Why does my washing machine smell bad?
A washing machine is one of the most important household tools. Many people today use it to wash dirty laundry. And we've become accustomed to the convenience it brings to our lives. But what should you do if your washing machine suddenly starts to smell bad? Why does an unpleasant odor come from your washing machine, and how can you eliminate it?
Most often it appears when we do not take care of our household appliances or do it incorrectly. Most of the rules for caring for your washing machine are specified in the instructions supplied with it by the manufacturer. There are also possible causes of unpleasant odors that aren't listed in the instructions. These can be addressed independently. Let's take a look.
What causes odor in a washing machine and how to eliminate it?
Most reasons why a washing machine smells bad can be described in a few words:
- Dirty filter.
- Scale.
- Drainage problem.
- Moisture in the tank.
- Low-quality washing powder.
Now let's talk about them in more detail.
When the wash cycle is finished, check to make sure there's no water left in the drum. If the drain pump is faulty or there are other drainage issues, you can find and read the article "Washing Machine Not Draining" on our website. It will describe the causes of this problem and how to fix it. If you don't want to bother with the repairs yourself, contact a service center. Professional technicians will be happy to help.
Your washing machine may also smell bad if the filter is clogged. Various debris accumulates there, which can rot and create an unbearable stench. As you might have guessed, to get rid of the stench, you need to clean the filter. This is a fairly simple procedure.
You won't even need to call a technician. It can be done in just a couple of minutes. You can watch the video for more information on cleaning the filter yourself. It also includes some washing machine maintenance tips.
Video on proper washing machine maintenance
If you have been cleaning your washing machine. And after that, it started to smell, which means some dirt remained. And that dirt is the source of the stench. You need to find and remove it. Or you can run the wash cycle at 90 degrees Celsius without any laundry. This can help get rid of the stench.
Don't use the washing machine as a storage place for dirty, unwashed items. These items usually have a very unpleasant odor, which can also cause the odor.
When you finish washing and remove the laundry, leave the door of the machine slightly open. This allows moisture to evaporate and dissipate. This will also help prevent unpleasant odors.
Another cause of bad odor is low-quality detergents used for washing. Be sure to pay attention to the type of laundry detergent you buy. Avoid cheap detergents from unknown manufacturers. The same applies to fabric softeners and other detergents.
It's also possible that your washing machine has stopped heating the water. If this problem occurs, but for some reason the washing machine continues to wash, you may end up with foul-smelling laundry and the inside of the machine. To resolve this issue, you should have the machine repaired. You can read the article "Washing Machine Not Heating Water" to help you with the repair yourself. Alternatively, call a professional.
The next problem may arise if you regularly wash at low temperatures (30 or 40 degrees Celsius). This saves energy and protects your machine from limescale buildup. However, these settings also have their downsides. Some items may not wash well, and a buildup of dirt may also form inside the machine, near the drain. This can cause unpleasant odors.
To remove them, use special dishwasher tablets or powder. Take about five tablets, place them inside the machine, and set the cycle to boiling. Stop the cycle midway. If your model doesn't have this function, simply turn off the machine and leave it in the water for a couple of hours. Then restart the cycle. This should help.
Descaling
Another possible cause is scale buildup. This problem regularly occurs with washing machines in city apartments. Tap water is often contaminated with impurities and is also quite hard. Scale buildup can lead to the failure of your appliance.
To solve this problem, you can use several solutions:
- Buying a high-quality filter isn't cheap, but it's a smart idea. It will not only protect your machine but also purify all the water entering your apartment. And clean water is essential for our health.
- Another option is to regularly add special water softeners. You can use Calgon or other similar brands. We can't vouch for their effectiveness, but they are generally believed to be effective.
- And the last method is a proven method for descaling with citric acid. You can use citric acid to descale both your kettle and washing machine. To descale a kettle, just add 1-2 teaspoons and boil. For a washing machine, you'll need 100-200 grams of the solution and wash at 90 degrees Celsius.
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I really liked the part about citric acid))). I've had to replace broken drum spiders in front-loading washing machines and top-loading washing machines more than once for customers who regularly used citric acid.
Mikhail, you're a simpleton. The best solution is citric acid. I've been doing renovations for five years.
Why does my washing machine smell terrible after using citric acid?
Mine also has a terrible smell after acid.
After using citric acid, I noticed a smell inside the drum that had never happened before. I decided to use the acid as a preventative measure, but it backfired.
Thanks for the advice, although I'm too lazy to mess around with acid, I just add Calgon, it's proven and effective
Our washing machine also smells really bad. What should we do?
A small drawback... before unscrewing the filter, you need to drain the water (there's a hose or small plug next to the filter cover. Place a ladle or cup underneath, remove the plug, and drain the water). Only then unscrew the filter cover, otherwise the water will end up on the floor... no cloth will be able to soak it up! It's best to put a floor cloth underneath, just in case. And the filter cavity itself needs to be thoroughly wiped clean (the video didn't mention this either).
It worked!
After cleaning with citric acid, the washing machine started smelling. I did it as a preventative measure; there was no smell before. But now it smells like sewage.
Reviews vary, but citric acid and washing at 90 degrees helped us – the smell went away.
I bought a washing machine. It worked for a year. I decided to rinse it with citric acid. Afterwards, a terrible smell appeared! I don't know what to do. Can anyone tell me how to fix this problem?
I also encountered a similar problem: a musty smell coming from my washing machine. I used ODORGONE HOME household odor remover, and it really helped. I treated the inside of the machine, left it for a couple of hours, and the smell completely disappeared. I recommend it based on personal experience!
I cleaned my washing machine with citric acid several times. And after that, the coil burned out. I had to replace it. And I never used citric acid again. And I don't recommend it to anyone.
There are so many questions about citric acid. But could anyone tell me what to do and why exactly this type of cleaning causes the smell?
I also encountered a smell after using lemon juice. My washing machine is seven years old. I always cleaned the filter and ran it through the lemon juice rinse about every three months. Everything was fine. And then… a stench. I blame it on the eco-friendly detergent I've been using lately; I poured it directly into the drum, as per the instructions. Now I've bought Faberlic's detergent; you pour it into the compartment. I'll see how it goes.
After washing with citric acid, rinse three times and you will have a fresh smell.
You should just buy a Bosch. 20 years of washing and no smell. But the LG started stinking after six months.
Our Boshik is 14 years old. After taking acid, he started to stink 🙁
Actually, it wasn't the citric acid that caused the "stink." You usually wash your clothes on a quick cycle, at 30-40 degrees Celsius, which isn't hot water, and that temperature is incredibly bad at removing emulsion fabric softeners from the machine. But then you run a citric acid wash according to the instructions at 90 degrees Celsius. Naturally, all that mess of detergent residue, fabric lint, dirt, greasy fabric softener, and mold gets heated up, stirred up, and when you open the machine, it stays hot—stinking to our dismay. To reduce the stink, you need to run a cool and then a cold water rinse three times. Yes, citric acid is not bad, but if you're guilty of using cheap laundry gels and similar powders, your machine will definitely stink. By the way, after using citric acid, for the next 3-4 washes, small flakes of grayish sludge will remain on the clothes during the rinse cycle, the same stuff we tried to remove from the washing machine with citric acid. That's just how everyday life works.