Washing Machine Smells? Here’s How to Get Rid of It

Usually, your laundry comes out of the machine fresh and clean, but wait a minute something smells off. In fact, the washing machine itself smells bad, and unfortunately, so does the freshly washed laundry. Is it even hygienically clean anymore?

The special Dr. Beckmann Washing Machine Hygiene Cleaner solves this problem and reliably ensures hygienic cleanliness of your washing machine. That way, you no longer have to worry about smelly laundry!

Say Goodbye to Bad Odors in Your Washing Machine

If your washing machine emits an unpleasant odor after washing and causes your laundry to smell bad, a thorough cleaning is urgently needed. This indicates that a lot of dirt has accumulated inside.

Odors in the washing machine can be removed with the Dr. Beckmann Washing Machine Hygiene Cleaner. This powder reliably eliminates 99.9% of bacteria and fungi during the wash cycle and also dissolves deposits in hard-to-reach parts such as the drum, detergent drawer, heating element, pump, or drain.

This effectively eliminates unpleasant odors. Your washing machine becomes hygienically clean again, and your textiles will smell wonderfully fresh and clean during the next wash. For optimal results, clean your machine once a month, and the problem of “smelly washing machine” will be a thing of the past.

Extra Care:

For additional care and cleaning, we recommend Dr. Beckmann Washing Machine Complete Care. Special care components protect rubber and metal parts, ensuring a long service life for your washing machine. To protect and maintain your machine, use the Complete Care Cleaner regularly, at least four times a year.

What You Should Do Immediately

To reduce leftover moisture in the washing machine, the door should be left open for a while after washing and removing the laundry (ideally overnight). Additionally, you should pull out the detergent drawer slightly. This allows any remaining moisture to evaporate, preventing your washing machine from developing bad odors quickly.

Why Does the Washing Machine Smell Bad?

A dirty washing machine may sound strange at first, but it is actually quite common. Unfortunately, a dirty machine can lead to unpleasant consequences such as smelly laundry, stained clothes, and sooner or later, damage to the appliance itself. But why does a washing machine smell bad in the first place?

The odor is caused by germs, bacteria, and fungi that multiply inside the machine. This often happens when the door is kept closed after washing, trapping residual moisture inside. Residues from detergents, fabric softeners, and dirt can also provide a breeding ground for bacteria in the machine. Normally, such germs are killed at high temperatures. However, modern detergents are effective at low washing temperatures, meaning clothes are often washed at 30 or 40 degrees Celsius. The result? A smelly washing machine and musty laundry.

Grandma’s Home Remedies

Many home remedies circulate on the internet claiming to clean washing machines. But beware: some of these methods are not very effective and can even damage your machine in the worst case.

We’ll give you a tip on which home remedies can truly clean your washing machine and which ones you should avoid.

Citric Acid

Cleaning with citric acid is especially recommended for descaling the machine and can be quite effective. However, you should ensure that the acid is not added to the detergent drawer, as it might come into contact with detergent, which should be avoided.

Vinegar (or Vinegar Essence)

Vinegar or highly concentrated vinegar essence can remove limescale and dirt but can also damage seals and metal parts if the concentration is too high. Using vinegar essence in the fabric softener compartment is ineffective for descaling because the water temperature is too low. Household vinegar gets diluted too much in the machine to produce results. Additionally, the smell of vinegar can be unpleasant.

Baking Soda (Sodium Bicarbonate)

Baking soda is known for its grease-dissolving and cleaning properties. However, its cleaning power is quite low in washing machines because it gets heavily diluted by water.

Dishwasher Tablets

Dishwasher tablets are often recommended for easy cleaning. When used in the right dosage, they can actually work better than many other home remedies. Just make sure the washing machine is empty during cleaning.

Baking Powder

Baking powder, commonly used for baking, is often suggested as a cleaning tip. However, it does not have the necessary properties to effectively remove limescale in washing machines.