Washer Still Smells After Cleaning? 8 Things the Cleaning Cycle Misses
A washer that still smells after a cleaning cycle almost always has a source the cycle can't reach: the door seal fold, the detergent drawer's housing, the drain pump filter, or the drain itself (a siphoning hose or a dry trap). Check them in that order, cut back on detergent and leave the door open, then run one BLITZ tablet in a hot cycle, two in a row the first time. A sewage smell with the washer off, or drains that gurgle, is a job for a plumber.
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In this guide
Why a washer still smells after a cleaning cycle
A cleaning cycle washes the drum and the outer tub, and nothing else. The seal fold, the drawer housing, the pump filter and the drain the washer empties into all hold stale water or residue outside that path.
Two more things bring the smell back after a good clean: habits (too much detergent, cold-only washes, a door kept shut) and plumbing (a dry trap or a vent problem), which no washer cleaner can touch.
What the smell tells you
Before you take anything apart, notice where the smell is strongest and when it shows up. A sewage smell with the washer off isn't the washer at all.
Haven't run a cleaning cycle yet? Start with our front-load washer smell guide, which matches each smell to its source.
The 8 checks, in order
Quick checks first, the drum last: a clean drum with a dirty filter still smells. Grab a flashlight, a towel, a shallow pan and an old toothbrush. Just ran a hot cycle? Let it cool first (our advice): the filter holds that water.
1. The door seal fold and its drain holes (front loaders)
Water pools in the bottom fold after every spin. LG says that with the door closed it can't dry and mould may form inside the gasket; its WM4000H manual lists an uncleaned gasket as an odour source.
The fix: pick out what's caught in the fold, clear the small drain holes at the bottom, wipe and dry. Samsung Canada's support page says to wipe the door, gasket and detergent area weekly. Full method: how to clean a front-load washer gasket.
Black spots that stay after wiping are stains in the rubber, which a tablet won't lift. BLITZ Mold Stain Remover ($24.95) is a gel for the dry seal: leave it 3 to 5 hours, wipe it off. Wear gloves and eye protection, open a window, and never use it with another cleaner at the same time.
Tip: Top loader? Check the lid and tub rim instead. LG's top-load manual says to wipe the lid and the inside of the lid seal after each cycle and leave the lid open. Brand by brand: how to clean a top-load washer.
2. The detergent drawer and its housing
The smell is often in the recess, not the drawer. Pull the drawer out, rinse it, then shine a flashlight at the roof of the recess and brush off any slime with a small non-metal brush (LG WM4000H manual: once or twice a month). Never spray water inside the washer: LG warns of fire or electric shock.
3. The drain pump filter
It sits in water behind a small cover at the bottom front. Samsung's manual is plain: debris left in the filter may produce odours over time. A clogged one also shows a drain code (OE on LG, 5C on Samsung).
Towel and pan down, drain the emergency hose first (Samsung warns there may be more water than expected), then twist the filter out and rinse it. Samsung Canada says monthly or about every 40 washes.
4. The drain hose and standpipe
A hose pushed too deep or sealed into the pipe can siphon, letting dirty water flow back into the washer. LG's WM4000H manual names this as an odour source, and its top-load manual warns that pushing the hose more than 8 in. (20 cm) into the standpipe can cause siphoning, odours or improper draining.
- Samsung (WF45T6000): 6 to 8 in. (15 to 20 cm) into the standpipe, a connection that isn't airtight, and a standpipe 18 in. (46 cm) high.
- LG (WM4000H): never tape the hose into the drain, and keep the elbow bracket within 4 in. (10 cm) of the hose end, or mould could spread inside the washer.
5. A dry trap or a vent problem
A trap is a bend that holds water to block sewer gas. The City of Toronto explains that a basement floor drain's trap can dry out and let sewer odours in; its fix is a few litres of clean water poured into the drain. EPCOR, Edmonton's utility, calls a dried-out trap a common cause.
Traps also need venting. Without it, explains the County of Brant in Ontario, high pressure in the drains can force sewer gas through traps (you'll often hear gurgling), and low pressure can siphon them dry. That's a plumbing problem, not a cleaning one.
6 to 8. Too much detergent, cold-only washes, a door kept shut
Samsung Canada lists all three among the causes of washer odour. Use less detergent (LG: under half the maximum for an average load; Samsung: excess suds collect in recesses and can cause foul odours), run a warm or hot wash now and then (Whirlpool), and leave the door and drawer open between loads. With small children or pets, close the laundry room instead.
Then reset the drum with BLITZ
What's left is residue on the drum and outer tub. Months of buildup rarely come out in one cycle: for a musty smell, LG recommends Tub Clean once a week for three weeks in a row.
- Empty the drum and drop one BLITZ tablet straight in, never in the drawer.
- Run the hottest cycle, or Tub Clean on an LG.
- Run a second one right after with a new tablet, the first time (our suggestion).
- Leave the door open, then repeat every two weeks (our suggestion after a smell). LG, Samsung and Whirlpool ask for at least monthly.
- LG: the WM4000H and WT7005C manuals list cleaning tablets for Tub Clean, so the tablet goes in the empty drum and you start Tub Clean. Details: LG Tub Clean and the tCL message.
- Samsung: the WF45T6000 manual allows only liquid chlorine bleach in Self Clean, so BLITZ goes in a separate hot cycle, never in Self Clean (Samsung Self Clean guide).
Careful: Never mix vinegar with bleach (Health Canada), and never use the tablets and the Mold Stain Remover gel at the same time: tablet cycle first, drain, then the gel.
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Washing machine smells like sewage? When it's the plumbing
| What you notice | What to do |
|---|---|
| Sewage smell in the laundry room with the washer off | Pour a few litres of water into the floor drain (City of Toronto). Back within days? Call a plumber. |
| Other drains gurgle or bubble, the smell keeps returning | Likely venting or plumbing (EPCOR, County of Brant): a plumber. |
| Water backs up out of the standpipe while the washer drains | LG: check the hose, then have a plumber repair the drain pipe. |
| Rotten eggs from every tap | The water, not the washer: Health Canada says hydrogen sulphide is most common in groundwater, so test a well. Only hot water? Have the water heater checked. |
| Burning smell or smoke | Samsung: unplug right away and contact service. |
| Water left in the drum, or a drain code after cleaning the filter | Call an appliance technician. |
A routine that keeps it fresh
Habits keep the smell away. The maker-by-maker schedule is in our guide to how often to clean your washing machine.
| When | What to do |
|---|---|
| Every load | HE detergent by the label, laundry out right away, door and drawer left open |
| Every week | Wipe and dry the seal fold (front loader) or the lid and rim (top loader) |
| Every two weeks | One BLITZ tablet in the empty drum, hottest cycle (our suggestion after a smell; monthly at minimum) |
| Every month | Wash the drawer and its recess, clean the pump filter, run a warm or hot wash |
| Basement laundry | A few litres of water down a floor drain that's rarely used |
| Shop BLITZ, 24 tablets for $24.95 |
Why BLITZ for the tub clean
- Unscented, one tablet per clean. It cleans residue off the drum and tub instead of covering the smell with perfume.
- About $1.04 a clean. 24 tablets for $24.95 (price on goblitzclean.com, October 20, 2026): a year at one every two weeks.
- Front-load, top-load and HE washers, and septic-safe. Rated 4.9 out of 5 (14 reviews) on goblitzclean.com.
- A Québec company based in Laval, with service in French and English. Free shipping in Canada from $40 ($7.95 under), most orders in 2 to 3 business days, 10% back in store credit, and a 30-day money-back guarantee (refund policy). Also on Amazon.ca.
Frequently asked questions
Why does my washer still smell after I cleaned it?
Because the cleaning cycle only reaches the drum and outer tub. The smell is usually in the seal fold, the drawer housing, the pump filter or the drain. Clean those by hand, then run a second cycle if the buildup was heavy.
How many cleaning cycles does a smelly washer need?
Often more than one. LG recommends Tub Clean once a week for three weeks for a musty smell. With BLITZ, we suggest two cycles back to back the first time, then one tablet every two weeks.
Why does my washing machine smell like sewage?
Usually the drain, not the drum: a siphoning hose or a dry trap. Reset the hose with an air gap and pour water into the floor drain. If it comes back or drains gurgle, call a plumber.
Can I use vinegar and bleach together to get rid of the smell?
Never. Health Canada warns never to mix bleach with other cleaning products, vinegar included. Some makers also advise against vinegar in their washers. One BLITZ tablet in the empty drum does the job.
Sources: LG WM4000H and WT7005C manuals, LG Canada, LG help library; Samsung WF45T6000 manual, Samsung Canada; Whirlpool; City of Toronto; EPCOR; County of Brant, Ontario; Health Canada. Checked October 20, 2026.
LG, Samsung and Whirlpool are trademarks of their owners. BLITZ is not affiliated with them.
CLEAN OUT THE BUILDUP
BLITZ Washing Machine Cleaner & Descaler
One unscented tablet in the empty drum, one hot cycle. Breaks down detergent residue, grime and mineral deposits in front-load, top-load and HE washers. 24 tablets, about a year of cleanings, $24.95.
Black stains on the door seal? Run the tablet cycle first, then use BLITZ Mold Stain Remover on the dry seal, never at the same time.
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