The washing machine smells and it transfers to your laundry

Short answer: The smell comes from a biofilm in the drum, the door seal and the detergent drawer. Run an empty hot wash with powder once a month and wipe the seal.

Why modern machines smell

Short cold programmes and liquid detergent give bacteria good conditions. They form a slick dark film in the seal and in the drain. The film smells and passes that smell to everything that goes into the drum afterwards.

The monthly routine

Run the machine empty at ninety degrees with a dose of washing powder and no laundry. Powder contains bleach that removes the film. Then wipe the rubber seal, especially the lower fold where water sits.

The small things that keep it clean

Leave the door ajar between washes and pull out the detergent drawer and rinse it once a month. Clean the pump filter at the bottom of the machine four times a year. See bamboo towels.

When the laundry already smells

Wash the affected items again after cleaning the machine, ideally with a cup of white vinegar in the softener drawer. Otherwise the smell stays no matter how clean the machine is. See bamboo underwear for men and bamboo bedding.

Frequently asked questions

Can I put bleach in the machine

It works, but a hot wash with powder is just as effective and gentler on the seals.

Why does it smell most in summer

Because warmth speeds up bacterial growth in the standing water in the seal.

Does a shop bought machine cleaner help

Yes, but a dose of ordinary washing powder at ninety degrees does much the same.