Washing machine smells... what can I do

[Jedimastermama]

My machine has been smelling funny for a few weeks now. I’ve tried white vinegar, various washing machine cleaning liquids, machine tablets, soda crystals.
I’ve been wiping clean the rubber bit.

I’ve washed clothes today and the smell is awful now.

Am I missing something?
Should I call a plumber, is it something like a blockage or I don’t know

Please help... anyone, thank you

Have you tried cleaning out the drain at the bottom of the machine? It's usually like a screwcap or just a pop out thing. I clean mine with a good dose of bicarb in the drum and a capful of zoflora in the drawer. I have an auto clean function on mine but the highest temp and longest cycle could maybe do the trick.

Do you use washing liquid or powder?

Have you tried a boil wash on empty

I had this problem and could not get rid of the smell, in the end I pulled the washing machine out and cleaned out all the pipes (very messy!) and then put it on a high wash with a good dose of bicarb and it's now 100 times better!

I asked this a while back, my washer stank like a dead dog. Advice was to use a dishwasher tablet on a hot wash. I did this twice and then a third cycle with some disinfectant. It did the job. Good luck - also leave the door open unless you have to close it for safety.

Had the same issue. Was awful. Nothing worked. I put a few back to back hot washes on empty and left the door open to air it. Cleaned the rubber and aired it lots. Loads of bleach down the sink above it. Not sure what worked but it eventually went. Good luck it was awful at the time. Towels in particular came out with an awful smell.

I was going to say boil wash on empty too, sorted my machine right out when it got a bit whiffy!

Definitely dishwasher tablets as the pp said! 2 tablets in the drum on the hottest wash, and obviously make sure the drawer and seal are clean too which it sounds like you've already done.

Thank you, thank you all for the advice...
@FloorLamp I will take a look at the drain at the bottom of machine. Hopefully it won’t be too much of a mucky job!

@Iminaglasscaseofemotion
I usually use liquid or the liquid tabs.

@CrotchetyQuaver and @Rosecottage888
I’ve tried using on a about wash on empty machine a few times regularly but the smell still seems to still be there.
@Marie84 that’s sounds like a very messy job but if no luck with anything else I shall be pulling out machine this weekend and tackling those pipes.
@Flatpackback and @GoldenPlover I never thought of trying dish washer tablets, will definitely give that a try.

@Halo1234 it’s not just my towels, it’s everything at the mo, my LO clothes, she’s a toddler and asking why her clothes smell funny. The babygrows and muslins are pretty bad at times too.

Right, I will crack on with these suggestions starting later on this morning.

The other night I was all set to call a plumber or buy a new machine. I mean the smell is so bad when I take clothes out of machine there is literally no smell of liquid used.

Thanks all

Use powder once it is clean. Liquid always makes them smell after a while, no such issues with powder

Have you taken out the drawer and cleaned it?

@Jedimastermama I had the same problem with my old macking because I wasnusing liquid. Switched to powder and never had it since. I have a new machine now, well its about 4 years old, and always use powder.

I switched to powder over 14 years ago for this reason. No issues since.

I used to use powder and got a smelly, slimy, mouldy build up of powder/water sludge over time. I only realised when this build up stopped the machine spinning effectively. The Miele washing machine engineer gave me a proper telling off for using powder (‘You’ve paid out for an expensive machine, don’t ruin it with a cheap detergent’) and recommended I use liquid in the dosing balls instead. It’s worked well so far.

I think the truth is probably that overdosing with any product, liquid or powder, will cause a problem so now I err on the side of stinginess when adding detergent and often use the extra water option to ensure any product is 100% dissolved. As an extra insurance against possible build up I run an occasional 90 degree wash with washing soda crystals in an empty machine.

this probably won't help you, but for reasons DH and I absolutely cannot work out, we've had to stop using the "mixed" cycle on our machine as it always leaves the clothes smelling odd - sort of like spilled curry. All other cycles are fine.

Well I’ve given the machine a good clean today. Ran it twice on a empty hot wash with dishwasher tabs, given it a rest from washing clothes, door left open.
Tomorrow will use powder and hopefully the smell has gone.

I just want nice smelling clothes again

Thank again

Hopefully it works!

After the dishwasher tabs worked for me I've started washing everything on a slightly hotter wash as previously I washed everything at 30 degrees and it's not started smelling again!

Just a quick update... my washing machine no longer smells!
It’s gone through a number of hot wash cycles with tablets and liquids.
I’ve switched to powder and so far, so good! I actually wash less too, I did wonder if I was overloading the machine at times. It’s still early days but honestly I am so relieved, our clothes doesn’t have that musty damp smell anymore.
Thank you all for your advice