Why does my washer smell like sulfur?

Category: home and garden home appliances
4/5 (410 Views . 45 Votes)
When the washing machine smells like rotten eggs, that's usually caused by hydrogen sulfide gas. When you don't clean your washing machine often enough, detergent collects on rubber parts, and those parts become breeding grounds for stinky bacteria that give your washing machine a sulfur smell.



Besides, how do I fix a smelly washing machine?

Here's how to deal with the odor coming from your front loader:

  1. Step 1: Mix baking soda and water. Mix ¼ a cup of baking soda with ¼ a cup of water.
  2. Step 2: Add vinegar. Pour 2 cups of white vinegar into the drum and run a normal load at high heat.
  3. Step 3: Scrub with a sponge.
  4. Step 4: Keep it fresh with every load.

One may also ask, why does my laundry room smell like a sewer? Clogs in your washing machine's drain line will produce offensive odors that may resemble sewer gas. Bacteria will form on organic clog materials such as hair and soap, causing the sewer-like smell every time water washes down the drain pipe.

In this regard, why does my washing machine smell like rotten eggs when it runs?

The the rotten egg smell that you are experiencing is most likely hydrogen sulfide gas. When you put your washing machine in the spin cycle it is likely that not all of the water is draining out and it begins to build up bacteria and produces hydrogen sulfide.

Why is there a bad smell coming from my washing machine?

Odors can be caused by a build-up of bacteria, slime, mildew or soap scum, accumulating in the internals. Odor can also be due to poor drainage from the washer which will cause the dirty water to become stagnant in the machine, allowing bacteria in the water to grow.

14 Related Question Answers Found

How do I get the sewer smell out of my washing machine?

Run a small load of hot water with no clothes. Add a cup of half baking soda and half distilled white vinegar to the load. If this seems to have an effect but the smell still lingers, do the same with a cup of bleach instead of vinegar and baking soda. Run a final load of just hot water.

Can you put bleach in a washing machine?

To clean your washing machine with bleach, simply add 60ml of neat bleach to your detergent drawer then run your machine on a hot cycle, with an extra rinse cycle to make sure all the bleach is flushed out. If you can smell any trace of the bleach afterwards, run another empty cycle to be on the safe side.

How do I get rid of the moldy smell in my washing machine?

Use a hot water or cleaning cycle.
  1. Pour two cups of white vinegar into the detergent dispenser and run a hot water or cleaning cycle.
  2. You can also use a commercial washing machine cleaner such as Smelly Washer, but vinegar is more cost effective and just as efficient.

How do I deep clean my washing machine?

1: Run a cycle with bleach and hot water (1:1). 2: Run a second hot cycle with 2 cups of white distilled vinegar, 1/4 cup of baking soda and 1/4 cup of water. 3: Use water to clean the rubber seal around the lip of the washing machine. 4: Remove the soap dispenser and wash thoroughly with soap and water.

How do I get the smell out of my top loader washing machine?


Fill the washer with hot water; set at regular speed and the longest wash cycle. Add 3/4 cup of a water softening additive which can be found in the laundry detergent aisle (baking soda or vinegar can be substituted). Allow washer to complete entire wash and rinse cycle. If odor lingers, repeat entire process.

Why don't my clothes smell fresh after washing?

If clothes smell musty or washing smells musty when dry, the answer is to take them out of the machine as soon as the wash has finished. Alternatively, if your clothes are not smelling fresh after washing, it could be due to the amount of detergent you are using.

How do I clean sludge out of my top loader washing machine?

Steps To Cleaning a Top-Loader With Vinegar:
  1. Turn your washing machine on the hot water setting (largest load possible) and let it fill up.
  2. Once it begins to agitate, open the lid to make it stop.
  3. Now, add about 3 cups of filtered white apple cider vinegar.
  4. Add ¾ cup of baking soda and stir it the mixture.

Can vinegar damage your washing machine?

The acetic acid in distilled white vinegar is so mild that it will not harm washable fabrics; yet is strong enough to dissolve residues (alkalies) left by soaps and detergents. Adding just one-half cup of vinegar to the final rinse will result in brighter, clearer colors.

How do you unclog a washing machine drain pipe?

To clear a clog from a washing machine, try unhooking the drain pipe and pouring hot water down the drain to release the soap and scum. For stubborn clogs, push a plumbing snake down the drain. As it goes down, turn the handle clockwise anytime you feel a clog, which will grab the debris and allow you to pull it out.

Is sewer smell in house dangerous?


Hydrogen sulfide is dangerous even at low levels. Prolonged exposure to sewer gas can cause irritability, headaches, fatigue, sinus infections, bronchitis, pneumonia, loss of appetite, poor memory and dizziness. It affects people and pets that are exposed to it over a long period of time.