Appliance challenges and frequent breakdowns are the story of almost every household.
But more troubling than these common breakdowns is the number of problems your appliance can undergo.
One of these persistent issues is the damp smell in a washing machine.
This unwelcome odour can ruin your laundry and even your entire home if left unaddressed.
So, how do you fix it?
Here’s a comprehensive guide to fix your washing machine and fix the damp smell problem in it.
The Origin Of The Problem
Before you get all in arms, let’s try to understand what causes this problem in the first place.
Damp smells in washing machines typically result from a combination of factors, including:
- Residue Buildup: Over time, detergent, fabric softener, and other laundry products can leave behind residues in the drum, seals, and pipes. This leads to the growth of mould and mildew.
- Bad Ventilation: Inadequate airflow in your machine will contribute to damp conditions. Over time, this can cause your door seal (also known as a gasket) to become mouldy and smelly.
- Low-Temperature Washes: Washing at lower temperatures may not effectively eliminate bacteria and mould. This allows them to thrive and keep creating unpleasant odours.
- Moisture Retention: Front-loading washing machines, in particular, are prone to retaining moisture, creating a breeding ground for mould and bad smells.
So now that we’re aware of the problem, how can we fix all this?
Also Read: How to fix a leaking washing machine
Fixing Damp Smell in Washing Machines
To make your machine odour-free, there are a few things we recommend keeping handy:
- White Vinegar: An excellent natural disinfectant and deodoriser.
- Baking Soda: Neutralises odours and breaks down residues.
- Old Toothbrush or Soft Brush: Ideal for scrubbing hard-to-reach areas.
- Cloth or Sponge: For wiping down surfaces and removing residues.
- Hot Water: Used for cleaning and flushing out the washing machine.
- Microfiber Cloth: Effective for drying and polishing interior surfaces.
Let’s begin the step-by-step process.
How to fix the damp smell in your washing machine?
To make your machine odour-free, there are a few things we recommend keeping handy:
- White Vinegar: An excellent natural disinfectant and deodoriser.
- Baking Soda: Neutralises odours and breaks down residues.
- Old Toothbrush or Soft Brush: Ideal for scrubbing hard-to-reach areas.
- Cloth or Sponge: For wiping down surfaces and removing residues.
- Hot Water: Used for cleaning and flushing out the washing machine.
- Microfiber Cloth: Effective for drying and polishing interior surfaces.
Let’s begin the step-by-step process.
Step 1: Empty The Drum
Start this process by making sure that your washing machine is empty. Remove any clothes you have from the machine and thoroughly clean out the washing machine drum.
Make sure that you’re paying extra attention to the rubber door seal because this is one of the most common places where the mould grows.
Wipe down the seal with a cloth or sponge to remove any visible residue.
Step 2: Run a Hot Water Cycle With Vinegar
Now, fill a cup of white vinegar and place it on the top rack of the empty washing machine.
Set the machine to the hottest water setting and run a complete cycle.
The combination of hot water and vinegar will help dissolve and flush out residues, as well as eliminate bacteria and odours.
Step 3: Add Baking Soda To The Drum
After the vinegar cycle is complete, the next step is to sprinkle a cup of baking soda directly into the drum.
Your baking soda will act as a deodoriser and will break down any remaining residues.
Run another hot water cycle to distribute the baking soda throughout the machine.
Step 4: Clean The Detergent Dispenser
Your detergent dispenser commonly collects mould and smells over time.
Remove the detergent dispenser tray and clean it thoroughly.
Use hot water and white vinegar for effective cleaning.
Step 5: Wipe Down Exterior Surfaces
Since the internal components of the machine are done, now comes the time for the exterior.
Wipe down the control panel, buttons, and any other accessible surfaces with a damp cloth.
This will enhance the machine’s appearance and prevent external residues from transferring to your clothes.
Step 6: Check & Clean The Filter
Refer to your washing machine’s user manual to locate and clean the filter.
If your filter is clogged, it can once again contribute to unpleasant smells.
Clean the filter according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
If your filter cover is stuck, refer to our other guide on “How To Fix a Stuck Washing Machine Filter“.
Step 7: Perform Regular Hot Washes
To prevent the re-occurrence of any damp smells, make it a habit to run regular hot water cycles without any laundry.
This will flush out residues and keep the machine’s interior clean and odour-free.
Step 8: Let The Machine Breathe
After completing your laundry, leave the washing machine door slightly open to allow some air to flow through.
By doing this, it will help prevent the buildup of mould which, therefore, means a freshly smelling washing machine.
1. Give the drum a monthly hot-wash reset
Residue hardens into a greasy crust that shelters bacteria.
One of the best ways is to do a 90 °C “service wash” once every month.
Crank the heat, add an acidic cleaner, and you dissolve the biofilm before it turns to concrete.
Why does it matter?
Low-temperature eco cycles save energy, but they also leave behind lint, skin cells, and detergent. Over time, those scraps become food for mould and the sulphur-loving bacteria that create that “rotten-egg” whiff.
Quick monthly routine
- Empty the drum completely.
- Add a cleaner: either the manufacturer’s tablet or 500 ml of white vinegar in the detergent drawer.
- Select the hottest cycle (or “Tub Clean”) and walk away.
When the programme ends, crack the door and drawer to let steam escape. A single cycle at true hot-wash temperature (60 °C plus) is enough to suppress most bacterial colonies for weeks.
2. Let the machine breathe between loads
Moisture is mould’s oxygen. Whirlpool’s own care guide bluntly recommends leaving the door ajar after every wash to “avoid the build-up of odour-causing residue.
Even ten minutes of airflow strips away the humid micro-climate that fungi crave.
Build this habit:
After you unload the laundry:
- Wipe the gasket – especially the six o’clock pocket, using a dry microfibre cloth.
- Prop the door open an inch; many machines have a built-in magnetic catch, but a wine-cork wedge works just as well.
- Ventilate the room: open a window or run a small dehumidifier if your utility space runs damp.
If your schedule forces you to start a wash before work, aim to pull the clothes out within 30 minutes of the final spin. Lingering water droplets can undo even the hottest maintenance cycle.
3. Measure detergent like medicine
Detergent makers give you bright lines on the cap for a reason.
Pouring “just a bit extra” feels harmless, yet that surplus forms a sticky film that traps lint and locks in moisture. Over time, it becomes the perfect anchorage for mould spores.
How to use the perfect amount of detergent
- Soft-water home? Stick to the lowest line on the cap.
- Hard-water home? Add washing-soda crystals instead of extra detergent.
Watch for red flags: suds lingering on the glass after the initial rinse, a slick feel on clean clothes, or chalky streaks on dark tees. Each sign points to too much soap, not too little.
4. Clear the drawer, filter, and drain every six to eight weeks
Peek behind the detergent drawer or twist out the lint filter, and you’ll often find a grey paste of suds, fibres, and mildew.
That buildup keeps parts damp and starves the pump of flow, so stale water lingers long after the cycle ends.
Spend ten minutes on this mini-service and you reset the machine’s airflow:
Quick clean-out
- Drawer – pull it free, soak in hot soapy water, scrub spray holes with an old toothbrush, rinse, and air-dry.
- Filter – place a tray under the kick-panel, twist the cap, let water drain, rinse away lint and coins, then screw back tight.
- Drain channel – with the filter still out, wipe any sludge hiding behind the impeller.
Once the drawer and filter run clear, the drum empties fully and dries faster, cutting off the damp refuge that mould loves.
5. Use a two-step shock treatment for stubborn smells
If the machine still whiffs after the steps above, give it a chemical reset with two common pantry items – run one after the other, never mixed.
Lab tests show acetic acid at household strength (5–8 %) slashes E. coli and Staph aureus counts by more than 99 % in under an hour.
Baking soda raises the wash water’s pH to around 8, loosening mineral scale that traps bacteria. Together, they dislodge grime and disinfect without perfumed residues.
Two-cycle reset
- Alkaline lift – sprinkle ½ cup baking soda straight into the empty drum and run the longest 60 °C programme.
- Acid rinse – when it finishes, pour 2 cups white vinegar into the detergent drawer and start the hottest cycle your washer offers (90–95 °C if available).
Finish by wiping the door seal and leaving the machine open overnight. Any faint vinegar scent will vanish with the next regular load.
Conclusion
We strongly hope that this blog has helped you fix your washing machine smell.
However, if the problem has proven to be slightly more difficult than anticipated, why not get in touch with us and let us help you?
If you want some of the best prices for your appliance repairs in East London or North London, call Georgi’s Services right away.
We offer our services around most parts of London, and if we don’t serve your area, contact us anyway and we would be happy to help in any way we can.