Washer smells bad (musty, mouldy or sewer odour)
LG puts it plainly: the washer can't make a smell on its own.
Not urgent Manufacturers' first steps for a smelly washer are cleaning and correct detergent use; book only if a blockage, a drain problem or a leak turns up.
What this symptom usually means
LG puts it plainly: the washer can't make a smell on its own. The odour comes from something left inside it. Manufacturers list the same causes. Too much detergent or fabric softener leaves a film inside the tub; GE says excess suds from overdosing get trapped in the outer tub, which you can't see, and smell over time. Water and damp laundry left sitting in a closed machine go stale; GE says a top loader with its lid kept shut is the usual cause of mildew smell. On front loaders, the folds of the door gasket hold water, lint and small items, and the pump filter at the bottom can hold debris that GE says may add to odours. Detergent drawers build up residue too.
A sewer or rotten smell points elsewhere. LG says it may come from backwash out of a clogged house drain, and both GE and LG say a drain hose pushed too far into the standpipe can siphon dirty water back into the washer. If laundry only starts to smell once it's in the dryer, Samsung notes that the washer or the laundry itself is usually the source, not the dryer.
Checks you can do yourself
- Run the cleaning cycleRun your washer's tub-clean cycle empty, with the cleaner your manual names. Whirlpool says not to use thickened or no-splash bleach in its Clean Washer cycle because of excess suds. On a top loader without a cleaning cycle, GE suggests the hottest, longest cycle with 1 cup of bleach, repeated if needed.
- Clean the door gasket (front loaders)Press or pull back the gasket and wipe inside the folds. GE says to remove anything trapped there, make sure the drain holes behind it are clear, wipe with mild detergent, diluted bleach or diluted vinegar, then wipe the cleaner off with warm water. Use one cleaner at a time and dry the gasket after.
- Clean the detergent drawerRemove the drawer as your manual shows, rinse the parts in warm water and brush off residue. Samsung suggests doing this about monthly.
- Clean the pump filter (front loaders)Unplug the washer, put down towels and a tray, drain through the emergency hose if there is one, and clear the filter. Samsung suggests roughly every 40 washes; let hot water cool first. Only do this if your manual shows it as a user step.
- Use less, and the right, detergentUse HE detergent in HE washers and measure it; concentrated detergents need less. Whirlpool, GE and LG all tie excess detergent and softener to odour and residue.
- Let it breatheTake laundry out as soon as the cycle ends and leave the door or lid open between loads. Whirlpool says wet clothes left in the drum can mildew.
- Check the drain hoseIf the smell is sewer-like, check the drain hose isn't pushed deep into the standpipe. LG says no more than 20 cm (8 in); GE suggests clipping the hose to the side of the standpipe.
Nothing above involves gas, wiring, refrigerant or removing panels.
What you notice, and what it can point to
Listed in no particular order. They help you describe the problem; only an inspection confirms the fault.
Musty smell from the drum, black spots in the gasket folds
Could point to: Moisture and residue trapped in the front-load gasket
Next step: Clean the gasket and run the tub-clean cycle; leave the door open
Musty smell in a top loader kept with the lid shut
Could point to: Stagnant moist air in the tub
Next step: Run a hot cleaning cycle and leave the lid up between loads
Slimy residue in the drawer or a sour smell after every wash
Could point to: Too much detergent or fabric softener
Next step: Measure HE detergent; clean the drawer; run a cleaning cycle
Smell plus water left in the drum
Could point to: Pump filter or drain restriction
Next step: Clean the pump filter; see washer not draining if it continues
Sewer or rotten-egg smell
Could point to: Siphoning from a deep drain hose, or backwash from a clogged house drain
Next step: Reset the drain hose; call a plumber if the drain backs up
Clothes only smell once they're dried
Could point to: Laundry left wet too long, or odour from the washer or water
Next step: Clean the washer and move loads to the dryer promptly
How it differs by design
- Front loaders seal tightly, so the door gasket, detergent drawer and pump filter are the places to clean. Whirlpool and Samsung both say to leave the door (and Samsung, the drawer) open between loads so the inside dries.
- Top loaders have no gasket to clean, but GE says keeping the lid closed traps moisture. Leaving the lid up is its first fix.
- Cleaning cycles differ by brand: Whirlpool calls it Clean Washer, GE BasketClean, Samsung Self Clean or Pure Cycle, LG Tub Clean. Whirlpool, GE and Samsung each recommend running it about once a month. GE and Whirlpool use bleach or a washer cleaner; Samsung says its cycle usually needs no added cleaner. Follow your own manual.
What our technician checks
These need panels off, live electrical tests or a licensed trade, so they are left to the technician:
- Removing panels to reach the outer tub, sump or pump
- Removing the door boot or its retaining clamps
- Clearing a blocked household drain or standpipe (a plumber)
Waived when you go ahead with the repair. You get the cause, the price and our repair-or-replace verdict in writing before any work.
Repairs a technician may recommend
After inspection, not from the symptom alone.
Pump filter or drain pump clearing
When debris has passed to the pump and is holding dirty water. GE notes that small items can reach the pump on front loaders.
Drain hose re-routing or replacement
When siphoning from the standpipe is pulling waste water back into the tub, or the hose is split.
Door gasket (boot) replacement
When the gasket is torn or so stained that cleaning no longer works, or it is leaking.
Detergent dispenser or housing cleaning or replacement
When residue has built up inside the dispenser housing where the drawer can't reach, or a part is cracked.
Referral to a plumber
When the sewer smell comes from a slow or blocked household drain rather than the washer, which LG lists as a cause.
Brands we see with this problem
Codes, parts and access differ by brand; the brand pages cover where the model label is and what to expect.
Brand-specific repair and error-code guides
Cost, and whether to fix it
What the repair costs depends on the part, the labour and whether a second visit is needed for an ordered part; the written finding gives the total before any work. Our guides on what drives repair costs, washing machine repair costs and repair versus replacement explain how to weigh it.
When to book
Book if the smell comes back within a few days of a cleaning cycle and a gasket, drawer and filter clean, if the washer isn't draining fully, or if water is showing up under the machine. A drain that backs up is a plumber's job; tell us if you've seen that. The visit is $89 with a written finding, waived if you go ahead with the repair. Washing machine repair explains what the diagnosis includes.
We handle this across Ottawa and Gatineau
Related problems
Washer smells bad (musty, mouldy or sewer odour): questions
How often should I run the washer's cleaning cycle?
Whirlpool, GE and Samsung all suggest about once a month. Use the cleaner your manual names; Samsung says its Self Clean cycle usually needs none.
Can I use bleach and vinegar to clean my washer?
GE lists bleach, and on a top loader baking soda or vinegar as substitutes, and says the gasket can be wiped with mild detergent, diluted bleach or diluted vinegar. Use one product at a time and follow your own manual; Whirlpool warns against thickened or no-splash bleach in its cleaning cycle.
Why does my washer smell like sewage?
LG says a sewer smell may come from backwash out of a clogged drain, and GE and LG both say a drain hose pushed too far into the standpipe can siphon dirty water back in. Check the hose first. If the standpipe backs up, call a plumber.
Do I need to leave the washer door open?
It helps. Whirlpool and Samsung both recommend leaving the door open between loads so the drum and gasket dry, and Samsung adds the detergent drawer.
Is the smell from my washer or my dryer?
Samsung says a mildew or sour smell that shows up in the dryer usually comes from the laundry or the washer, not the dryer. Clean the washer and don't leave wet loads sitting.
Sources
- Whirlpool Product Help: Removing odors or smells - front load washer
- GE Appliances: Front load washer - odor in tub
- GE Appliances: Top load washer - odor in tub
- Samsung Canada: How to clean your Samsung washer
- LG Canada: Pungent smell issue (unpleasant odor, stench, sewer)
- Samsung Canada: Samsung dryer smokes or smells
Sources checked 2026-09-24.
Book the diagnostic
Tell us this symptom and your postal code; it helps us bring the right parts.
Online booking is a request. We confirm the appointment by text or phone within 1 business hour.
- $89 diagnosticWaived when you go ahead with the repair
- Written finding on every visitCause, price and our repair-or-replace verdict
- 90-day warrantyOn labour and the parts we install