Why Your Washing Machine Smells (And How to Fix It)

You wash your clothes to make them clean. So why does your laundry sometimes come out smelling like damp and mildew?

It’s one of the most common and most overlooked household cleaning problems, and winter makes it significantly worse.

What’s actually causing it

The culprit is almost always a build-up of detergent residue, fabric softener, and moisture sitting inside the drum, door seal, and detergent drawer. Front loaders are especially prone to it because the rubber door gasket traps water and lint after every cycle.

Cold winter air means machines take longer to dry out between washes. Add a few damp loads left sitting in the drum, and bacteria and mildew get comfortable fast.

The spots to target

• The door seal (front loaders): Pull the rubber gasket back and wipe inside the fold. You’ll likely find black mould, lint and built-up grime sitting in there — it’s grim, but fixable. Use a damp cloth with a small amount of white vinegar or a dedicated rubber seal cleaner.
• The detergent drawer: Pull it out completely (most lift straight out). Soak it in warm soapy water and scrub the drawer housing with an old toothbrush. Product residue accumulates in the corners and goes mouldy.
• The drum: Run a hot cycle (60°C or higher) with either a washing machine cleaning tablet or two cups of white vinegar and half a cup of bicarb soda in the drum. Do this monthly in winter.

The habit that helps most

Leave the washing machine door ajar after every load. Even 20 minutes of airflow after a cycle dramatically reduces moisture build-up. If your machine has a self-clean or drum-clean cycle, run it once a month — most people never use it.

Think your machine needs a deeper clean? Jim’s Cleaning can help with internal appliance cleaning as part of a full home clean. Book your local Jim’s team here.