A washing machine that smells is not dirty because it washes clothes badly; it is dirty because detergent, softener and skin oils build a biofilm in the places the water does not reach at speed. The drum looks clean, the smell comes from the gasket, the drawer and the filter.
What the smell actually is
A washing machine smells because detergent residue, fabric softener and biofilm collect in the drum, the gasket and the detergent drawer. Run a hot empty cycle with a descaler or a dedicated cleaner, wipe the gasket and drawer by hand, and leave the door open between washes.
Prices are Freshway catalogue prices as at 16 September 2026 and are subject to change. Confirm the current price, and whether GST applies, before quoting.
Front loaders: the gasket is the problem
Front loaders use less water, which is why they clean clothes well and why they hold residue. The rubber door gasket has a fold that traps lint, hair and water; that fold is where the smell lives. Pull the fold back with a gloved hand or a cloth, wipe out what is inside, and then run the cleaning cycle.
Two habits prevent most of it: leave the door ajar between loads, and stop using more detergent than the label states. Over-dosing is the single most common cause of a smelly machine.
Top loaders and the detergent drawer
Top loaders have a similar problem with lower symptoms, because the drum holds more water. The drawer and its siphon are the usual culprits: pull the drawer out completely, wash it in hot water, and check the housing behind it for softener sludge. A blocked siphon means softener sits in the drawer and goes stale.
What to run through it
| Product | Use | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freshway Descaler 145 | Scale removal in hard-water areas; the drum, element and hoses | A$48.00 |
| Rinse Aid with built-in descaler | Machine rinse aid with descaling action | A$43.00 |
| Freshway Rinse Aid 140 | Standard rinse aid for laundry and warewashing | A$35.00 |
| Freshway Laundry Liquid Economy 160 | Everyday detergent at commercial dilution rates | A$22.00 |
The maintenance cycle is the same in every machine: empty drum, hottest setting the manufacturer allows, descaler or cleaner at label dilution, no laundry. Run it, then wipe the gasket again while the machine is still warm, and clean the filter at the bottom of a front loader once a month.
Vinegar and bicarbonate: what they do, and what they do not
Vinegar is a weak acid: it softens light scale and does nothing to biofilm or detergent residue, which are alkaline-busting problems. Bicarbonate is a mild abrasive and a deodoriser, and it neutralises vinegar on contact. Used together they fizz and clean very little, which is why the smell comes back.
Where scale is the issue — hard water areas, visible chalk on the element — use an acid descaler. Where the issue is biofilm and odour, use a hot cycle with an alkaline cleaner or a dedicated machine cleaner, then leave the door open.
How often, and what to check monthly
- Monthly: maintenance cycle, gasket wipe, filter clean, drawer wash.
- Quarterly: descaler cycle in a hard-water area, and check the inlet hoses for perishing at the connection.
- Every wash: door left open, drawer drained, correct dose.
Where a machine serves a commercial laundry or a food business, the hygiene expectation is that linen is washed on a schedule that includes a disinfection step, which is what Food Standards Australia New Zealand covers in its food safety material. Chemical handling for the products used is covered by SafeWork NSW under chemicals and other substances.
Questions we get asked most
- What is the best way to clean a washer machine?
- An empty hot cycle with a descaler or machine cleaner, plus hand cleaning of the gasket, drawer and filter. The hand work is what removes the residue the cycle cannot reach.
- How can I deep clean my washing machine?
- Remove the drawer and filter, wipe the gasket fold, then run the hottest cycle with a descaler. On badly scaled machines, repeat the cycle rather than using a stronger dilution.
- Can I put vinegar and baking soda in my washing machine to clean it?
- They neutralise each other, so the result is fizzing water. Vinegar alone softens light scale; baking soda alone is a mild deodoriser. Neither removes the biofilm that causes the smell.
- What to run through the washing machine to clean it?
- A descaler for scale or an alkaline machine cleaner for odour, on the hottest cycle the manufacturer allows, with nothing in the drum. For a commercial laundry, add the machine clean to the monthly schedule.
- Why does my washing machine smell even after cleaning?
- Usually the filter, the drain hose, or over-dosing with detergent and softener. Check the filter first, then reduce the dose to the label recommendation and leave the door open between washes.
References
- Food Standards Australia New Zealand — laundry and sanitation in food premises.
- SafeWork NSW — chemicals and other substances.
Commercial laundry with hard water?
Tell us the machine and the water supply, and we will set up a dosing and descaling schedule that stops the scale before it reaches the element. Browse laundry and fabric care or ask our team.