Top 5 Common Reasons Why does my washing machine smell like sewer: Cleaning solutions

Are you wondering why the washing machine smell like sewer? Can’t figure out where that sewer smell in the laundry room is coming from?

You’re in the right place where we’ll show you top reasons and solutions why does your washing machine smell like sewer.

did you know that your washing machine is a virus fungus and disease breeding machine,  you have laundry detergent that scrubs your clothes,  but stays stuck in the fabric locking in and attracting even more dirt and oil.

your high-efficiency washing machines use very little water so the clothing ends up sloshing around in its filth for an hour before being vaguely spun out

leaving all of the existing muck and sticky detergent film in your clothes the bacteria and fungi look forward to a good washing, so they can breed even more does your laundry have to be this way.

 we are here to tell you no it doesn’t detergents are not what they used to be and their cleaning power has been crippled.

The most typical reason for those odd smells is because of growing bacteria caused by dirt accumulation, not to mention mildew, mold, lint, and even soap. If you do not clean your washing machine typically that’s what occurs. 

Why does my washing machine smell like sewer?

Top 5 Reasons & Solutions Why your washing machine smell like sewer

Cause1. Rubber seal

If you have a front load washer there’s a good chance it’s the bellows, the technical name for door gasket.

The rubber seal captures the water in the washing machine especially when it cycles,  Residual water can pool there and grow bacteria. Smells awful.

If you leave your washing without cleaning the debris and dirt will collect under the rubber seal and your washing machine may smell bad.

To clean the dirt in the rubber seal:

1. use a bleach-based cleaner and soft cloth to wipe down all the folds of the seal and inside the rubber seal until you see the dirt is done.

Note: instead of shutting the door just keep it open like that allows fresh air in down to keep that rubber seal dry.

Cause2. Drain tube

The most likely explanation is improper venting of your washing machine’s drain pipe. Every drain in your home connects and eventually to the sewer.

Washing machine waste and sink waste go into what is called the “sanitary sewer.” Human waste products go into another sewer system.

Under your sink, there is a “U” shaped bend in the pipe. This is normally filled with water to prevent the backup of odors from further away.

You may want to have someone disconnect and empty that portion of the plumbing. You will also want to fill that with water which normally should occur when you use your sink.

No extra effort to that is required. The line may, for some reason, be empty.

Gases build-up, up as waste and food particles are putrified in the water-filled pipes.

When plumbing is installed properly these gasses are vented through pipes that extend up through your roof.

Drain traps are designed to prevent these gasses from coming out of your drains by maintaining a water/vapor seal.

If these are not installed properly sewer gasses enter your home.

What that water trap does is retain water in the drain tube well guess what you only do laundry you’re only doing

laundry maybe a couple of times a week.

sometimes that water there will sit there for days and it starts to run a matter of fact if you pull this hose out sometimes you’ll see black muck at the bottom of the hose.

lint and dirt build-up in the washing machine, and it needs to be cleaned out of the drain pipe

To clean the drain tube:

1. Take about a cup of bleach pour it right down in the hole where is the drain tube located.

2. Let it sit for a day.

3. do a load with hot water 

soon guess pretty soon you’re gonna have a much better-smelling laundry room washing machine that’s usually the problem it’s not an actual washing machine that doesn’t retain.

a lot of water it’s the hose and drains behind it I have pulled out some of those hoses after year and it is black and you want to throw up so every so often pours a cup of bleach down. there and everything should be fine

Cause3. Filter

a blocked filter with dirt may cause a bad smell if you don’t check your filter yet you have.

In most models, the filter is located at the bottom of your washing machine and some other models are under the bottom cover of your washing machine, so you may get access to your filter.

Many people don’t know that probably all washing machines have a filter at the discharge side of the water pump. Typically you just need to unscrew and clear.

To clean the filter:

1. get access to your filter and pull it out.

You may find your filter blocked paper clips, earrings, tiny screwdrivers, and the worst, bobby pins…

2. Clear the water filter and wash it with soap you can use a toothbrush or small brush to clean the filter.

3. clean the place of the filter it may be dirt also.

Note: when you pull the filter out the water may leak put a towel under the filter.

4. pull back your filter.

And smell may be done.

Cause4. Dispenser drawer

Your dispenser drawer should be in tip-top condition, but it’s dirt then that could be one of the reasons why your washing machine smell, it’s really important to keep your dispenser drawer clean to avoid the bad smell.

You may clean your dispenser drawer every couple of months.

To clean your dispenser drawer:

1. Pull out your dispenser drawer from your washing machine.

2. Put it in a sink.

3. Use a toothbrush or small brush and soap and scrub your dispenser drawer

If the place of your dispenser drawer is dirt it needs also to clean.

4. Use a small brush and scrub the place of your dispenser drawer.

Cause5. Drum

Dirt or dead insects inside the drum can cause a bad smell in your drum.

The best thing to do to keep your machine hygienically fresh is:

  1. Run a service wash program or a drum clean option, if you haven’t got that on your washing machine.

2. Put it on the cotton setting.

Make sure it’s on speed or eco wash because you don’t want it to go on for hours.

3. Put in 90 degrees centigrade.

4. Take the washing machine cleaner and pour it inside the drum.

5. Start drum cleaning program.

Once you put the cleaner inside the drum.

6. Press the start button in your washing machine.

This hopefully keeps your washing machine hygienically fresh and stops it from smelling.

Note: don’t let the children come close to the washing machine because it’s at 90 degrees and the glass it’s too hot.

  • Leave the door open to have some ventilation and dry.

Read also:

How to clean a washing machine using vinegar and baking soda?

  • Start your washing machine allow it to fill half with water. Use the highest load option which starts the machine.
  • Now pour a half bucket of hot water inside the washing machine.
  • Now pour 4 cups (approximately 950 ml) of vinegar into the machine.
  • Add a cup of baking soda approximately 250 ml to the water for deeper cleaning.
  • Close the lid of the washing machine and allow it to run for 5 minutes, this will allow washing away dirt and stain inside your washing machine.
  • Pause the machine open the lid and keep it open for an hour, this will help to remove the dirt and leftover stain complete from the washing machine.
  • As the machine is paused take a clean dry cloth and clean the outside of the machine. Use Citrus cleaner to clean the machine.
  • After an hour close the lid and run the cycle of the washing machine completely till all the water of the machine is drained.
  • Wipe the interior of the washing machine with a dry clean cloth and repeat the process to get rid of stains and dirt.
  • Use this method once every 3 months to get a good and clean wash.

Why should a washing machine be cleaned?

If the washing machine is not cleaned for a long time, the bacteria will generally exceed the standard. Especially the interlayer of the inner and outer cylinders is the hardest hit area of ​​bacteria.

Its dirt is mainly composed of five types of garbage:

  • scale composed of calcium ions and calcium carbonate in tap water
  • free matter of laundry detergent (soap powder)
  • the fiber of clothing; organic matter of human body
  • gray matter and bacteria brought into clothes
  • Other substances.

First of all, the washings in the washing machine itself are accompanied by many microorganisms such as sweat, hair, human secretions, etc.

These microorganisms are partially decomposed by washing, forming fibrous debris of the washed clothes, organic residues of the human body, and remaining in the washing machine.

The inner layer, secondly, the difference in the washing supplies will also cause the difference in the dirty layer of the washing machine.

The washing powder on the market today is divided into two types: ordinary powder and concentrated powder.

Boric acid and fluorescent whitening agents are added to the ordinary powder. These ingredients are easy to condense with the organic matter on the clothes to form dirt and remain in the interlayer of the washing machine.

The concentrated washing powder has enhanced the decomposition ability of the clothes stain due to the addition of some surfactants.

Some, but some partially decomposed stains will adhere to the washing machine interlayer, in addition, some calcium ions in the water, combined with the organic matter on the clothes, easily from dirt, which is also a reason for the dirty layer of the washing machine.

Elhoucine

My Name is Elhoucine I am a passionate blogger, I have been searching and reading about the newly released gadgets, appliances, and products, and through this blog, I am trying to share some of the acquired experience to help you with everything related to home.