How to Get Rid of Washing Machine Smell (NZ Homes)
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- How to Get Rid of Washing Machine Smell (NZ Homes)
That musty smell isn’t your machine breaking down — it’s mould and detergent buildup in the seal and drum. Here’s how to clear it out, and stop it coming back.
A smelly washing machine is almost always mould, mildew and detergent residue trapped in the rubber door seal, detergent drawer and drum — not a fault with the machine itself. Front-loaders trap moisture inside the door seal, while top-loaders build up scum below the waterline, and both feed mould that thrives in damp, dark spaces.
Modern detergents and fabric softeners are designed to work at low temperatures, which is great for your power bill but means the machine rarely gets hot enough to kill off the organic buildup on its own. Left long enough, that buildup is what you’re actually smelling every time you open the door.
Run an empty hot wash with a concentrated enzyme cleaner in the drum, then hand-wipe the door seal, detergent drawer and drum opening. The enzymes break down the mould, biofilm and soap residue causing the smell, usually within one cycle, and are gentle on rubber seals with regular use.
Give the exterior, buttons and dials a wipe with a diluted all-purpose enzyme spray while the first cycle runs — it takes two minutes and finishes the job properly.
Clean your washing machine every 4-6 weeks, or monthly if you wash large or heavily soiled loads often. Between cleans, leave the door and detergent drawer open after each wash so moisture can evaporate instead of feeding mould.
If you’ve never cleaned yours, or can’t remember the last time you did, start there before worrying about frequency — a first clean on a badly built-up machine can take a couple of cycles to fully clear.
Yes, and it’s gentler on rubber seals over repeated use. Enzyme cleaners break down the organic buildup, mould, biofilm and soap scum, that actually causes the smell, without the acidity that can wear down rubber gaskets over time.
Front-loaders use less water and rely on a rubber door seal that traps moisture in its folds, creating the damp, dark conditions mould needs to grow. Top-loaders drain more freely, though they can still build up scum below the waterline.
Usually yes. Once the machine itself is clean, run one more empty hot cycle with enzyme cleaner before washing towels, and make sure laundry is dried fully rather than left damp in the drum, which is the most common cause of lingering smell.
Leave the door and detergent drawer open between washes, wipe the seal dry after your last load of the day, and avoid leaving wet washing sitting in the drum overnight.
Persistent mould in a washing machine can trigger allergy or asthma symptoms in sensitive household members and can transfer musty smells onto clean clothing, so it’s worth fixing properly rather than masking it with extra detergent or fragrance boosters.
A smelly washing machine is a cleaning problem, not a mechanical one. One enzyme-cleaner cycle, plus leaving the door open between washes, will usually clear it for good.
Stephanie founded Clean for Good to bring a healthier, more thoughtful approach to home cleaning on Auckland’s North Shore, using low-tox, effective methods and a team that treats every home like their own.
@cleanforgoodnz
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