Help! Nasty washing machine smells.

It’s such a waste running the machine on empty at 90C, Katek so you might as well wash the towels at 60C weekly instead. Just try the disinfectant, a cheap one. The washing doesn’t smell of disinfectant, btw.

lillypollen getting ready to wizz the machine in the garden grrrrrrrrrrr..

plus not helping my water bill being on a water meter {hmm]

Will go anf buy some disinfectant as final try!

Just running it through yet another empty cycle at 90 deg.

One thing I haven't tried! is....using the pre wash..but it doesn't seem to have on my machine that does a pre wash..I thought that maybe somewhere in the " pre wash pipes" there may be some gunge..

Think will go and buy some dettol will see how it goes. thanks all

I’m willing to try anything! I use Fairy non bio capsules and softener (I develop a rash with bio detergents) and wash at 30c. My machine is now showroom clean, no leaks anywhere so am off to buy a bio detergent and run it through on empty.

Thanks for all the tips ladies!

The pong is caused by bacteria in the machine. This is how I prevent my machine from smelling and it works. You may find just carrying out number 1 is enough.
1. Put a capful of disinfectant (cheapest you can find) in the fabric softener compartment. You need to do this every time you use the machine (or in the final wash of the day if you have more than one load). I've been doing this for years and since doing so, the machine has never smelled.
2. Dry the seal and leave the door open for a few hours after use, remove the detergent drawer and dry the compartment with a cloth (it takes seconds) and again, leave the drawer out for a few hours - this prevents black mould growing in there.
3. Stop using fabric softener (if you can bear to!) as it coats everything with a slimy film.
4. Avoid gel, go back to powder, I read somewhere that the machine is more likely to smell with gel.
5. Wash at 60℃ once a week or so.

Do let us know if this works for you too!

OMG Bikergran...what more can you do?!

Will follow this thread as I have the very same problem.! still not solved and everytime I come in the house its there!
So much I am embarrassed asking anyone in.!

So far I have
Pulled the washing machine out took the grey ribbed pipe off and took it outside cleaned with bleach and hot water.

Took the rubber seal off and cleaned all the balck gunk off with cillit bang.

Cleaned the filter twice (first time bit of gunk) second time nothing.

Run the washer with a full bottle of white vinegar

Run washer with half packet of dishwasher salt.
Same again on boil wash with otehr half .
Bought packet of washing machine cleaner (twice)

Run abother boil wash with no clothes in.

Run 2 more washers with dishwasher tablets.

and still!!! a stink when I come in house..like musty wet washing"!

Have removed my kick boards to check under sink area no leaks nothing!

It is a mystery..im pretty sure it is the machine and nothing else in the house.

My daughter said maybe there is a sock or soemthing stuck in between the inner drum and the outerdrum.

Ive changed from liquid soap back to powder so will see if that makes any diff! [hmm} running out of options now!

Soda crystals usually help clear grungy stuff, I find them good for drains. Maybe worth a try, use on a hot wash.

Just had the same problem here and think it’s because I use gel.I put some sheets through on a 60 wash and used bio powder, then put the machine on again on a hot wash with no washing inside and a bit of bio powder, and that has solved the problem.

When ours stank a few months ago it turned out to be tiny holes that the soap and conditioner passes through before getting into the drum.
Remove the dispenser and use a cocktail stick or similar to poke all the gunk away then run through a quick cycle with white vinegar in the dispensers.

Thanks-will get DH to pull machine out and check plumbing.

Does your machine have a filter? It may need a clean.
Or is it possible you have a leak or the water pipe moved (has happened to me) and that's resulted in damp at the back of the machine, it may just smell as if it's inside.