Why does my washing machine smell dreadful ?!

[Didiplanthis]

Right. My washing machine works hard, it's about a year old and I do 1-2 loads every day. I use proper washing machine cleaner every 2 months or so but it smells like something has died in it !! I have this week done a cleaning sachet thing, done an empty dettol washing and an empty 90' wash. It still stinks. Not sure what to do now !!

What do you use to wash with? Mine was the same, only two years old and stinking but I was using those gel capsules. I switched to powder and within a couple of washes the smell was gone!

Meant to say, I read it's quite common with gel capsules or liquid.

Take a look in the rubber lining around the door. It normally parts in the Centre and mould can build up there. That might be the source

I 've cleaned out lots of gunk from the seal and the filter. It smells like the cats left something dead in there - I'm hoping nothing's climbed in and expired !!

As well as cleaning the door seal, have you taken the powder dispenser out? The powder dispenser is a common source of odour because mould proliferates under and above the dispenser cavity, as well as on the dispenser itself. Especially likely if you use liquids/capsules and/or fabric conditioners.

Empty out the filter trap at the front bottom of the machine. It is often behind a little door. If you can pull your machine forward a couple of feet then tilt it back to lean against the wall or countertop and place a bucket under the trap it will save a lot of water on the floor. Also whilst the machine is out remove the waste pipe and give it a flush through incase anything is trapped in it.

This happened to me and it turned out the element for the washing machine had gone, so all my washes were cold. No wonder the 90 degree maintenance washes weren’t helping. There was no error code & dryer was still working. I finally figured it out by running a 90deg wash and stopping it to check every so often throughout the cycle.

Yes agree with PP have a powder detergent on hand for at least some washes if you need to be using liquid /gel/capsules as nothing but powder contains bleach, so won’t prevent mould/slim build up.

Also YY check that the water is actually getting hot and that your element hasn’t gone as it does seem odd your washer still smells so bad after a couple of very hot washes.

True, the bacterial mould growth within your washing machine is the reason for the bad smell. If the maintenance 90deg wash doesn't help then there is something more. Here the other two reasons for the bad smell:

1. A clogged or blocked filter or filter housing - please check your filter and housing for blockages
2. Connection and drainage problems leading to a backflow of outlet water - this is the worst problem. Check that your washing machine is emptying into a ‘U Bend’ water trap and you may need a plumber.

Hope this helps and good luck.

Do you have the door closed when you're not using it? They smell less if you keep the door ajar.

The washing machine door that is!