Smelly washer, help!

[northfacespacerace]

My washing machine smells awful despite a hot maintenance wash with bleach and a dettol washing machine cleaner product, also emptied the filter. Ive ordered a Dr Beckmanns washing machine cleaner to try but was wondering if anyone had any other ideas or tips?

Did you wash out the powder dispenser? You can get mildew in there which then transfers to clothes. Also clean the rubber seal.

Thanks for your reply, yes I soaked the dispenser drawer and scrubbed it and wiped the washing machine cleaner around the seal as directed in the instructions.

As previous poster said - and is it draining properly ?

I'd undo that bottom plug thing (sorry don't know the technical name) and check there's no debris. I once found a Ben10 figure and some coins.

check if it's installed correctly with the pipes in the back in a u-shape.

check the filter (have old towels at gand, can be a disgusting job).

I feel your pain OP. When not in use, are you leaving the door open to air?

Hoover mention checking the stand pipe:

Check the stand pipe: If the smell persists even after cleaning your appliance, consider clearing your standpipe. The pipe might be partially blocked. Use a drain unblocker to remove the build up of residue.

Hottest, longest wash with soda crystals. Leave door and drawer open afterwards. If it's still smelling, repeat as loosened gunk may need to be washed out

I use a handful of cheap dishwasher tablets on a hot wash.

Not a good idea, too harsh for a washing machine’s parts.

Double check the seal and clean it again - use a bit of old white towel so you can see what you are getting off and where dirt is collecting. You need to run the cleaning cloth round it at least twic both ways - so once with your hand and fingers clawed towards you/front of the machine and once with your fingers away from you/back of machine to make sure you clean both sides of the seal.

I saw a tiktok video about cleaning under the drum paddles and it traumatised me as to what was under there. It was filthy. I've been too scared to try mine.

It wasn't this one but this sort of thing:

www.tiktok.com/@jessiee_marie/video/7194479335867288838

Do you use the pods with the plastic type coating? If so, these can cause issues with smells as they don't always dissolve fully, and the sticky gel like plastic gets bunged up in the pipes and start stinking.

“SnugNightsss”
I’ve used this method in my 12 year Bosch machine many times & never had a problem.

Thanks for all the replies, going to try some of these ideas. Interestingly I’ve recently been using the pods as they were on offer, will switch to powder or gel when I’ve used them all

My bet then it is the pods. An engineer told me this. The gunge just stays in the pipes and it absolutely stinks as its going mouldy.

Soda crystals on a boil wash x2 to clear out the gunk in your machine and hose.

Also have you cleaned the drawer cavity where the detergent drawer goes? Mine gets mouldy.