Bad Smell I cannot eliminate a really bad smell from inside. Tried bleach, disinfectant, running empty on hottest cycle. Smell always returns like someting rotting. Have checked filter for blockage, nothing!!! hotpoint aquarius extra washing machine.smells like something has died inside.really bad smell.tried using machine empty.with bleach.no different

fill it with water on hottest wash
add a whole tub of oxy on wash

do a cycle till you get to second rinse and empty

drain
and repeat the wash add cheep thin bleech this time {not thick stuff} use the thin cheep 3L from super markets
and run thru the wash on hottest

wont smell now ...
also check your waiste system has a U bend on the outlet
needs one to stop bad water coming back to the pump

take out all plastics and wash them and soak them in bleech

The odor that you are experiencing may be from the growth of mold. Inside the washer, some small pools of water may be left standing and is harboring mold spores. Even though you may operate the washer regularly, the mold spores are not being washed away.I have a couple of tips that might help to eliminate odor issues in your washing machine. First, leave the lid, or door to the unit open after every wash for a week. By leaving the door open, it promotes air circulation and evaporation of standing water. The reduction in odor, will occur quickly and dramatically.

My second tip is to run the washer empty for a quick rinse cycle. Add an entire cup of bleach at the start of the cycle. The bleach is effective at destroying organisms, such as mold and bacteria. However, running it once will not be completely effective. I suggest pouring another cup of bleach into the wash tub, after the cycle has completed. This will leave bleach as the standing pool and should prevent the growth of mold or bacteria. However, if you do this, before doing a load of laundry you should run an empty rinse cycle again(warm), to avoid damage to the clothes from the bleach left standing in the wash tub.

My answer will be generic, as the type of washer isn't defined here. Front loaders generally smell worse than top loaders. There are cleaners that can be tried, and the work "pretty well" for a time, but may not actually solve your problem. Look at your door seals and bellows where the washer tub mates to the door. Things tend to grow there, and can be readily removed with a good disinfectant wipe-down. The washer will also benefit from leaving the door open when the washer is not being used. This allows the surfaces that trap water (and grow the material that makes the odors) to dry out. Whenever I wipe down the seals and bellows, I run an empty load immediately thereafter with bleach in the soap dispenser, bleach in the softener dispenser, and a cup of bleach in the tub too, for good measure. I run the washer on a "sanitary" cycle (with the hottest water for the wash and rinses available), followed by another wash cycle to flush the machine out. I then leave the door open. There are more invasive techniques that yiels somewhat better results, but the method described above is usually mure than sufficient to keep the washer smellin' sweet! Try it, and if we need to go deeper, please post back. If you do re-post, please provide a bit more info....brand of washer, type (top/side loader?), and we'll give it another go.

Best regards,

--W/D--

Clean tub boot the best you can with bleach. Then run an empty load with sunlight automatic dish soap (verry little). Then this should clean and freshin the washer up. The best thing to do is not to shut the door on washer when not in use.

Try Running Goo Gone Through It Although It Smells Like Oranges It Removes Stains As Strong As Sap. Also Try Running The Dry Cycle While Its Empty Two Or Three Times.

Hello barbaracrowl,
From your description, it sounds like the drain system is running back into your washer and you are getting dirty water back into it which in turn causes a build up of mold etc.. I would evaluate the drain system first to make sure you have a water trap and no restrictions that would cause backflow. I would also cycle it on the hottest setting and use a cup or two of white vinegar in lieu of detergent. You may also consider wiping down all surfaces that have that gunk buildup with white vinegar too. When complete.. try cycling an empty washer and open it to periodically examine the water itself for any residue or scum.. To eliminate any backflow after all these cycles are run, you could drain it into a nearby sink or shower stall or rubber barrel just to make sure you aren't getting any backstreaming dirty water. Let me know how it works out or what you find and if my suggestions don't help.. I have a few other ideas that may help you.. BTW: use the lowest wash load setting for all tests and the hottest..
Regards and Good Luck,
Rick

Wash on hottest and longest cycle with regular laundry soap and a bottle of vinegar. After cycle, wash again with soap on hottest/longest cycle. This will clean your washer like new.

Try running it with just vinager and water no clothes.
Just put about a cup of vinager in it and wash cycle and another cup in rinse cycle.
Vinager is a better disinfectant and odor eliminator than bleach.

Hi! I have Kenmore Elite 4t and had this same problem: Musty, Moldy smell in washer and on clothes. The Sears Technician suggested that I use a half a cup of Clorox Liquid Bleach and put it in the tub (not the dispenser). NO CLOTHES! Use the longest hottest setting and when it's done clean the inside (underneath rubber tire thingie) and the undernath part of the door with a papertowel. And to always leave the door open. I did what he said with the bleach and it worked. I didn't want to leave the door open because I have 2 cats & was afraid that they would want to go in it, but ended up repeating the bleach thing again because a few days later the horrible smell was back. I leave the door open all the time now and the cats never go in it. They've watched laundry spin around, so I guess they're smart enough to not want to go in it. I have not had this problem again since I always leave the door open and I did this over a month ago. I hope this helps!

Make a boil wash (with no clothes and detergents) put in the powder's drawer a cup of bicarbonate of soda. It should clean the machine and remove out the bad smell. Good luck!