wikiHow Forums Home

How do I get my front load washer to stop smelling?

Upvote
2
Share
View hidden comment
This post was sourced from submitted reader questions and posted by wikiHow Editorial Staff.
wikiHow forums are moderated for quality. Learn more about our moderation policy here.
Submit Answer
wikiHow Expert
Chris Willatt
Chris Willatt
House Cleaning Professional
03/17/25 6:55pm
The best thing you can do is preventative maintenance. Clean the filter monthly. After you use the washing machine, always leave its door a little bit open, so that you don't give the water time to sit in there, build up, and create that mildew.

If it's too late for that, you can use vinegar: pour a good amount of vinegar down in there and run a cycle to hit the mildew. Then open it up, wipe out the lid area that you can access with a microfiber cloth or rag, and then leave the door open to let it air out.
Upvote
Reply
Share
View hidden comment
wikiHow Editorial Team
wikiHow Editorial Team
03/17/25 6:47pm
If your front load washer has a bad odor, first open the door and clean out any small objects or debris that's stuck in the rubber gasket. Spray the gasket down with some hot soapy water and use a rag to wipe out any mildew or scum. For a really strong odor, use a solution of equal parts vinegar and water instead.

If you're still noticing an odor, set the machine to the hottest water setting and add 2 cups (473 mL) of white vinegar to the detergent dispenser. Run the cycle to clean and deodorize the washer's drum.

To prevent your washer from smelling, take out wet clothes as soon as the cycle is finished and leave the door open so it can dry out.
Upvote
Reply
Share
View hidden comment
Submit Answer

What’s on your mind? Ask anything.

Get advice and feedback from experts and wikiHow readers just like you.

Ask a Question

More Forum Discussions

Even after I wash my clothes they still stink?
When I put my clothes in the washing machine and turn them on, then when their done I put them in the drier and once that's done I smell it and It smells still the same and gross. What do I do?
Upvote
3
How to clean my Keurig with vinegar?
Hey all! I was gifted a fancy Keurig a few months ago and I’ve been absolutely loving it! It does appear to be getting about that time for a cleaning, though. There’s that chalky white stuff building up in the machine and I’m guessing that means it’s time to clean it. I read online that most people use white vinegar for this, but I’ve never actually done it so I thought I’d ask here: how do you all clean your Keurig with vinegar? What should I do? Are there any tips or tricks I should know about?
Upvote · 33
8
How to get rid of cat pee smell effectively?
Upvote
2
My shoes smell BAD. How do I get rid of the stink?
No matter what I do, I just can NOT get rid of the awful foot smell in my shoes. I've sprinkled baking soda inside them and tried putting them in the wash, but they are still SO stinky. Please tell me there's a way to make the smell go away!
Upvote · 8
17
How do you get urine out of a mattress?
My child is 4 and sometimes she has trouble with bladder control and wets the bed. What do you do to get urine (and the urine smell!!) out of the mattress?
Upvote · 14
7
How do I get slime out of hair and clothing?
HELP. My son and I made slime for him to play with, and he accidentally got it all over his clothes and even got some stuck in his hair. Please tell me there's a way to get it out quickly without giving him a haircut?
Upvote · 41
10
Explore All Forum Posts