Sometimes, a washing machine smell doesn't come from the drum, but from grime packed into areas you can't reach.
A post in Reddit's r/Appliances community described an old-school agitator washer that smelled "like mildew and rancid fabric softener."
Here's what to know
Only after "every cleaning trick on reddit" failed did the original poster and their boyfriend decide to take the machine completely apart. Inside, they found a mess far worse than ordinary surface residue.
The OP proceeded to write that "disassembling the washing machine was so worth it," while sharing images of the scene.
The buildup was hiding on the outside of the inner barrel. As the OP put it, "it was actually a disgusting buildup of pet hair, fibers, mildew and detergent scum." They washed the inner and outer barrels outside with dish soap and water, then reassembled the washer and ran an empty cycle. But even after that cleaning, a rinse still produced brown water full of loose debris.
Getting the washer apart was a job in itself. As the OP described, "it took 2 days because we didn't have the specific Spanner wrench to loosen the nut that fastens the inner barrel to the outer barrel. We spent a lot of time banging on the thing. … Reassembly took maybe 20 minutes."
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A commenter wrote, "To help ensure you never smell that again, use citric acid dissolved in water in the fabric softener compartment instead of commercial fabric softener." Another user added: "Hopefully you also de-gunkified the drain tubing and pump to make sure they're clear of pet hair, debris, and whatever else."
Where can I learn more?
These articles cover fabric softener buildup, mildewy odors, and easy ways to clean a smelly washing machine.
• A homeowner discovered fabric softener leads to gross buildup inside the washing machine.
• A cleaning expert used baking soda to remove mold and stinky washer odors.
• Another cleaning pro found a natural way to lift moldy smells from towels.
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