Domakihub How to clean a washing machine (and kill the smell)
A musty washer leaves clothes smelling worse than before. Here's how to deep-clean the drum, seal, drawer and filter.
Reviewed by Domakihub cleaning pros · 2026-06-23 · 5 min read
If clean laundry comes out smelling damp or sour, the machine — not your detergent — is usually the problem. Detergent residue, fabric softener and moisture build up where you can't see them and turn into mould and bacteria. The video above shows the full clean; the checklist below is the same routine you can repeat once a month to keep it fresh.
Why washing machines start to smell
Modern machines run cool, eco cycles that don't get hot enough to kill the gunk left behind by detergent and softener. That residue collects in the door seal, the detergent drawer and the filter, where it grows mould.
Front-loaders smell more often than top-loaders because water sits in the rubber door seal between washes.
What you'll need
White vinegar or a washing-machine cleaner, baking soda, an old cloth and an old toothbrush. That's it — no special tools.
Deep-clean your washing machine in 5 steps
- 1
Wipe the door seal
On a front-loader, peel back the rubber seal and wipe out the trapped water, hair and black mould with a cloth dipped in diluted vinegar. This is where most of the smell lives.
- 2
Clean the detergent drawer
Pull the drawer right out (most release with a press), and scrub off the slimy softener residue with a toothbrush under hot water. Leave it to dry before refitting.
- 3
Run a hot maintenance wash
Empty machine, hottest cycle. Add 250 ml white vinegar (or a machine cleaner) to the drum and a little baking soda in the drawer. The heat plus acid dissolves the build-up.
- 4
Clean the filter
Behind a small flap at the bottom front: put a towel down, unscrew the filter and pull out coins, hair and grime. A blocked filter causes smells and poor draining.
- 5
Wipe down and leave it open
Dry the seal and glass, then leave the door and drawer ajar between washes so it can air out. Repeat the hot wash monthly.
Rather have a pro handle it?
Get a vetted cleaning pro in your city — one number, booked in EN/EL/DE.
FAQ
- How often should I clean my washing machine?
- A hot maintenance wash once a month, plus a quick wipe of the seal after heavy use, keeps smells away.
- Vinegar or a dedicated cleaner — which is better?
- Both work. White vinegar is cheap and effective for routine cleaning; a dedicated descaler is worth it once or twice a year in hard-water areas.
- Can I put bleach in instead?
- You can run a hot cycle with a little bleach for mould, but never mix it with vinegar — run them in separate cycles.