Quick answerRun an empty hot-water cycle with 2 cups of white vinegar, then a second hot cycle with half a cup of baking soda. Scrub the rubber door gasket and the detergent dispenser drawer, which is where the mildew actually lives. Then leave the door ajar after every wash so it dries out.
What you'll need
- White vinegar (2 cups)
- Baking soda (1/2 cup)
- Dish soap
- Microfiber cloths
- Old toothbrush
- Rubber gloves (the gasket grime is unpleasant)
Step-by-step
- Empty the machine completely. Check pockets, check the drum, check the dispenser. Run this with nothing inside — you're cleaning the machine, not clothes.
- Run a hot vinegar cycle. Pour 2 cups of white vinegar directly into the drum (not the dispenser). Run the hottest, longest cycle your machine offers. The hot vinegar dissolves soap scum and kills the mildew causing the smell.
- Run a hot baking soda cycle. Sprinkle half a cup of baking soda into the drum and run another hot cycle. This deodorizes and scrubs away what the vinegar loosened. Two separate cycles, not one combined — that's the whole point.
- Scrub the door gasket. This is where front-loader smell lives. Peel back the rubber seal gently and look inside the folds — you'll likely find gray slime. Wipe it out with a cloth dampened with dish soap and hot water, then go over it again with plain water. An old toothbrush gets into the creases.
- Clean the dispenser drawer. Pull it out (most have a release tab — push it and slide). Soak it in hot soapy water, scrub the compartments with the toothbrush, and clean the empty drawer cavity too. Dried detergent in here is a major smell source.
- Wipe the door and exterior. Glass door inside and out, the control panel, the top edge where dust collects. Quick job, but it makes the machine feel new again.
- Leave the door ajar. This is the habit that prevents the smell returning. A closed washer door traps moisture; an open one lets the drum and gasket dry. Even an inch of gap is enough. Same goes for the dispenser drawer — leave it cracked open.
- Make it monthly. If your household does a lot of laundry, run the vinegar cycle once a month. Heavy fabric-softener users should do it more often — softener leaves the residue that mildew feeds on.
<div class="safety"> <strong>🛑 Stop and call a pro if:</strong> <ul> <li>There's standing water in the drum that won't drain — that's a pump or drain issue, not a cleaning problem.</li> <li>You see water leaking from underneath during the cleaning cycles — a hose or seal may have failed.</li> <li>The machine shakes violently or makes grinding noises — possible drum bearing or suspension failure.</li> <li>Never mix bleach and vinegar (or bleach and any acid) in the same cycle — run them separately with a full rinse between, or just skip the bleach.</li> </ul> </div>
DIY vs pro cost
| Option | Typical cost |
|---|---|
| DIY | $3–$8 |
| Pro washer service visit | $150–$250 |
Printable checklist
- [ ] Machine completely empty
- [ ] Hot vinegar cycle run (2 cups in drum)
- [ ] Hot baking soda cycle run (1/2 cup in drum)
- [ ] Door gasket folds scrubbed clean
- [ ] Dispenser drawer removed, soaked, scrubbed
- [ ] Door glass and exterior wiped
- [ ] Door left ajar to dry
- [ ] Monthly vinegar cycle on the calendar
Related guides
- Dishwasher Smells Bad? How to Remove Dishwasher Odor Fast
- Washing Machine Not Draining? How to Fix It
- Dryer Not Heating? Troubleshooting Guide
Frequently asked questions
Why does my washer smell like rotten eggs or mildew?
It's biofilm — a mix of mildew, bacteria, and old detergent residue living in the rubber gasket, dispenser, and outer drum. Front-loaders are worse for this because the airtight door seal traps moisture. The cleaning cycles kill it; leaving the door open stops it coming back.
Can I use bleach instead of vinegar?
You can run a hot cycle with half a cup of bleach instead of the vinegar cycle, but never combine them — bleach plus vinegar creates chlorine gas. Honestly, vinegar plus baking soda handles the smell just as well for most machines, without the risk.
Does this work for top-loaders too?
Yes, same method — fill on the hottest, largest setting. Top-loaders smell less often because they don't seal airtight, but the dispenser and the area under the rim can still grow mildew. Don't forget the fabric softener dispenser if yours has one.
How often should I clean my washing machine?
Once a month if you do daily laundry or use a lot of fabric softener; every 2–3 months for lighter use. The gasket wipe and open-door habit matter more than the deep clean — do those every time.
Advertisement