A musty smell in a front-load washer comes from damp residue left on the door gasket, in the detergent drawer and at the bottom of the drum. In Houston, where the air in a closed laundry room stays wet for much of the year, that residue never dries on its own. A routine takes care of it in a few minutes a week.
The cleaning routine
- Wipe the rubber door gasket, especially the lower fold where water collects. Lift the lip and clean behind it with a cloth.
- Pull the detergent drawer if your model allows and rinse it. Wipe the cavity behind it.
- Run the washer’s tub clean cycle monthly, with a washer cleaner made for front-loaders, following the product label.
- Clean the drain pump filter every few months. Power off, drain first, and keep towels ready.
Habits that prevent the smell
- Leave the door cracked open between loads so air can dry the drum and gasket.
- Use the amount of detergent shown for the load; extra suds feed residue and odor.
- Take wet clothes out soon after the cycle ends.
- If the washer sits in a closet, keep the closet door open or vent the room.
When the smell stays
If the odor remains after the gasket, drawer and filter are cleaned, the problem may be a drain hose that holds water, or residue trapped behind the drum where you cannot reach. A sour smell on freshly washed clothes can also point to slow draining. We can check the drain path and open areas that an owner cannot clean. Skip strong bleach and mixed chemicals for this; combining cleaners can release harmful fumes.
When the odor outlasts your cleaning, we can open up the drain path and the drum area. Start from the washer repair page; our service area lists the counties we visit, and each repair is quoted in writing and carries a 30-day workmanship warranty.