Why does my washing machine smell? Causes and what to do in Dubai homes

Quick answer: A washing machine usually smells because water, detergent and lint stay inside it: in the rubber door seal, the detergent drawer, the drain filter or the drain hose. Leaving the door shut after a wash, washing only on cold, and using too much detergent make it worse. Cleaning the seal, drawer and filter and running a hot empty wash usually helps. If the smell is like sewage or comes back quickly, the drain may be blocked and a technician should check it.

Why does my washing machine smell musty or damp?

Front-load machines seal tightly. When the door stays closed after a wash, the drum and the rubber seal stay wet, and mould and bacteria grow in the folds of the seal and in the drawer. In Dubai homes, washing machines are often in small laundry rooms or kitchens with little air flow, so they take longer to dry.

Why does my washing machine smell like sewage or rotten eggs?

This usually points to the drain side: dirty water sitting in the drain filter or a blocked drain hose, or a smell coming back from the building drain if the hose is not fitted correctly. If the machine is also slow to drain or leaves water in the drum, read our guide on washing machine not draining.

Why does my washing machine still smell after I clean it?

If the smell comes back within days, the dirt is usually somewhere you have not reached: behind the drawer, deep in the door seal, in the drain filter, or inside the drain hose. A worn seal can also hold dirt that will not wash out. A technician can check the drain path and the seal.

How do I clean a smelly washing machine?

1. Switch off and unplug the machine.
2. Pull back the rubber door seal and wipe out the folds with a cloth and warm water; dry it.
3. Take out the detergent drawer, wash it, and clean the space behind it.
4. Put a towel and a shallow tray under the drain filter (usually behind a small door at the front bottom), open it slowly, let the water out, clean the filter and refit it firmly.
5. Run an empty wash on the hottest programme or the drum-clean programme in your manual.
6. Leave the door and drawer open after each wash so the inside dries.

Follow your machine’s manual. Don’t mix cleaning products.

How can I stop my washing machine from smelling?

• Use the amount of detergent shown on the pack, not more.
• Take wet clothes out soon after the wash ends.
• Leave the door and drawer slightly open between washes.
• Run a hot or drum-clean wash now and then.
• Clean the drain filter from time to time.

When should I call a washing machine technician?

Call a technician if the smell is like sewage, the machine drains slowly or leaves water behind, you see water on the floor, the door seal is torn, or there is a burning smell. A burning smell is different: switch off and unplug the machine and don’t use it until it has been checked.

Related

Washing machine repair · Washing machine or dishwasher not draining · Dishwasher repair · Al Twar · Mirdif & Oud Al Muteena · Al Warqa, Al Rashidiya & Nad Al Hamar · Nad Al Sheba & Meydan · Al Barari & Dubailand · Sharjah service areas

Queen Electronics & Wellness repairs washing machines in our Dubai service areas and in seven Sharjah areas. WhatsApp or call +971 50 694 8836 with the brand, model and a short video of the problem. Kiosk: Emirates Cooperative Society, 18C Street, Ground floor, Al Twar 3, Dubai. Open Saturday–Thursday 10am–10pm, Friday 4pm–10pm; the visit time is set on WhatsApp.

FAQ

1. Why does my washing machine smell bad?
   Water, detergent and lint stay in the door seal, detergent drawer or drain filter, and mould grows there. Clean those parts, run a hot empty wash, and leave the door open after washing.
2. Why does my washing machine smell like sewage?
   Usually dirty water is sitting in the drain filter or the drain hose is blocked or fitted wrongly. Clean the filter; if the smell stays or the machine drains slowly, call a technician.
3. Why does my washing machine still smell after cleaning it?
   The dirt is often behind the drawer, deep in the seal or inside the drain hose, or the seal is worn. A technician can check the drain path and the seal.
4. How do I stop my washing machine from smelling?
   Use the right amount of detergent, take clothes out soon after the wash, leave the door and drawer open, and run a hot or drum-clean wash now and then.
5. How do I book a washing machine technician?
   WhatsApp +971 50 694 8836 with the brand, model and your location pin. Hours: Saturday–Thursday 10am–10pm, Friday 4pm–10pm.