A washing machine washes your clothes but rarely washes itself. Detergent residue, damp and trapped water breed mould and that tell-tale musty smell. A quick monthly clean sorts it.

The monthly reset

  1. Run an empty hot cycle (90°C or the “clean drum” setting) with a cup of white vinegar or a machine-cleaner tablet.
  2. Pull out the detergent drawer and scrub it in warm soapy water — it's usually full of slime.
  3. Wipe the rubber door seal, pulling back the folds where black mould hides.
  4. Clean the filter at the bottom front (have a towel ready — water comes out).
💡

Stop it coming back

Leave the door and drawer open between washes so the drum dries out. Mould needs damp — take that away and it can't grow.

Where the smell actually hides

A hot cycle alone won't fix a musty machine, because the gunk lives in the parts water barely touches. If you only run empty cycles and the smell keeps coming back, one of these is the reason:

  • The door seal (front-loaders). Peel back the rubber gasket at the front. That black slimy film in the folds is mould, and it's the number one cause of smelly laundry. Wipe it out with a damp cloth and a bit of washing-up liquid.
  • The detergent drawer. Pull it right out (there's usually a release catch), and scrub the tray and the cavity behind it. Slimy pink or black residue builds up fast, especially if you use fabric softener.
  • The filter. Most front-loaders have a lint filter behind a small hatch at the bottom front. Put a towel down, unscrew it, and clear out the coins, hair, and sludge. Do this every couple of months.
💡

Leave the door open

After every wash, leave the door and the detergent drawer ajar for an hour or two. A machine that can dry out between loads simply won't grow mould in the first place. This one habit does more than any cleaning cycle.

When the reset doesn't work

If you've cleaned the seal, drawer, and filter, run a hot service wash, and the smell is still there, the problem is deeper. A few things to try before you call anyone:

  1. Run a genuinely hot cycle. Modern eco settings often top out around 30 to 40 degrees, which is too cool to kill bacteria. Use the hottest cycle the machine offers, 60 degrees or above, empty.
  2. Switch to powder occasionally. Bio powder contains a mild bleaching agent that liquid gels lack, so an occasional powder wash helps keep the drum's hidden surfaces clean.
  3. Check the standpipe. A rotten-egg or drain smell that appears mid-cycle often comes from the waste pipe, not the machine. Ask a plumber about a fitting a non-return valve if it persists.

Realistically, a proper clean takes about 20 minutes of hands-on work plus a wash cycle, and costs almost nothing beyond what's in your cupboard. You'll know it worked when a load of towels comes out smelling of nothing at all, which is exactly what you want.

Written by Ashutosh Sharma

Frequently asked questions

Can I use white vinegar and bicarbonate of soda instead of a machine cleaner?
Yes, and it works well. Put a large mug of white vinegar in the drum and a couple of tablespoons of bicarb in the detergent drawer, then run the hottest empty cycle. The vinegar cuts through grease and limescale while the bicarb deodorises. It's cheaper than shop-bought cleaners and does much the same job.
How often should I actually clean it?
A hot maintenance wash once a month is the sweet spot for most households. If you mostly wash cool and use liquid detergent and softener, lean towards more often, as those conditions encourage residue and mould. Wipe the door seal after every wash and clear the filter every couple of months.
Why does my washing machine smell worse right after I clean it?
Usually because cleaning disturbs old sludge without fully flushing it out. Run a second hot empty cycle straight after to clear the loosened gunk. Also check you actually removed the film from the door seal and drawer, because leaving any behind just spreads it around rather than lifting it out.
Is it safe to use bleach in my washing machine?
You can, but sparingly and never mixed with vinegar or other cleaners, as the fumes are dangerous. A small amount of thin bleach in an empty hot cycle kills mould on hidden surfaces. Always run a second rinse cycle afterwards so no residue transfers to your next load of clothes.

People also ask