasket and drum lets mold and bacteria grow. See moisture and mold.
What to do
- Wipe inside the rubber door gasket, especially the folds.
- Run the Tub Clean cycle (or hottest cycle empty) with washer cleaner.
- Clean the detergent drawer and the pump filter.
- Leave the door and drawer open after every wash.
Common mistakes: People close the door right after washing, trapping moisture. Leave it open. Using too much detergent leaves residue. Follow the manufacturer's cleaning steps. After each wash, wipe the rubber door gasket and pull out anything trapped in its folds. Run the machine's cleaning cycle or a hot empty cycle monthly, and use HE detergent in the amount the manual says, which is usually less than people think.
Speed Man tip: Use the right HE detergent and don't overdose; extra soap feeds the smell.
Wrap-up: Smell comes from damp gaskets and residue. Wipe the gasket and run a tub-clean cycle. Leave the door open after every wash.
⚡ Speed Summary
- Smell comes from damp gaskets and residue.
- Wipe the gasket and run a tub-clean cycle.
- Leave the door open after every wash.
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