Smell coming from washing machine
If you have a smell coming from your washing machine or the clothes even when they have just been washed, then it is time to have a look at the root cause.
Step 1
Give your washing machine a maintenance wash. This is a special cycle done without any clothes inside so that the drum gets a good clean and gets rid of excess detergent or dirt that has built up over time. If your particular machine does not have a maintenance wash then set it to the hottest wash cycle and again leave it empty. You can even run this a couple of times if it is particularly dirty or repeat this on a more frequent basis rather than leaving it to get dirty again.
Using either a homemade or shop bought chemicals to put through this was cycle will also help. You can choose to go with some baking soda and vinegar, some bleach or domestos from around the house or use some specific products designed specifically for this purpose. (Warning- Do Not mix and chemical products together as they can react.) If you choose to use bleach, make sure that you wash the drum down afterwards and put your washing machine through a rinse wash after wards to ensure that the bleach is completely removed before putting in any clothes. Bleach faded jeans are best kept in the 1980’s…
You can even start the maintenance mode cycle with your cleaning product in it then pause the machine and allow the cleaning agent to soak and permeate the machine for a few hours or even over night and finish the cycle the next day. This gives maximum time for the cleaning agents to work.
Step 2
Clean round the washing machine door and pay attention to the rubber seals which slowly collect dirt and soap over time. If this is left for too long, it can over time begin to smell or at the very least make your clothes dirty.
Step 3
Clean out your detergent drawer. If you can see that the soap and dirt build up is particularly bad then remove the drawer completely and soak it in hot soapy water and clean it out properly using a washing brush or a toothbrush to get into the small gaps. Leave to dry thoroughly before replacing drawer back into the washing machine.
Step 4
If your washing machine is still causing a smell and making the clothes smell you may have to call in Glasgow Plumbing Services to look at plumbing issues around the washing machine or to check for blocked pipes.
Extra Tip
Leaving the door open after your washing machine has finished its cycle allows the drum to dry out therefore preventing the build-up of water and water borne bacteria which can also be a cause of the bad odours.
If you clean your washing machine once a month this should prevent any buildup of dirt, soap and bacteria leading to foul smells and bad smelling clothes.
If you have tried these simple fixes yourself and are still having problems, then there may be a problem with the water pipes coming in and out of your washing machine. That’s the time to call Glasgow Plumbing Services on 0141-530-1315.
Hi
We’re having an issue with out washing machine leaving the clothes smelly after a wash.
We’ve tried all of the recommended guidance on cleaning the drum but it’s still happening.
We think it might then be the pipe work that is causing the issue.
What sort of cost would be involved in getting someone to look at it?
Thanks
Hi Martin, I know that our team reached out to you already to see if we could help with regards to your washing machine and plumbing.
Once your plumbing is up and running, one of the key elements to ensuring your clothes dry properly without a damp foul smell is the drying method.
1. Ensure that the clothes dry as quickly as possible after being washed. Don’t leave them lying in the washing machine while still wet which only leads to dampness.
2. If you can’t get your clothes dried outside in the sun and wind and fresh air, the next best thing is using a tumble drier or a dehumidifier to help them dry as quickly as possible.
3. Many people using their radiators to dry their clothes. This can be very effective although just be careful that the water evaporating from the drying clothes doesn’t strip the wall paper off the walls above the radiators.
4. If your clothes are damp and smelly because they haven’t dried properly, there are a few thing that you can do to help and get them back on track.
Try re-washing your clothes again and use plenty of washing machine powder/pods, conditioner/softener and scent boosters.
You can also do a wash with vinegar to try and get the damp smell from your clothes.
5. You can try putting your washing machine through a self wash while empty. Most modern washing machines have a self wash function although if this is not there, then a high temperature wash will do the job in the same way.
I hope this helps you stop your clothes smelling damp.
of course like your web-site but you need to test the spelling on quite a few of your posts. Many of them are rife with spelling problems and I in finding it very bothersome to tell the truth however I will surely come back again.
Hi. We are so glad that you like our website and you are getting some good information from our pages and posts.
I accept full responsibility for any spelling mistakes you may have noticed. I will obviously have to have a look through the site again and try to address these spelling errors.
I hope that they didn’t detract from the main point of the subjects too much.
Thank you for pointing these out though and I will definitely try to remedy all the mistakes and be more observant of spelling mistakes in future.
Thanks again. 😉
We took an in-depth look at the relative performance of front- and top-load washers, and found that front-loaders are superior in virtually every way. That came as no surprise, since front-loaders are designed not only to be more efficient, but also to be gentler on clothes while cleaning them better. But it’s that efficiency part that can cause some headaches when it comes to smell. See, high-efficiency front-loaders use a lot less water than their top-load counterparts, since they fill just the bottom of the wash tub with water. Since the drum rotates on a horizontal axis, your clothes tumble through the water, eliminating the need to fill the tub up all the way.
Thank you for your interesting message on washing machines Jennifer. Hopefully our readers will find this interesting in their research when purchasing a new washing machine.
If you need a washing machine repaired or installed, please do not hesitate in contacting us.
Glasgow Plumbing Services
272 Bath Street
Glasgow
G2 4JR
0141-530-1315
https://glasgowplumbingservices.co.uk/
Hi! Someone in my Facebook group shared this site with us so I came to look it over.
I’m definitely enjoying the information. I’m bookmarking and will be tweeting
this to my followers! Outstanding blog and outstanding
design and style.
Hi Dillon,
Thank you for stopping by our plumbing website and thank you for your kind words about our blog post. We are very glad that you enjoyed it and took away lots of valuable information about problems with washing machines. Feel free to have a look back again at any time as we will be adding lots of new content very soon on all aspects of plumbing and heating.
Thanks again from all at Glasgow Plumbing Services.
Remember, if you are looking for professional plumbers Glasgow, you can find us 24 hours a day at:-
Glasgow Plumbing Services
272 Bath Street
Glasgow
G2 4JR
0141-530-1315
https://glasgowplumbingservices.co.uk/
Thank you for your kind comments on smells that come from washing machines. Our post on smells that come from a washing machine has been very popular. Nobody wants a smelly washing machine after all!!!!!
You want your home to be a sanctuary of inner peace and tranquility and your clothes to be clean, fresh, radiant and smell like a summer breeze in a field of lavender. Putting on your freshly washed clothes should feel like the first breathe of a newly born infant.
Don’t take me back to the 70’s when I was sent off to school wearing damp smelling clothes that had been washed in a broken washing machine and then not dried properly. The painful memories are too much for me . Don’t do this yourself. Get your smelly washing machine sorted…
Hi, there is a smell coming from my washing machine so I am going to try doing the tips you have suggested. If that doesn’t work, I will give you guys a call. Thanks. x
Hi Fiona,
Hopefully our guide on what to do if you have a smell coming from your washing machine. However, if you need us we are only a phone call away.
Just remember, if you have an emergency plumbing problem, please call us right away. Do not email us for an emergency plumbing problem.
Thanks for the tips on smells coming from a washing machine. This helped us sort out our smelly washing machine problems. Ang
Great article. Really looking forward to read more. Great. Marion
Hi there! This article could not be written any better. Thanks
I absolutely love your blog and always find exactly what I’m looking for.
Thanks for finally talking about; Smell From Washing Machine
Glasgow Plumbing Services; Liked it!
I am hoping to get rid of the smell coming from my washing machine which leaves the clothes smelling damp.
Thanks for the info
Keep on writing, great job!
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Good work.
I like your tips for a smell coming from your washing machine. This is what we are having so I will try your tips now.