How to stop mold and bad smells in front loader washers
Front loader washing machines trap standing water and lack adequate ventilation, turning sealed drums into mold and mildew factories when closed. This persistent moisture buildup creates unpleasant odors and forces people to keep doors open or abandon front loaders altogether.
What the numbers show
Counted from the threads quoted below. How we count
- It goes quiet, then comes back — 3 separate clusters since January 2026.
- This comes up 17.6× more often in r/appliancerepair than across the site as a whole.
What people tried
Every workaround mentioned in the threads below. We haven’t tested any of them — and nobody here is claiming they worked.
Found another way around this?
Share your steps and trade-offs so fellow engineers don't have to reinvent the wheel. No account required.
- 1Leaving the washer door open after doing laundryDid this help you?
- 2Pulling out the detergent drawer to let water evaporateDid this help you?
- 3Switching to a top-loading washing machine instead of a front loaderDid this help you?
- 4Using washing machine cleaning tablets or packs every monthDid this help you?
- 5Running a clean cycle with a specialized washer cleanerDid this help you?
- 6Using PBW from a brewing supplies storeDid this help you?
- 7Using less detergent and avoiding liquid fabric softenerDid this help you?
- 8Scrubbing the outside of the drum manually with a long-handled bristle brushDid this help you?
- 9Clean out the mold and sludge manuallyDid this help you?
- 10Empty the detergent tray and leave it open to dry after useDid this help you?
- 11Replace the washing machine entirelyDid this help you?
- 12Leaving the washer lid open to air out moistureDid this help you?
- 13Taking apart the washing machine to physically remove and clean the outside of the tubDid this help you?
- 14Clean the air filter regularlyDid this help you?
- 15Clean the water bucket with hot water and soap monthlyDid this help you?
- 16Flush constant drain hoses with diluted vinegar or hydrogen peroxideDid this help you?
- 17Clean the coils and fins using coil cleaners, soapy water, or a vinegar mixtureDid this help you?
- 18Cleaning the water filter and giving it a scrubDid this help you?
- 19Running an empty cycle with a cup of white vinegar on the top rackDid this help you?
- 20Running vinegar through the machine every few weeksDid this help you?
In their words
Unedited, grouped by where they were said, most upvoted first within each place, each linked to the thread it came from.
“Years ago I could NOT convince my roommate that closing the door of a front loader washer made it a mildew factory, it's good to have that in the rear view mirror.”source ↗
“Yet I always get annoyed that’s there’s always water in it.”source ↗
“A few times, I’ve ran a load and left it overnight without the heat dry function on. Would that be enough to cause this build up over time or do you think there is mold in the water line?”source ↗
“Either way, what’s the protocol here!”source ↗
“I’ll never buy a front loader again and that’s one of the reasons”source ↗
“Bought the house/appliances from elderly couple with pets and we also have had several pets and never thought to clean it out.”source ↗
“What is happening here? You took the drum out of the machine? And cleaned it? How do I do this?”source ↗
“So how do I keep my washer from getting this frigged? I just got a brand new one last month”source ↗
“To be honest we never saw signs on our clothes or in the washer itself. The reason I wanted to open it to see is because I saw a video of how nasty they can get.”source ↗
“It smells like mildew and my clothes smell like mildew no matter what I do.”source ↗
“I've tried the cleaning tablets and powders of all kinds. I've done hot water and bleach dozens of times. I've cleaned inside the agitator and the dispensing tray. I see nothing but it still smells. I'm thinking it's gotta be between the drums. Please help”source ↗
“At this point, I feel like the safest assumption is the washing machine internals are all moldy.”source ↗
“We have a baby and are already upset we've been washing clothes in this cesspool over the past week.”source ↗
“That black crud behind the tray is almost always a sign the whole drum spider and outer tub are coated in sludge by now.”source ↗
“my stand alone dehumidifier seems to grow these spore things. Would love an idea on how to prevent this cause it can’t be healthy lol.”source ↗