Why Your Washer Smells Like Mildew in Houston

One of the service calls I see the most, the person meets me in the laundry room and says, “The washer works, it just stinks.”

Usually there is an immediate reaction or the smell is most noticeable when opening the washer door. Sometimes the smell disappears until the laundry is removed and placed in a hamper or the dryer, but most often it is the towels that cause the concern. They may

be clean, but they don’t smell clean.

The first question I ask is simple.

“When was the last time you cleaned the washer itself?”

This seems like an odd question because the washing machine is supposed to do the

cleaning. It should clean the laundry, not the other way around.

The fact is that the washing machine needs to be cleaned on a regular basis.

A washing machine accumulates warm water, detergents, body oils, lint, and fabric

softener over its lifespan. A little extra moisture that doesn’t want to dry and those areas

of the washer that hold onto moisture are prime locations for the smell of mildew.

Especially in the hot and damp environment Houston can be, particularly in your laundry

room or connected to your garage.

But humidity is not usually the culprit. More often than not there is moisture trapped

somewhere in your washer with either detergent or dirty water that is not exiting the

washer as it should.

So here is where I start.

I Usually Check the Door Seal First

On a front load washer the seal that makes the door watertight is home to many odors.

The folds in the rubber seal trap hair, lint, small articles of clothing, paperwork left in a

pocket, detergent residue, and sometimes, water.

I give the seal a gentle tug to open the folds and look for residue or water.

If there is visible dirt or water the source of the odor is at least partially identified. The

seal may look clean on the outside, but the inside of the folds may contain the smell of

mildew. Wiping the outside of the seal is a good start, but not often enough.

The seal should also be inspected for any tears, which can cause water to pool and leak

from the washer.

If your washer manual indicates it is safe to do so, a damp cloth and the cleaner

specified for your washer can be used to wipe the gasket. Pay particular attention to the

bottom of the seal where water often collects.

Do not use several different cleaners you have found online, as some manufacturers do

not approve of them. The CDC has a good article on bleach and other cleaners,

indicating that mixing bleach with other cleaners can cause toxic fumes.

Too Much Detergent Can Be Just As Bad As Too Little

This is often the part where the homeowner gets defensive. They tell me that they use

more detergent because the clothes are always so dirty, the washer has a large capacity,

or the laundry just doesn’t smell clean.

I understand their position. More detergent should mean cleaner clothes, right?

Modern washing machines, particularly high efficiency washers, often use less

detergent than older machines. Too much detergent or fabric softener can build up

inside the washer and cling to lint, body oils, and the fibers of the clothing.

This can happen in the dispensing hose, the dispenser itself, or along the folds of the

door seal. This buildup often retains moisture and becomes a breeding ground for odor

causing mildew.

A second reason for using too much detergent could be the type of detergent being

used. If the washing machine uses HE detergent, regular detergent should not be

substituted for it. Regular detergent foams much more than HE detergent, and can

cause excessive suds in the washer.

The correct amount of detergent needed could be much less than what the owner

believes. It helps to consult the detergent bottle and the washer manual to determine

the appropriate amount of detergent.

If the laundry feels slippery after being washed, or the dispenser looks coated or the

washer appears to have suds after a wash cycle, the amount of detergent being used is

likely too much.

Fabric softener can do the same thing, but with a nice scent. The residual film left behind

by fabric softener can trap moisture and mildew, but it smells like the fabric softener

instead.

Whirlpool lists using too much detergent, using the wrong type of detergent, a dirty

dispenser, and wet clothes left in the washer as contributing factors to a washer smelling

like mildew. Their article on washer odor, while specific to Whirlpool washers, is still a

good reference even if you own a different brand.

The Dispenser Often Gets Forgotten

The inside of the washer drum gets cleaned, but the dispenser gets forgotten.

I can’t blame them. It looks like a place where water would wash away the film residue

left behind by liquid detergent or fabric softener each cycle

That is not always the case. Liquid detergent and fabric softener can leave a sticky film

that coats the inside of the dispenser and the channel behind it. This film can eventually

turn dark and mushy, collecting moisture and mildew along the way.

On washers where the dispenser is removable, the manual should indicate how to

remove it for cleaning. The channel behind the dispenser is just as important to clean as

the dispenser itself.

Never force the dispenser out if it will not budge easily. Many dispensers have a release

tab that is easy to overlook.

Top load washers can have a similar issue behind the bleach dispenser or agitator cap.

When a washer smells like it is been sitting in a swamp, I always consider the dispenser

as the culprit. These are the places that hold onto the scent of detergent.

Houston Humidity Can Make Everything Stay Damp

Longer

A washing machine produces its own moisture, even in the driest of climates. In

Houston, the combination of laundry rooms that are small, enclosed, or attached to a

heated garage can contribute to the dampness that a washer needs to dry itself.

The United States Environmental Protection Agency suggests that indoor humidity

should ideally be below 60%, and as low as possible if there are other factors

contributing to the presence of mold and mildew. They have an excellent guide to

controlling moisture and mold in your home.

That is not to say that every Houstonian has a mold problem in their washer, but a

washer that needs extra time to dry in a humid environment will benefit from having the

door or lid opened after the final spin.

If children or pets are present, the washer should only be opened enough to allow the

drum to become ventilated.

A washer door left wide open can be a safety hazard for small children and pets.

There Are Instances Where The Smell Is Coming From

Dirty Water

If the washer has been cleaned, but the laundry still smells, it is possible that water is

sitting somewhere in the washer that the owner cannot see.

This is where I start to consider the drain system.

Some washers have a pump filter, typically mounted on the front of the washer near the

bottom, that catches small objects such as coins, hair, lint, and buttons before it reaches

the drain pump. This filter can become clogged which causes the washer to retain dirty

water.

Not all washers have drain filters that the homeowner can clean. Refer to the washer

manual.

The drain hose is often the cause of the smell, but this is much harder to clean.

The drain hose should be installed so that it is high enough off of the floor so that

standing water in the hose can drain back out. GE Appliances notes that if the drain hose

is too far into the standpipe it can cause dirty water to flow back up the hose and into

the washer.

That would explain the smell, but a routine cleaning cycle will not remove the source of

the mildew.

I also ask if the washer has begun to leave the laundry wetter or take longer to drain than

it used to. Mildew and odor with drainage issues are significantly different than odor

alone.

Factory Appliance Service has an excellent article on what to do when a washer will not

drain or spin that addresses some of these concerns. If your towels are coming out

soaked, that article may also be helpful.

Running The Washer Clean Cycle Helps, But Not If It Is

Done Incorrectly

Most modern washing machines have a clean washer cycle, tub clean, basket clean, or

something similar. It is very important that the washer is operated as instructed by the

manufacturer.

Using the recommended amount of cleaner and not throwing in a load of towels to “go

along for the ride” is critical. This particular cycle is meant to clean the washer, not the

laundry.

The temperature of the water, length of the cycle, and rotation of the drum are

specifically designed to loosen buildup and mildew inside the washer.

Washing machine manufacturers recommend different cleaning schedules. Some

suggest once a month, and some base it off of number of loads cleaned. Always refer to

the manual for the specific washer.

After the cycle has finished, wiping the seal, dispenser, and any visible moisture is a

good idea. Having the washer open and ventilated assists with the drying process.

If the washer smelled better for a couple of days, but the smell has returned, it may

indicate a source of mildew beyond the internal parts that the clean cycle is targeting.

This can often be a drainage issue, a faulty seal, or water sitting in the pump area that

the clean cycle is not removing.

In that case, additional cleaner may not be the answer.

Why The Towels And Workout Clothes Still Stink

There are times when the washer itself has been cleaned, but the towels and other

laundry still smell.

Cloth can absorb detergent, fabric softener, body oils, and mildew, especially when it is

kept damp for long periods of time. Houston families tend to have a lot of damp towels

and wet clothes, particularly from pools and summer activities.

It is best to remove damp laundry as soon as possible to either hang it up or toss it in the

dryer.

If the laundry is already damp and musty, it should be rewashed after the washer has

been cleaned.

If the odor is only noticeable after the clothes have been put in the dryer, there may be

an airflow issue with the dryer as well as the washer.

When I Decided To Stop Cleaning And Start Testing

There comes a point when cleaning the washer, while it helps, only masks the issue.

Call for service if the smell comes back quickly after a thorough cleaning, the washer

retains water, or the washer begins to take longer to drain.

Service should also be contacted if you hear the drain pump running or grinding, water

underneath the washer, a torn door seal or if the washer displays a recurring error code.

A strong Sewer smell indicates a possible issue with the drain line or plumbing that

needs to be addressed, rather than a mildew problem in the washer.

Factory Appliance Service provides washer repair in Houston.

They handle drainage problems, leaks, noises, error codes, and washing machine issues.

They offer their services in Houston, Sugar Land, Katy, The Woodlands, and the

surrounding areas.

Factory trained technicians and same day availability are just some of their advantages.

What I Always Tell The Homeowner Before I Leave

Use the correct type and amount of detergent.

Remove damp laundry when the cycle is finished.

Clean the dispenser and the door seal, not just the laundry drum.

Run through the washer cleaning cycle as recommended by the washing machine

manufacturer

Allow the washer to ventilate and dry between uses.

Pay attention to when the washer begins to retain more water or take longer to drain.

A washer should not make the laundry room smell like a swamp.

Most often, mildew smells begin with water and residue, and they usually end that way.

But there are times when they begin and end elsewhere. A little extra maintenance goes

a long way towards keeping the washer from retaining water and harboring mildew.

When the smell begins to return after cleaning, it is a good time to stop and consider

other options. There may be a source of mildew in the drain area of the washer that is

not addressed by simply putting more cleaner in.

For washer odor and drainage issues, you can contact Factory Appliance Service by

visiting their website or calling them directly at 713 270 8879.