A stale smell when the door opens
Remove forgotten laundry and check accessible seal folds and the dispenser for damp residue before using the prescribed cleaning cycle.
THE CARE GUIDE
Odors in the washing machine
Washer odors may involve more than the drum. Moisture, product residue and deposits around the seal, dispenser or drainage system deserve separate checks. Identify the location and follow your model’s maintenance instructions.
Three things to remember
Check the drum, seal and dispenser
Maintain only parts the manual allows
Seek service for persistent odor with faults
Your situation
Choose your starting point
Clothes smell after a wash
Check for laundry left inside, unsuitable loading or detergent use, alongside the machine’s cleaning condition.
Odor with poor draining, leaks or errors
Repeated cleaner doses are not a repair. Follow user-check instructions and contact service when needed; do not dismantle the machine.
Care steps
A practical care routine
Before you start
Maintain only parts the manual allowsEmpty the machine and read the manual
Remove laundry and loose objects. Put the machine in the safe state required before manual cleaning and identify user-serviceable parts.
Clean the accessible seal and door area
Check folds, remove lint and use a permitted soft cloth and cleaning method. Do not pull components forcefully.
Care for the dispenser and permitted parts
Remove and clean a detachable drawer only as instructed. Confirm whether the filter is user-serviceable before opening anything.
Run the specified cleaning program
Use the empty-machine program and dose specified by the appliance and product. Do not add laundry or combine chemicals.
Finish, ventilate and reassess
Remove residue and dry as directed. Ventilate only with children and pets prevented from entering. Arrange service if abnormal symptoms persist.
Common mistakes
Avoid these shortcuts
Cleaning only the drum
Accessible seals and dispensers can need separate care.
Doubling the dose or choosing any program
Both amount and cycle must fit the appliance and cleaner instructions.
Assuming no smell means no fault
Leaks, drainage problems and error messages still need attention.
Products
Choose products for the task
Appliance care
Washing Machine Cleaner
A tablet-format option for appliance cleaning. Dose, compatible models and cycle must follow both sets of instructions.
View productThese are care options; suitability and performance depend on the final product label.
Final check
Check before you finish
Tick each item as you complete it.
Questions
Odors in the washing machine
How often should I clean it?
Use the appliance and cleaner recommendations, adjusted to usage and residue. There is no single interval for every model.
Can laundry stay inside during cleaning?
Machine cleaning is generally separate from laundry. Follow the explicit cycle and product instructions.
Can I add vinegar, bleach or other cleaners together?
Do not mix chemicals. Use a method permitted by the appliance and follow one product’s directions and finishing steps.
What if the odor remains?
Recheck accessible seals, the dispenser and any drainage checks permitted by the manual. Seek service for persistent problems or faults instead of repeatedly increasing the dose.
THE CARE GUIDE
Explore care by topic
Care guide
Oil marks on clothing
Gently blot excess oil with a clean paper towel, then choose a pretreatment suitable for the fabric’s care label. Avoid high-heat drying before the stain has been treated.
Care guide
Color transfer in the wash
Sort laundry by color and care requirements first. When using color care products, continue to follow both the garment and product instructions.
Care guide
Grease on kitchen surfaces
Remove loose residue first, then choose a cleaner compatible with the surface. Follow the product label for any surfaces that come into contact with food.