Front Load Washer Smells Bad? Causes & Solutions

Last Updated on March 4, 2023

Among homeowners, front-load washers are favored because they are fast, quiet, energy-efficient, and save water. However, it is always possible to open the front loader’s door and be welcomed by the musty smell of mildew!

When you use a washing machine, it naturally gets wet. Closing the door after a cycle restricts airflow. The problem is particularly pronounced if you have a front-loading washing machine that is rarely used.

See our Guide Does Coconut Oil Stain Clothing?

Here’s how to fix a front load washer that smells bad, from properly cleaning the gasket to avoiding bad smells.

Why Does My Front Load Dishwasher Smell Bad?

If the front load washer smells bad, it may be due to the following reasons:

Products are used liberally

In a high-efficiency washer, such as a front-loader, which consumes less water, products are applied too liberally, and a significant amount of the goods do not get entirely washed away. Detergent and fabric softener residue that resembles sludge also includes clothes fibers and body odor. The sludge gets stuck in a warm, moist machine or drainage pipe, waiting for a bacterium or mold spore in the air to settle in, proliferate, and start to smell.

Wrong selection of soaps

The wrong soaps can prevent the washer from thoroughly cleaning the drum and your clothes, resulting in a layer of soap scum that serves as a breeding ground for bacteria. Additionally, this accumulation may penetrate the door gasket and emit odors.

Using unclean water

The majority of people ought to already be aware of this because it is rather evident. sulfur-like odors will emanate from your washing machine and laundry area if you wash your clothes in dirty water. Use only clean water to avoid a rotten-smelling washing machine.

Using rubber door gasket

Because front-load washers use a rubber door gasket to prevent water from leaking out, the unpleasant situation is made worse. Under the gasket, dirt, soap, and fabric scraps can collect and become a haven for unpleasant odors.

Not avoiding the moisture

A rubber gasket lines the door of a front-loading washing machine due to the nature of its construction. This stops leaks, but it also creates a perfect environment for germs to grow. Because there is nowhere for any leftover water to escape, mildew and mold can grow inside the machine, giving it a musty smell. It is difficult to discard the stench if enough mold forms and enters your system.

Wrong laundry method

Sometimes the way we do laundry makes it even simpler for mildew and mold to grow. A front-load washer may smell foul because of these typical errors as well:

Lack of routine washer cleaning and maintenance
Use an ordinary detergent when washing
excessive use of detergent

How To Get Rid Of This Bad Smell?

If the front load washer smells bad, follow these steps to remove it:

Cleaning The Washer Tub

Here are four simple steps for washer tub cleaning:

Mix 1/4 cup baking soda in 1/4 cup water to create a cleaning solution. In the detergent dispenser, dispense the solution.
2 cups of distilled white vinegar should be added to the vacant washer tub.
Run a typical wash cycle with warm or hot water in the empty washer.
To discard the vinegar odor, clean out the washer’s interior.

Cleaning the gasket

It’s time to focus on the gasket once you’ve thoroughly cleaned the entire inside of the washing machine. This step is particularly crucial if the washing machine has a front loading feature. The dispenser for detergent and the gasket that seals the door get filled with water and detergent, which is an issue.

Because top-load washing machines pull the water down rather than up, this issue is less severe. However, the residual water and detergent in front loaders attract bacteria and foster the growth of foul-smelling mildew.

Here are 5 easy steps to cleaning mold of a washing machine from a front-load washer gasket:

To reveal the interior, open the door and pull back the gasket made-up of rubber.
Any foreign things, such as coins, hair, or buttons, should be taken out.
Use a mildew cleaner that is commercial or soapy water to mist the gasket.
Now use a sponge or clean towel to clean up the gasket.
Pour one gallon of warm water and 1/4 cup of liquid bleach over mold or mildew that has persisted. Use the solution to clean the gasket, then let it stand for five minutes before drying with a fresh cloth. For a thorough air drying, leave the washer door open.

Cleaning the washer drum

To remove the odors, executing a clean cycle can help that is caused by accumulation in the washing drum in front-loading washers. For the proper usage of this cycle, adhere to the directions in the user manual.

Here’s how to clean the tub if the washer doesn’t have a clean cycle for the tub:

Add baking soda with 1/3 cup of measurement to an empty washer drum.
Fill the detergent tray with white vinegar.
Run a conventional wash cycle or a cleaning cycle in hot water.
Run wash cycle for the second time after adding bleach with 2 cups to the bleach dispenser to treat persistent mildew.

Cleaning the soap dispensers

To make this process simpler, these could be able to be taken out of the washing machine.

The dispensers may smell of soap residue and very small volumes of stagnant, old water.
To reach the dispenser’s crevices, use a spray bottle or pipe cleaner.
Dispensers should be taken out and thoroughly cleaned in hot, soapy water.
We can wipe them out with soapy water if we are unable to eliminate them.

Cleaning Out the Pipes

Pipes that are clogged or unclean can produce unpleasant odors, particularly sewage-like odors. You need to work on clearing up some of the pipes.

You should start by trying to clean the p-trap. Just pour a gallon of water down this pipe, and it should be cleaned and the odors eliminated. If the odor persists, contact a plumber. The drain line needs to be cleaned out as well. You should contact a plumber to clear this using a piece of sewer equipment.

Running an empty wash cycle

Because it is somewhat alkaline and safe to use, baking soda is an excellent natural cleaner for removing grime and oil. Simply pour a half-cup into the wash drum and run a warm empty cycle.

How To Keep Front Load Washer Fresh?

Here are a few ways to keep the front load washer fresh:

Get Rid of That Old Detergent

Use only detergents developed for high-efficiency machines if you have a front-loader. Fewer suds mean less scum for nasty lifeforms to cling to; regular detergents just make more suds than your front-loader can handle. Do yourself a favor and stop using liquid fabric softener because front-loading washing machines don’t allow it.

Often air the washer

Don’t leave the washing machine running all day. Give the air inside it some time to circulate. To allow air to flow and stop the rotten smell that a washing machine can produce, you should have a well-ventilated system in your laundry room.

Empty Cleaning Trap

Lint is gathered in the cleaning trap, also known as the lint filter, where it can accumulate mold and mildew if it is not cleaned and emptied every three months. Therefore, incorporate emptying the cleaning trap into your daily routine. If your opening is larger, place a towel there. Pull out the plug to allow the extra water to drain. This filter may be covered in muck, fluff, and other particles. Before replacing it, clean it in the sink with hot, soapy water.

Bottom lines

Last but not least, be sure to empty the drain trap filter of your machine if it has accumulated lint. It should be done once a week. Now it’s time for you to put into action everything you learned in this blog post.