Washing machine smell bad? Here's how to get rid of it

How to Remove Bad Odors from Your Washing Machine

Usually, laundry comes out of the machine fresh and clean, but wait a minute, something doesn’t smell quite right here. On the contrary: the washing machine stinks and, unfortunately, so does the laundry you just washed. Is it even hygienically clean anymore?

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

Get rid of bad odors from the washing machine

If your washing machine emits an unpleasant odor after a wash and leaves your laundry smelling bad, it urgently needs to be cleaned. This means there is a lot of dirt inside.

Odors in the washing machine can be removed with Dr. Beckmann Washing Machine Hygiene Cleaner. During the wash cycle, the powder not only reliably eliminates 99.9% of bacteria and fungi in your washing machine, but also dissolves deposits on hard-to-reach parts such as the drum, detergent dispenser, heating element, pump, or drain.

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

What you should do right away

To minimize residual moisture in the washing machine, leave the door open for a while after washing and removing the laundry (preferably overnight). You should also pull the detergent dispenser out slightly. This allows any residual moisture to evaporate, helping to prevent the washing machine from developing an odor.

Why does the washing machine smell bad?

A dirty washing machine might sound absurd at first, but it’s actually not that uncommon. And unfortunately, a dirty washing 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 happens, among other things, when the door is closed after washing and residual moisture cannot escape. Residues from detergents, fabric softeners, and dirt can also be the cause of bacteria in the machine. Normally, such germs are killed at high temperatures. However, today’s detergents are effective even at low wash temperatures, so clothes are usually washed at 30 or 40 degrees. The result: a smelly washing machine and musty laundry.

Grandma's home remedies

There are many home remedies circulating online that claim to clean your washing machine. But be careful: some of these remedies aren’t particularly effective and, in the worst case, can damage your machine.

We’ll give you some tips on which home remedies can actually clean your washing machine—and which ones you should avoid.

Citric acid

Cleaning with citric acid is particularly recommended for descaling the machine and can be quite effective. However, you should make sure that the acid is not added to the detergent dispenser. There, it could come into contact with detergent, which should be avoided.

Vinegar (Essence)

Vinegar or highly concentrated vinegar essence can remove limescale and dirt, but can also damage the seals and metal parts if the concentration is too high. When using vinegar essence in the fabric softener compartment, the water temperature is too low to effectively descale. Standard household vinegar becomes too diluted in the machine to produce results. In addition, the smell of vinegar can be unpleasant.

Baking soda

Baking soda is known for its grease-cutting and cleaning properties. However, the cleaning power of this alkaline powder is quite low, as it becomes heavily diluted by the water in the dishwasher.

Dishwasher tabs

Dishwasher tabs are often recommended for hassle-free cleaning. When used in the correct dosage, they can actually be more effective than many other household remedies. Just make sure the dishwasher is empty when running the cycle.

Baking soda

This powder, which is normally used for baking, is often recommended as a cleaning tip. In the washing machine, however, it lacks the necessary properties to effectively remove limescale.

Washing Soda

When cleaning the washing machine with washing soda, it is important to use the correct amount.