Any tips for getting rid of the odour from a smelly washing machine.  I have only noticed it in the last couple of months and it co-incides with washing dog bedding a lot more as the boy pup smells far more than my girl.  I also washed a lot more while he was toilet training and there have been a few poo instances where bedding with poo residue has gone in the machine.

The machine doesn't smell of poo though, it is a musty foosty kind of smell and my clothes have started to smell of it too.  I use biological powder tablets and generally use softener too.  I have tried running a hot wash with bleach in it but have read that this can rot the seal and damage the pipes.  I have cleaned out the filter but it wasn't particularly dirty as I do it regularly.  the only other thing I can think of that might have an influence is that when I wash the dogs bedding I add some mistral oudorfresh to the wash to banish any nasty dog whiffs.

Any tips for getting rid of the smell and also finding out what is causing it so I can prevent it in future

cheedychow Hi, I have the same problem! a dampish smell?  I just shut the door with a yankee candle in it.  My machine is in a downstairs loo that is used for the dogs poo so it really is the dogroom, they can cope with it.

hi tadog, does that get rid of the smell on clothing?  I wondered if I was putting things away before they are properly dry but this isn't the case.  If it is as simple as a yankee candle I am happy but this will mask the smell rather than sorting it out. 

Have you had a look in the powder drawer as that can get yukky mouldy, i used to use powder but changed to liquid tabs much nicer.

I sometimes put washing soda crystals into the powder drawer and start the machine (empty) on a very hot wash. It cleans the machine and the pipes. I think that might help with the smell.

Dawn R.

I have had that out and washed it too.  I use powder rather than liquid tabs for 2 reasons -
1/ I am too tight to buy them.  I live in a soft water area and don't need to use huge amounts of detergent so can use less powder or only 1 powder tab.
2/ I had heard that the casing on them doesn't dissolve too well and they can clog up the machine.  Not sure how true it is but I didn't want to take a chance.  Thanks for your feedback though.

Hi again.  the yankee takes the smel away from the room that the washer is in.  the clothes didnt smell. the smell seems to come from the machine.

I use the liquid and so can put in as much as I like and it doesn't clog up the drawer.  I also leave the drawer and the door open following a wash to let it dry, rather than go mouldy (but my dog is a good boy and doesn't chew the rubber seal :)).  Not sure if this is any help but my machine is still lovely and clean after nearly 4 years.

I have recently noticed that my clean laundry is occasionally smelly - especially noticable with clean towels that smell ok when just dried but as soon as they are used, I can smell a horrid 'stagnant' smell when drying my face - yuk!
I have looked into this and have learned that liquid detergents contain animal fats which build up in clothing and cause sour smelling laundry - this along with washing at low temperatures has come up lots when I have searched for answers. Now I don't know about you cheekychow, but since electricity prices soared, I have been using liquid detergents and washing everything at 30 degrees and I can safely say that I never had smelly CLEAN laundry before when I washed whites at 6o degrees and colours at 40 degrees using persil powder. I am going to try cleaning my machine out with a washing machine cleaner to eliminate any build up - Dr Beckman do one and then go back to using powder with a table spoon of baking soda in with every wash which is apparently a natural deoderiser and washing at higher temps. I have also been advised not to use fabric softer as this also causes a fatty build up - sounds disgusting doesn't it but makes sense. I'll let you know how I get on with my new regime!

One of the two woman that does the 'how clean is your house' tv show was on Loose Wooman and she said its because most folk are now doing their washings at 30 and that is not hot enough to kill bacteria which is why that folk are now getting smelly washing machines more than they did before.  She recommended doing one very hot wash every so often to actually clean the washing machine and kill the bacteria build up.

great post luvhandles, now I have a fat washing machine and fat clothes to go with my fat backside!  That makes total sense as I have also been washing clothes at lower temps in my bid to be environmentally friendly.  I might give the baking soda a go too.  thanks

because most folk are now doing their washings at 30 and that is not hot enough to kill bacteria which is why that folk are now getting smelly washing machines

Yep, I have found that too.

> Any tips for getting rid of the smell and also finding out what is causing it so I can prevent it in future

No tips for getting rid of the smell, other than to do a hot wash (with no laundry in the machine), but I have found that keeping the washing machine door open while it is not in use stops that fousty smell from starting (and I wash some manky stuff, LOL, what with getting covered in stinky fish-pond-filter-sludge and when Buster used to have ocean-sized accidents in the house).

I agree that it could be the washing powder that makes them smell musty at times. I have noticed that if I use an item that has not been worn for a couple of months there is often a horrible "off" smell :-(

I too have been noticing this problem and have just tracked down some washing machine cleaner for our local euronics store. Have only used it once yet and it has improved the smell. The man in there also said to leave the door open (difficult with cats around) and run a 90C wash with soad crystals in at least once a month.
I do use liquids so thats interesting about fat build up so may go back to powder but I still wash at 40 or 60
I shall be trying all of this, its horrid when you have got nice clean clothes that smell yuk

Yes me too, I found a deoderiser in Sainsbury's that I used, it was by the stuff like vanish and it has left the machine smelling a lot nicer.

This thread is very reassuring - I thought I was turning into a total grubber and letting my standards slip.  I am glad to hear others are dealing with the joys of stinky washing :)

Yes but I blame the OH never my two darling doglets!!!

I have a problem with a mouldy seal, just can't seem to shift it.  Any suggestions for that?

billybob, I used the Dr Beckmann washing machine cleaner last night. The instructions state to first put some of the liquid on a cloth and clean all the rubber seal, then wipe away with a clean damp cloth - this worked really well on my seal although I had no visable mould but the cloth was filthy. You then put some of the solution into a bowl diluted with water and soak the drawer for 30 mins & then lastly when the drawers is back, put the remaining solution into the powder compartment and run a 60 degree wash......my machine is now lovely and clean :-)
My first load is now in using Fairy powder and 50g of soda crystals so I will let you all know if the clothes smell fresher when dry.

I have a moldy seal too and can't get rid off it.

Yes thats the stuff I used and I do a wash with soda crystals about once a month as well.

I too have a mouldy seal!

Good Housekeeping concur with the low temperature problem and recommend using bleach to clean the drawer after it's been removed from the machine, then around 200 ml of bleach put in the drawer on a very hot wash - this apparently does the job.

Bit worried now I've read about the possible reaction but I'd think GH would know of this?

Not sure.
I like the idea of the DR Beckermann cleaner but will try a small amount of bleach on a hot wash, then do a hot wash every couple of weeks!

I've been told that adding soda crystals to your actual laundry works a treat so I'm trying it at the moment.

Makes everything really white but can wear them out use a little, less rather than more.

I take it soda crystals will fade colours then? Best not use with colours? I've added about an egg cup full of soda in with the washing - would you say that is ok or too much?

Check the pipe that takes the dirty water away.  Mine was almost blocked with stinky grey sludge.  The smell was working back into the machine.   Managed to unscrew the pipe and hose it out and then rinsed with the good old soda crystals and boiling water.

(Got a new machine in the end, bearings went!)

Check the pipe that takes the dirty water away.  Mine was almost blocked with stinky grey sludge.  The smell was working back into the machine.

I agree. This is what is causing the smell, when I have puppies I am constantly using my machine washing bedding and the hairs tend to block up the machines filter pipe causing the terrible smell, I just unscrew and empty the filter, always loads of yucky stuff in there, the machine and washing then smells as fresh as a daisy again. :-)

> billybob, I used the Dr Beckmann washing machine cleaner last night.

I bought some today and can't believe I am getting so into having a clean washing machine.  My carefree youth has finally slipped away....

I also use calgon you put it in with the washing stops the limescale ...apparently only just started using it so will update..

I have the same problem with my washing machine and I don't use it for doggie bedding as they have their own.  I have been told that the washing liquids like Ariel colour gel and Persil small and mighty colour will gradually make you machine smell fousty because there is no bleaching agent in the liquids and the pipes build up with the soap.  What I've had to do is run a 90 degree wash using bleach.  I was told by LG that it's the 'colour' liquids that cause the problem.

Can i ask something linked to this??

What about smelly tumble dryers. Not sure what to do on this one. Its very new and the filters are cleaned out after each load goes in. Drying sheets are also placed in with each load(very nice smelling ones)

The clothes go in smelling lovely from the washing machine but come out smelling really musty. They are bone dry as well, so not like they have dried partly and then been left to muster up the smell.
I dry on a very high heat, tried it on a lower heat and nothing makes any difference. I forget to close the door afterwards sometimes, but it often gets closed again as there is a light on inside and people are worrynig about electricity bills.

The dogs bedding sometimes goes into it to be dried as well(on wet days)

I must tell you this one .
I bring home dirty tea towels from work to wash and on this particular day chucked the towels in the washer with  a pound of bacon I,d bought and forgotten was in the bag wrapped separately of course to the dirty washing.
Then I turned the towels on a boil wash and went out for a walk , the smell was awful when we got home ,I ,m just so glad my washing machine is housed in the garage.
That was one expensive pound of bacon it cost me three hundred and fifty pounds for a new washing machine and the garage smelled like a meat rendering plant for a week afterwards.

ROFL !! kinda thing i would do.
Nothing as good as that but on one occasion turned up at work with one of the dogs  bones in my handbag I had picked up with my phone and put them in together !!

Starryeyes I was told that you sholud only use calgon form new as it doesn't remove limescale etc, be interesting to see what you find though.

>> What about smelly tumble dryers

I don't use a tumble dryer so have no idea but is it not the same issue as with the washing machine but your clothes just dry quicker?  Mine come out the machine smelling of fabric softener but when they dry the foosty smell emerges.  the problem might be the washing machine and nothing to do with the dryer

Hmm, will have a look at the washing machine, but my clothes smell fine if air dried..

Have you tried using different fabric conditioner.  I found that some of the supermarket own brands never smelt quite right on the clothes when they were dry. 

Try the Fairy sensitive or Comfort white sensitive.   Both of these leave the washing smelling nice when dry.

Have you wiped inside the door seal - in most machines it's grey, try running a cloth inside it. Fabric conditioners, well I hate them anyway as all they do is coat the fibres, preventing towels etc from being so absorbant, You could try stopping using it for a while - I wouldn't be suprised if it is leaving residue in the door seal anyway as it's quite deep and easy for liquids to get left inside.

washing machines live longer with calgon!!!  

I wasn't going to bother with this thread, but boy am I glad I did!

Have noticed the musty smell on my dry clean laundry for a while now and was blaming OH for putting it away not quite bone dry  

Then thinking about it yesterday when I put on another clean top and found it was really fusty smelling I figured out it only started after I started washing at 30 degrees :( :(    so back to 40 for everything!   After a good hot wash with washing soda :-D 

Will also check the filter again and the pipes - just in case!

Phew! was beginning to think we were destined to be one of those 'smelly' families   - you know the ones ;)

Have been out and bought some daz powder to try instead of the liquids i usually use (more expensive bother) forgot the soda crystals but will get some next time. Now need to do the washing !

Gosh I am beginning to feel like a saddo spending my days comparing smelly washing machines  and burning nice smelling candles lol

>>
> Phew! was beginning to think we were destined to be one of those 'smelly' families <IMG alt="eek" src="/images/eek.gif"/>  - you know the ones <IMG alt=";-)" src="/images/default/sml_wnk.png" class="sml"/>

rofl @ Dill.  I was the same and eventually got round to cleaning the machine yesterday and was surprised how dirty the rubber seal was.  It was getting to the stage that I was febreezing clothes and getting paranoid that people could smell it.

I use the Soda crystals on a hot wash from time to time, works a treat, and this thread made me think of doing it for the dishwasher, ace.  Had been using the dishwasher cleaners but noticing it getting a bit whiffy when we had been away.

> Any tips for getting rid of the odour from a smelly washing machine

Pour a bottle of clear vinegar in the empty drum and put it on a normal wash - hey presto! clean washing machine .

To cut a long story short -  our washing machine was overflowing . Technician asks do we use liquid detergent - yes we do . He says that the lower washing temperatures don't melt the liquid so you get blocked pipes . Therefore either use powder ( we do now after paying for him to come out ! ) or every so often put an old towel in and wash it on the highest temp your machine will go to , this will melt any liquid stuck in the machine/pipes .  If you are using liquid the dirt is more likely to hang around in your machine and pipes .

I'm back to report that after almost a week of washing at higher temps and using fairy powder & the soda crystals in white washes I have NO smelly laundry......None whatsoever!!!!
I would just like to ask, If I am to use soda crystals in my dishwasher, where do I put them and how much do I use?

Thanks

> Gosh I am beginning to feel like a saddo spending my days comparing smelly washing machines&nbsp; and burning nice smelling candles lol

Join the club :-)

I only use 2 programmes on my machine...40 degree and 90 for my white towels.

Sorry planet........ I cant stand smelly washing.
Sorry dogs..........I like Yankee candles :-)

Well Oust dishwasher cleaner is tipped into the bottom of the machine so that is what I did with the Soda.

I put it on empty on long wash.