My washing STINKS!

[smellywash]

Hi- we moved into this house in January with a built in washing machine. But all of our clothes stink.
We have tried cleaning it with everything imaginable (all the cleaners, bleach, white vinegar etc) scrubbed it inside out. But everything just always smells so musty and damp. This was the same in summer when line drying and now in the winter using the tumble.
Is there a chance there could be plumbing issues etc? I've never had these issues previously and just don't know what it could be.
I just don't know what to do? We really don't want to buy a new washing machine incase there's deeper issues too.

Have you cleaned the drain and inside the drum?

Yes we have - a few times unfortunately!

Have you changed the water inlet hose ? Much cheaper than a new washer

There may be stagnant rancid water that needs emptying inside the washing machine, look for a user guide for it online or search for a little drawer near the floor.

Best to make sure you have a container handy to catch the water.

Do you wash on an eco cycle?

We had issues and when we called a plumber we were told not to use this setting as even though it saves energy it’s not good enough to clean the pipes.

We used the normal settings and washing and machine no longer smells.

I also leave the washing machine door open between washes to air.

Following this because I've noticed similar with mine recently! Driving me mad.

Have you tried running it on a very hot wash to clean it?

You need to run it on a very hot wash every 40 ish washes.

You need to use bio wash powder, not pods or liquid. Try a laundry cleaner like dettox or white vinegar.

Empty the trap(s) and hoses.

My machine started to smell musty, tried loads of stuff.

In the end phoned bosch who said to put a wash on at 90 with nothing in it, just water and to do this as many times as it took for the smell to go.

Ran it three times and the smell went completely.

Is there a chance there could be plumbing issues etc?

It seems so, given everything else in your post.

Hot wash with nothing in, if it still forms bubbles then you have a washing powder/liquid buildup so might need to run it a couple of times and start using less product. White vinegar also helps get bad smells out.

Also a proper clean of the filter, taking it all out for a good clean and letting any stagnant water out.

Agree with a 90 degree wash say once a month or so, but regularly. Low temp washes are not hot enough (if used all time) to keep the pipes and drum etc. from clogging and smelling. No need to use anything, just an empty machine and water.

Hope it works OP if you give it a try.

Thank you. We've done a few 90 degree washes. With bleach in the drawer too. It's still awfully smelly.
I will look into changing the water inlet hose.
Any other ideas?

Powder or liquid detergent?

We use powder.

Dishwasher tablets x2 in the drum ( empty) and do a 90 degree wash. Repeat and repeat and repeat until the smell has gone. It might get worse before it gets better but it will go. Take the drawer out too and scrub the cavity if you haven't already.

I had this with my washing machine and all the washes at 90 and specialist cleaners seemed to make the machine smell worse. Kept persevering on the basis that maybe the cleaning cycles were 'loosening' something up, but it never went completely.

The one thing I've found that really works is using the Dettol (or own brand equivalent) anti-bacterial liquid in every wash. Clothes and machine no longer smell!

Not a lot of help for ridding your machine of the stink but once it is cleaned out...

I do a 60 degree wash every week with cleaning cloths and tea towels etc and add a small measure of the Dettol anti-bacterial laundry liquid stuff, which smells nice and seems to keep the whole thing fresh. Leave the door ajar, too.

Hundreds of years ago when I got my first washing machine the guy who installed it told me never put detergent, be it powder or liquid, into the little drawers, always chuck it straight into the drum so no residue can build up.
He also told me to put 'smalls' into those zippy mesh bags so no little items can go astray and bung up the pipes.

Do you leave the door open all the time when it is not in use?

Use biological powder, put an old towel in to lift the level of the water, and put it on a hot wash. Do not use conditioner or those little ball things.

You say you've run 90c washes but have you checked that they actually were hot? 90c should make the glass door feel pretty hot to touch for a while during the cycle, and 60c feels more than lukewarm..

The heating element went on mine (I assume?).... I was running hot washes and trying bleach and all different kinds of powder and scent but my washing just got smellier and smellier over a period of weeks. Then I realised it wasn't heating at all and we had been sloshing everything about in cold water.

Bought a new machine and it's all fine again now. Much fresher.

Also - at the moment with drying clothes when the central heating is still not on - heavy items like jeans and towels can take a while to dry and sometimes go musty before they dry completely.

Been having this issue. We live in a flat no outside space. Realised it was certain things that were smelling musty/damp (pissy)

the last 2 weeks I’ve been washing with white vinegar isn’t of fabric softener (still using pods)

spacing the clothes out to get them more air flow. And using a dehumidifier.

also cleaned the machine out with soda crystals.

it seems to have worked!

I thought this was going to be about getting bloody clothes dry without having the heating on! That's its own little circle of hell right now. I've had to rewash lately due to the stink as it's not drying fast enough which is defeating the object of not using the dryer 😡

Sometimes though OP to answer your original question, a new machine is the answer. If its been poorly maintained by previous owners you may never get the stink out.

When this happened to me, it was a stray sock that had gotten stuck in the pipe.