How to Get Rid of Odor in Washing Machine

Choose the safe route

1. Empty the washer and obtain its model-specific cleaning directions.
2. Inspect the accessible gasket, dispenser and drum for residue or trapped objects.
3. Clean those areas using the manual’s permitted product and method.
4. Run the prescribed empty cleaning cycle and complete any required rinse.
5. Dry accessible areas and check a normal load for drainage and recurring odor.

Find the source before buying another cleaner

Inspect the door area, dispenser and accessible drum while the machine is empty. Note whether odor is strongest at one location or whether water remains after a completed cycle. Check for a forgotten garment or object where the manual allows access. Do not dismantle the cabinet simply to investigate a smell.

Front-load gasket folds can retain residue; top-load lid rims and dispensers also need inspection. The source cannot be determined from machine type alone. If the washer drains poorly or displays a fault, use that model’s troubleshooting route before assuming another tub-clean cycle will fix it.

Compare the machine with the laundry. A wet load left for hours can smell even when the washer needs no repair. If clean items smell only after being stored, inspect their drying and storage conditions too. Avoid treating every musty garment as proof of a broken pump.

Clean accessible surfaces without damaging them

Use the permitted cloth, cleaner and dilution for the gasket and door surfaces. Remove debris carefully and wipe dry where the manual instructs. Do not scrub soft seals with a sharp edge or treat a stained seal as proof that a strong chemical concentration is needed.

Remove the detergent drawer only if the model permits it. Photograph or note the parts before separating them, clean residue from the allowed surfaces and reinstall the parts in the correct position. A cap or insert fitted incorrectly can cause a new dispensing problem.

Keep liquid away from controls and electrical openings. If a surface is cracked, loose or leaking, stop and document the condition for service. Cleaning residue is a different task from repairing a failed seal or dispenser.

Use the approved empty cleaning cycle

Whirlpool’s instructions describe a Clean Washer cycle using an approved washer-cleaning tablet or liquid chlorine bleach, according to the model. That is a brand example, not permission to use the same dose in every washer. The manual decides the product, compartment, quantity and cycle.

Do not substitute the hottest ordinary wash cycle merely because it sounds more powerful. Empty the machine and follow the specified setup, including any rinse or follow-up wiping. Do not add clothes, detergent or a second cleaner unless the instructions explicitly require it.

Vinegar is not a universal washer recommendation. Whirlpool warns that it can damage components over time. This guide therefore does not recommend a two-cup vinegar cycle or a baking-soda second pass for every model. Use the approved route for your machine.

Check drainage and filter access safely

Not every washer has a user-serviceable front pump filter. Identify the actual access and draining instructions before loosening a cap. Residual water can spill; a completed cycle does not establish that the filter compartment is empty.

Follow the manual’s shutdown, cooling, drain and reassembly steps. If it provides no user-access procedure, use appliance service instead. Do not remove hoses or use a plumbing chemical as an odor fix without instructions for that equipment.

If water remains, draining is slow or a fault recurs, record the error and when it occurs. Tell the technician what you cleaned and which product was used. Repeated cycles can delay diagnosing the actual problem and do not prove the drain is clear.

Prevent recurrence without creating another hazard

Measure the detergent for the load and water conditions and use the required type. Whirlpool warns that overusing detergent can build residue. More foam does not establish more cleaning, especially when the product or machine requires high-efficiency detergent.

Remove wet laundry promptly and wipe accessible moisture as recommended. Let the machine dry in a way that keeps children and pets safe; leaving a reachable door open is not a universal household instruction. Store cleaners out of their reach.

Use the manual’s cleaning interval and inspect the accessible surfaces between deep cleans. Keep a simple note of the clean cycle and any recurring symptom. If odor persists with a leak, drain fault, burning smell or electrical problem, stop the relevant use and obtain service rather than extending a homemade cleaning routine.

Frequently Asked Questions