Homeowner guide · Last reviewed: August 3, 2026

Washing machine smells bad? Clean the gasket, dispenser, and drum

Musty washer odors usually begin with moisture, detergent residue, or debris trapped around the gasket, dispenser, drum, or an owner-accessible filter.

Short answer: Empty the washer, wipe and dry the door gasket or lid area, clean the detergent dispenser as the manual allows, and run the machine’s empty cleaning cycle with only a cleaner approved for your exact model. Remove wet laundry promptly and leave the door or lid ajar between loads when it is safe to do so.

Why it matters

Detergent and fabric-softener residue can trap moisture and create musty odors. Whirlpool, Samsung, and GE Appliances all recommend regular cleaning of the drum, gasket, and dispenser, correct detergent dosing, prompt removal of wet laundry, and allowing the washer to dry between uses. A sewage, sulfur, burning, or persistent odor may point to a drain, plumbing, electrical, or internal service problem instead of ordinary maintenance.

Safe checks, step by step

1
Remove all laundry and check the drum, door gasket, and lid area for trapped socks, lint, coins, or standing water. Turn the washer off before reaching into folds of the gasket, and do not remove a service panel.
2
Wipe the gasket, door glass, and accessible drum surfaces with a soft damp cloth, then dry them. For visible mold or stubborn residue, use only the cleaning method approved in your model’s owner’s manual; never combine cleaners or improvise chemical mixtures.
3
Remove and wash the detergent or softener dispenser only if the owner’s manual describes it as removable. Use warm water and mild detergent, clear visible residue with a soft nonmetal brush, rinse, dry, and reinstall it correctly.
4
Run the washer’s empty Clean Washer, Self Clean, Basket Clean, or equivalent cycle exactly as the manufacturer directs. Use one model-approved washing-machine cleaner or the specified product—never add laundry and never mix bleach, vinegar, ammonia, or other cleaners.
5
After the cycle, wipe the drum and gasket dry. Remove future loads promptly, measure the correct HE detergent amount when required, and leave the door, lid, and dispenser slightly open for airflow only when children and pets cannot access the machine.
6
If your manual provides homeowner access to a pump filter, clean it with the washer off and towels ready. Stop if access requires moving the machine, opening a cabinet panel, disconnecting plumbing, or working near wiring.

Stop and call a professional if

The odor is burning or electrical, the plug or outlet feels hot, the breaker trips, or you see smoke or damaged wiring
The washer smells like sewage or sulfur after the drain hose position and visible drain area have been checked
Water remains in the drum, backs up from the standpipe, leaks under the cabinet, or reaches wiring or finished surfaces
Visible mold or odor returns after repeated model-approved cleaning, or the gasket is torn, loose, or leaking
Cleaning would require moving the washer, opening service panels, disconnecting hoses, or bypassing a lid or door safety switch

Related guides and tools

Sources

Last reviewed: August 3, 2026. This date changes only when the content is reviewed or revised. Always follow the instructions for your exact model.

Need professional help?

Find an appliance technician near you.

Enter your ZIP code to open a local Google Maps search. No account or personal contact information is required here.

This opens an independent Google Maps search in a new tab.